“They shouldn't have to know why we broke up,” I snapped.
Mina held up both hands. “Hey, I know that,” she said. “I'm just trying to remind you that everyone thought you guys were perfect for one another. There are a lot of people who aren't going to understand why you're gallivanting around with Christian Wall and bringing him to our local luau.”
I frowned and then shook my head. “I just want to show him my Hawaii,” I finally said, shrugging. “Anyway, I've already invited him. I can't un-invite him now.”
“In that case.” Mina grinned at me, a gleam in her eyes. “You're going out on a date with Christian Wall, and you're going to need a new dress. Which means that today, we're going shopping.”
I laughed and shook my head, but I might have known that that would be her reaction. “All right, all right,” I told her. “Let's finish breakfast first, though.”
We managed to find a dress at the first store that we went to, a slinky, sky blue number that made my tan look especially nice. “God, I'd kill to have curves like you,” Mina said as we sat there in the salon getting our nails done.
I laughed. “Yeah?” I asked. “You've got the skinny beach babe look going on; I don't see why you're complaining.”
“I could never wear a dress like that, though,” Mina said, nodding toward the shopping bag at my feet. She laughed. “It would honestly just fall straight off.”
“Yeah, but some of the things that you can wear I could never wear.” I protested.
“And you get to go on the arm of Christian Wall.” Mina sighed. “Some girls have all the luck. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you, but I am also envious as anything.”
I laughed, but I quickly sobered. “Yeah, I'm lucky,” I agreed. “But at the same time, I know this all has an expiration date. It feels a bit like a Cinderella story, you know? Pretty soon, the ball is going to be over, and I'm going to come back down to reality.”
“And that's why you kicked him out of your bed?” Mina surmised.
“Yeah, to be honest,” I admitted. “I just started thinking about all the other girls who he's been with, and the fact that this was just another fuck for him. And that he'll be headed back to New York in a couple of weeks, and then there will be however many more women, and-”
“Oh, honey,” Mina interrupted. “You can't think like that. Remember what we were saying about your books and that whole line between reality and fiction? True love doesn't exist; the most we can do is just have a little fun with things. There's no problem with you just having some fun with Christian right now. Show him around, if that's what you want to do. Sleep with him, maybe, if you want to do that. But don't get too attached to him.”
“I know,” I said. “I just don't know how not to get attached. I'm not like you, Mina.”
“At least you know when the so-called expiration date is,” Mina pointed out. “For a lot of couples, they just never know that kind of thing, and when the end comes, they're totally surprised as well as upset.”
“He doesn't know when he's going to leave Hawaii,” I said miserably. “For all I know, it could be tomorrow.”
“It had better not be tomorrow,” Mina said, and I could hear a steely note in her voice. “He'd better at least stay through the luau because you just bought a killer dress to wear to it. If he stands you up, I swear I'll go after him, even if it means I have to dodge angry hordes of media to do it!”
I laughed a little. “I don't know what I've done to get such a great best friend,” I said happily.
Mina shrugged. “I know you'd do the same for me,” she pointed out.
“Definitely,” I agreed.
We sat there in contented silence for a long moment. Finally, Mina looked over at me, a gleam in her eye. “If you don't want to fuck Christian again, I definitely wouldn't mind having your sloppy seconds on that one.”
I burst out laughing, knowing that she didn't mean it. She would never do that to me, and especially not when I'd admitted to having feelings for him. “Keep dreaming, girl,” I told her. “But hey, maybe once he's back to New York, his tales of beaches and luaus and pretty girls will send some of his fellow billionaires down. You can get the next one.”
Chapter Nineteen
Christian
When Gretchen walked into the hotel lobby on Monday evening, she looked stunning. She was always a beautiful girl, but this dress in particular was incredible. It did nothing to disguise her luscious curves, and the color was perfect next to her dark complexion.
I was glad I'd gone with the loose, white tunic and khaki shorts; we were going to look amazing standing next to each other.
I grinned an
d pulled her into my arms, kissing her once on each cheek. “Hey babe,” I told her. “There aren't enough words in the universe for how gorgeous you look tonight.”
Gretchen blushed noticeably, which honestly was such an adorable reaction to being told she was beautiful. “Thanks,” she said shyly.