“You go to college?”
“Yes, Cambridge. Where did you go?”
“Imperial Supérieure.” She takes another drink.
“Imperial Supérieure,” I repeat. Of course I know of it. Everyone does. It’s one of the most elite in the world, but it’s small and tight. It also only accepts girls. “Smart and beautiful.” Mable’s cheeks flush, and she becomes flustered by my remark. I love the effect I have on her. I plan on having it a whole lot more.
I would imagine people tell her that daily because she is. When I’d spotted her, I stopped dead in my tracks, all my attention zoning in on her.
“I need to use the restroom.” She polishes off her drink and starts to get up. I stand, pulling the chair out for her. “Thanks.” I watch her speed-walk away from me into the bathroom that is in eyesight.
I order another round and pull out my phone and text Tomas. I give him her first name. I want to make sure our seats are next to each other. He’ll handle it even if we’re boarding shortly.
Mable returns a few minutes later, just as the waitress is setting down her new drink in front of her. “Thanks.” I get a soft smile from her. “Are you local here?” she asks me, relaxing a little.
Is she fucking with me? I don’t get that from her. In fact, I’m getting the opposite.
“I’m from Solaria,” I tell her and watch her expressive face.
“I’ve heard it’s pretty there.”
“Breathtaking.” It is, but so is she, and I’d rather watch her.
“Wait, don’t they have some of the best beaches in the world?”
“We do.”
“Then why are you going to another island?”
“My brother is getting married.”
“Oh.” She sits up straight, tilting her head to the side. “That’s sweet.” Is Mable a romantic?
“What about you?” I pray she’s not about to tell me she’s going out there to party and is meeting up with a bunch of classmates. I’m already getting pissed off thinking about her in a bikini, taking shots with a bunch of fuckboys. It’s irrational of me, but it’s the truth.
“A random pick.” She does a small wiggle in her seat as she sips on her drink. Mable is feeling the effects already. “I’m being spontaneous!” Her eyes widen, and she glances around, dropping down into her seat. “Did I scream that?”
“No, sweetheart.” Spontaneous. Does that mean what I think it does? “You’re traveling alone.”
“No.” The response comes too fast.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“I know,” she huffs.
I grit my teeth so that I hold my tongue. I want to give her a scolding, but that’s not going to win me any favors if I want to spend more time with her, and that’s exactly what I’m planning on doing.
“Why alone?” I ask.
“Who else is going to come with me? My best friend went and fell in love with her husband, which I knew would happen. I told her. Then we got a missing mom and a dead dad.” She’s feeling the drinks. “Ope! That’s us.” She points to our gate that is starting to board. “It’s been nice talking to you.”
“Who says we’re done?” I toss a few bills down to cover our drinks.
“I can pay.”
I wave it off. “I got to enjoy your company with my drink. I’d say I’ve vastly underpaid.”
“You’re charming. Which means it’s a good thing we won’t be speaking anymore. My fingers already itch to touch you.” Littledoes she know plans are already in motion to make sure we will be spending a lot more time speaking and hopefully doing much more than that.
