“Uh, no. Not yet.”
The stranger wearing a mesh top that shows starfish nipple covers nudges Carina in the arm with hers.
“Oh, yeah,” Carina pipes up, melancholy expression gone. “Since you missed the meet and greet, you haven’t been formally introduced.” She motions to Starfish. “This is Camila.” And then to the one with whimsical pigtails. “And this is Lety.”
Camila smiles and extends a hand toward me. She’s shorter than the rest of the girls, probably 5’2, with skin as dark as mine. “Pleasure to meet you,” she says.
“Yeah, it’s finally great to put a face to the stories,” Lety adds.
I can only imagine the stories these women were told.
I give a weak smile and tell them, “I’m gonna head back and help Marley with getting checked into our room.”
“She’s a big girl. I’m sure she can handle it. She knows to tell them you’re under the Sterling wedding, right?”
“Yeah,yeah, of course.”
“Come out with us,” says Lety. Her hand is in mine, pulling me before I can leave. “There’s a club about 20 minutes from here.”
“Nah, I’m good. Long flight. Then the drive. I just need some sleep.” I pry my hands from her grip.
“Sleep?” Carina’s brows lift. “Did you not get the memo? We are turning up this entire week for my wedding.”
“Yassss! Team No Sleep!” Camila howls. She bends her knees and starts twerking, her skirt inching up her thighs as her ass moves like a tsunami.
I look away.
“We’re in Maui,” Lety purrs, pressing her palm against my chest. “Let’s have some fun.”
Carina grabs Lety by the shoulder, pulling her back and out of my way. “Get out of the man’s personal space.”
Then Carina’s eyes shoot to me.
“Are you trying to ruin this week for me? First, you miss flying with us on the jet, you barely respond in the group chat, and now you’re backing out on our first night in Maui.”
I don’t even have time to respond before Danielle jumps to my defense. “What part ofhe’s tireddon’t you get, Carina? The man just got here.With his girlfriend. Let them relax.”
Good ole Dani. Hasn’t changed a bit. She’s still the only person, besides myself, who isn’t afraid to stand up to Carina.
“Can we please go before my buzz wears off?” Camila whines.
“Where are Gavin and the others?” I ask Danielle. “Are they going to?”
“The men all called it quits for the night. They’resleeping,” Danielle says, her tone pointed. She side-eyes Carina, her expression annoyed and over it. “I’ll be in the Hummer.” She turns on her heel, her long skirt flowing behind her as she saunters toward the lobby doors.
Camila wiggles a goodbye with her fingers, then strolls off too, leaving Lety and Carina in front of me.
I shoot Carina a disbelieving look. “And I was supposed to just hang out with you and your bridesmaids all night?”
Lety slides back into my personal space. “And what’s wrong with that?”
I laugh under my breath and shake my head. “Unbelievable. You ladies, have a good night.”
Lety gives up on her advances with a dramatic eye roll before she follows the others out. Carina doesn’t budge. Our eyes meet, and I can see her dark brown orbs searching mine, probably trying to gauge where my head is at or how I’m feeling for her, or if I’m still stuck on what we had in the past. I hope she can see that anything I felt for her before is gone.
“Cute girlfriend,” she smiles, but I know she’s fucking with me.
“I know.”
