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Ensley shoves the straw back in her mouth, scowling.
I’m not sure what to say or do. I don’t want to get between the women.
“The men are struck dumb,” says the younger hat-sister with a laugh.
“Probably for the best,” says the older one.
I try to come up with something to smooth things over. “I respect your concern,” I say to Ensley, who has already made it halfway through her mermaid. “Tillie and I discussed from the beginning our expectations for the end.”
But even as I say it, I wonder,Did we?
The older hat-sister pushes the drink to the younger one to try. “Who asked whom out first?”
Tillie glances at me. “Um, technically, he asked me first. But I kissed him first.”
“Oooh.” The sisters exchange a glance.
“You’re going to get your heart broken,” Ensley says with a hiccup. She claps her hand over her mouth. She still hasn’t touched the blue Hawaii.
“Hearts aren’t involved,” Tillie says, and my own sinks a little. Of course hers isn’t. She’s going home soon.
“I’m leaving in the morning,” Ensley says. “I don’t want to leave poor Lila to deal with both a crying baby and a crying baby sister on the plane.”
“She won’t,” Tillie assures her. “It’s not like that.”
I busy myself with wiping the bar, holding my expression intensely neutral. Even so, I wonder,How did I get here?From brief encounters, shedding women like wet socks, to standing here, my stomach a well of lava over Tillie’s assertion that we mean nothing to each other.
Ensley shakes her head, realizes her mermaid is empty, and pulls the blue Hawaii closer. She takes one sip and grimaces. “What did you do to this?”
Tillie takes it away. “The mermaid is sweeter. You’ll need a palate cleanser to make this one taste right.”
Ensley turns to Drew. “I need a palate cleanser.”
He takes her hand to lift her from her stool. “Probably we need to take a boat back to our island.” He frowns. “Can you handle a boat?”
Ensley stumbles to her feet. “Of course I can handle a boat.”
Behind her, both sisters make slashing motions with their hands. Lila pretends to throw up to get her point across.
“Put her in the extra room,” Tillie says. “Garrett’s room. She can sleep it off.”
Drew nods. “I’ll pack up our things and bring them here. It’s an easier trip to the airport from your condo than from the private island.”
“I’ll go with you.” Lila moves Rosie to her hip. “Tillie, will you come by tomorrow to see them off? They don’t fly out until noon.”
Tillie nods. “Sure.”
Drew leads Ensley toward the condos, followed by Lila.
Tillie dumps the blue Hawaii down the sink. “That went well.”
I busy myself folding bar towels. “She liked the mermaid.”
“Can we get one of those?” The sisters have finished their chocolate drink.
“Sure.” I’m more than happy to focus on a complicated drink.
Tillie puts away the extra bottles. “Sorry to put you on the spot about the blue Hawaii. She got it in her head that it’s a Hawaiian, and I’ve never corrected her.”
