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“Alright, buddy.” Diego lands his palm on my shoulder.
Lily frowns at me.
I’m glad she’s getting what she wants, but it doesn’t mean I have to be a close witness for the rest of the evening. My wingman duties are done.
I venture into the crowd, searching for my friends. Instead, my attention snags on Lily and Diego, who are making their way over to the coolers overflowing with beer.
She hates beer.
Lily’s head tips back in laughter as she traces her fingers over Diego’s forearm. Her skin glows with a tan, warmed by hours of lounging in the sun. Those perfect curves are held together by a dress I bought her from one of the beach vendors. It’s different from her regular monotone wardrobe, with splashes of red and purple across the sheer fabric and a cut down the middle, exposing her stomach.
Rio looks good on her. Spending the entire summer with me would look even better.
I bounce my gaze away from them, trying to settle the piping-hot wash of anger finding its way into my throat.
Why does it matter to me if she wants to hook up with Diego? She’s not fucking mine.
I find Marcelo surrounded by a group of women in bikinis and a few guys from our class. He waves me over.
It’s time to have a little fun.
* * *
My heartbeat syncswith the music, and my calves strain from learning how to samba. Tequila shots swim in my veins.
This is the life.
On either side of me, Marcelo and João dance with two stunning women, both of whom seem thrilled to find themselves wrapped up with my friends.
“Nico.” A hand grabs my shoulder and spins me around. Susana again. I try to shrug her off, but her fingers tighten.
“Hey.” I look for an escape route.
Sure, Susana is a damn good surfer and undeniably cute. She has a button nose and large round eyes that sit nicely on her face. The entire night she’s been throwing not-so-subtle hints at me, practically spelling out she’s interested.
But I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m not feeling it. Honestly, I haven’t been interested in anyone since landing in Rio.
Well, except for a certain woman I can’t have.
Susana yells over the loud music, but I can’t make out anything she’s saying.
I lean down to her. “Huh?”
“Walk?” She points to a path leading down to the water.
I catch Lily dancing hand in hand with Diego, who pulls her close.
Half the people at this party, almost all the fucking men, can’t stop staring at her. They’re probably waiting for the opportunity to approach her. As if they’d even have a chance with Diego’s clasp around her waist.
It’s disgustingly territorial. He leans down to whisper something in her ear, and her mouth hangs open with a wide grin. There’s no way the dude’s making jokes while she’s grinding on his front half.
I force a heavy breath through my lungs.
What could he possibly be saying to make her laugh almost as hard as I do?
“Hello, Nico?” Susana waves a hand in front of my face, her eyes heavy with expectation.
“What’s up?”
