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I glowered at Kaia. She was just eighteen, working at the resort as a housekeeper to gather money for college tuition.
“What are you still doing here?” I asked.
She didn’t live far, so she didn’t stay at the employee housing, yet she was here before the sun rose and long after it went down every day.
She grinned. “I didn’t want you and Vera to miss me too much, so I stuck around. I might even spend the night with you, Char. I know you’ll love that.”
I rolled my eyes, but it was with pure affection. Kaia was like an annoying little sister whom I adored. I suspected she was trying to avoid her home, but she wouldn’t tell me why. So, I usually let her spend the night without question.
“Sure… and what do you guys suggest I wear?”
The two exchanged glances again. Their conspiring smiles made me a tad nervous. I squinted my eyes with suspicion as they approached much like predators with juicy prey in their sights…
Thirty minutes later, I stared at myself in the full-length mirror. My friends had gotten me to put on a floral dress that had been burning a hole in the back of my closet. It was white with an array of colorful blooms all over it.
The waist was cinched by a belt and the skirt reached only mid-thigh, showing off my legs. My hair had been brushed and hung in waves around my shoulders. I had on light eyeshadow and my lips were painted red. I lifted an eyebrow at the reflection of my stylists standing proudly behind me.
“Lipstick, you guys? Really? I’m just going to the lobby for five minutes to say howdy to the guy.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Vera says. “He’s your ex-boyfriend. Never let your ex see you looking less than glamorous. You should always show them what they’ve been missing.”
“Who the hell makes these rules?” I threw my arms up.
“Who cares?” Kaia rested her hands on my shoulders and smiled. “You look great. He’s going to want you back for sure.”
“Oh, my god,” I groaned. “Girls, you misunderstood. Lincoln is a buddy now.”
“He called to tell you that he was here,” Vera reasoned. “That must mean something.”
“Yeah, he’s happy to see an old friend, as am I.”
Vera and Kaia didn’t look happy.
“I’m not getting back with my ex, guys. I doubt Lincoln has even considered it. Sorry to burst your bubble.” I chuckled because their disappointed pouts reminded me of my mother. Everyone was trying to marry me off, and it was comical.
“You’ve been here for seven months, and I’ve never seen you go on a date,” Kaia said.
“And it isn’t like you lack male attention,” Vera added. “Staff and guests have flirted with you, but you never seem to notice. Josh has been shamelessly throwing himself at you for months.”
Josh was another instructor in my department. Vera was right. He wasn’t subtle with his flirting.
“Oh, I notice,” I told her as I smoothed my dress. I resigned myself to taking a stroll to the lobby in the ridiculously dressy outfit. “I’m just not interested.”
“Why not?” Kaia asked.
I took no offense to her asking that like I would if Mom had asked. Kaia looked at me with genuine curiosity, not with outrage and disbelief.
“Well, Kaia, I’m not sure if you’ll understand at your age, but I like my freedom. I feel like getting seriously involved with anyone will be cumbersome in a way. Not that being with someone you like or love isn’t great.” I shrugged. “I just like to be able to move where and when I want without having to worry about how my partner feels about it.” That was a major reason Lincoln and I didn’t work out.
Kaia’s eyeballs did a full rotation as she considered what I said. “I get it. You like being a free spirit.”
I smiled.
Vera watched me closely. She then said with confidence, “You just haven’t met the right guy yet, that’s all.”
I shrugged. I had nothing against love and romance, so I didn’t disagree. I wasn’t looking for Mr. Right, but I sure as hell wouldn’t turn him away if he showed up. I glanced at the clock hanging above my door.
“I should get to the lobby. Lincoln said he’d likely be at the hotel around five.”
