Days Of St Croix

by Felicity Pepper

Thirty

  "Oh, Jas, they're beautiful!" Mills exclaimed, lifting the diamond earrings out of the velvet cushion of the box. She held them up to her ears, looking in the mirror that hung over the dresser opposite the enormous bed. "Thank you so much. I love them."

  "I'm glad. Happy birthday, Mills. I know it's early, but I wanted to give them to you today." Jas pulled the Bollinger out of the bucket of ice and wiped it down with a cotton napkin. He peeled off the foil and started undoing the muselet.

  "They're perfect. This room is perfect. You're perfect." Mills turned away from the mirror and walked towards Jas. "I am so ready to do this." She smiled a wide, boozy smile and wrapped her arms around Jas's neck, pulling him towards her. The cold, wet glass of the champagne bottle pressed against her stomach, but she didn't care. She was so happy. She was beyond happy. She leaned in and touched her lips to Jas's chin, then his neck, nibbling little kisses all the way down to his collar.

  "Careful." Jas whispered as he eased the cork out of the bottle with a hollow pop. Mills giggled, kissing and blowing gently into his ear. She released him, stepped back and looked him in the eyes.

  "I'll be right back, okay? Don't go anywhere." Mills stepped around the bed and crossed the room, going into the bathroom. She pulled the door shut.

  "Don't worry. There's absolutely nowhere I'd rather be right now." Jas replied, pouring two glasses of bubbly champagne that flowed over and spilled onto the table. He grabbed the napkin and mopped up the mess. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and smiled.

  He had been waiting for this moment for months, imagining how it would turn out. He could hardly believe his luck. Here he was, alone with his beautiful girlfriend whom he was absolutely sure, at last, that he loved, and they were about to do it. But not just do it in a hurry in some dark room or parked car; they had all afternoon and all night together with no disturbances.

  He heard a phone beep and he looked around for the source. It wasn't his. It must have been Mills getting a text message. She had her purse with her in the bathroom. What was she doing, anyway? Getting ready? He undid his shirt by a few buttons and sat on the bed, taking one of the glasses of champagne and sipping it. He heard the bathroom door open and Mills stepped out.

  She was dressed only in a lacy bra and panties. They were glossy black , and showed off the golden brown of her skin. Jas inhaled silently. She looked stunning. In her right hand she held her cellphone. Jas couldn't take his eyes off her body.

  "Wow." He said, grinning. "You look fantastic." Mills didn't reply. With a great deal of effort, Jas peeled his eyes off her boobs and looked at his girlfriend's face. She was looking at him in an odd way. Without knowing why, he felt his stomach lurch. "Everything okay?"

  "I just got a text from that girl. You know, the one from the bar?"

  Jas nodded, "Uh huh."

  "It's probably nothing. It just seems kind of weird." Mills paused, then glanced at her cellphone again.

  "What?"

  "Well, she just said 'Have a good time...'"

  "That was nice of her."

  "'...with Jas.'"

  "Just get away from me, Brand. I am so angry with you right now." Tibby stood in front of the elevator, punching the little square button repeatedly. Brand walked quickly, trying to catch up with her.

  "I don't understand, Tibby. That guy was a total creep. If I hadn't come in-"

  "If you hadn't come in, I'd still be reading for his new movie! Who knows? Maybe I would have got the part, too! Fat fucking chance now. I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe you did that."

  Brand stood behind Tibby, watching her shoulders rise and fall. He had never seen any of his friends this furious before. He reached out his hand to touch her on the shoulder before thinking better of it. The elevator pinged and the doors slid open. Tibby stepped inside.

  "Tibby, wait." He started to follow her.

  "Don't even fucking dream of coming in here, Brand. I don't ever want to see you again." Tibby pushed the star and retreated to the back corner of the elevator. Brand stood in the doorway.

  "Tibby-"

  "You've ruined everything, Brand. Everything." The doors slid closed.

  "I don't know how she knew my name, Mills. Maybe you mentioned me to her while you were in the bar?"

  "Nope. I would have remembered that. We didn't even talk about you."

  "Are you sure? You were pretty buzzed by the time I arrived-"

  "Are you calling me stupid?" Mills stood in front of Jas, her hands on her hips. Jas was still on the bed, but he felt distinctly less comfortable now. He swung his legs around and sat facing Mills.

  "Of course not, baby." He reached out and brushed his fingers against her waist, but she stepped back. She stared at him for a second.

  "Do you know her, Jas?"

  "What?"

  "Do you know her?"

  "Mills-"

  "Oh my God. Is that who you were with last night?" Mills felt a rush of cold blood to her face. Suddenly she felt very stupid standing in the middle of the hotel room in her underwear. She started to move away, then she turned back towards Jas. "Did you sleep with her last night?"

  Jas didn't reply. He didn't really know what he could say at this point to try and salvage the situation. In truth, he hadn't slept with Paige, but that was a technicality. He had gotten drunk with her and ended up almost naked in bed with her. Did it matter that they hadn't finished the job?

  "I'm sorry. I should have told you I was meeting her yesterday. But there's nothing going on between us." He sighed. He couldn't bring himself to look at Mills, so he stared at the wall.

  "Just tell me whether you slept with her, Jas."

  "Mills, it's not that simple-"

  "Fuck you! It is that simple!" Mills grabbed a glass of champagne and threw the contents at Jas. Most of it splashed across the bed covers, but a few droplets hit him in the face. He flinched slightly, turning to face Mills, but she was halfway across the room already. She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. Jas thought he heard a muffled sob. A few moments later, she emerged, fully dressed.

  "Mills, can we talk about this?" Jas stood up and walked over to her.

  "Definitely. When you're ready to tell me the truth, then we'll talk." She seemed calmer. She was typing something into her phone as she reached for the door handle.

  "I'm not lying to you!"

  "Sure, Jas. Goodbye." Mills opened the door just enough and slipped out. Jas caught the door before it closed but Mills was halfway down the corridor. She didn't look back.

  Thirty-One

  Mills just wanted to lie down. Her head hurt, her makeup had mixed with her tears in the cab on the way back to school, and she wanted to bury herself under her duvet and sulk. But when she got back to her room, the door was open and Tibby was sitting on her bed.

  She looked like she had been crying, too. She had a bottle of mineral water in one hand, and her cellphone in the other. She looked up when Mills entered.

  "Hey babe, I got your message. Sorry I didn't text you back, but I need someone to talk to, too."

  "Outside?"

  Tibby nodded.

  "Just give me a second." Mills went into the bathroom and ran the water in the sink. She tied her hair back, splashed her face, then wiped off her makeup and put on some sweatpants and a St Croix hoodie.

  "Got anything to drink?" Tibby poked her head around the door.

  "Oh God, no. Please, no! My head feels like a wrecking ball." Mills laughed.

  "Probably wise. I'll get my cigarettes. And cookies. Meet you outside?" Tibby asked, heading over to the window and pushing it open.

  Brand slumped down on the stool and rested his elbows on the bar. The barman was reading the newspaper.

  "Scotch, please." He pulled out his phone and laid it on the polished wood in front of him. It would be a miracle if Tibby were to call him now, but he didn't want to miss it if she did. If he was honest, he felt kind of pissed off that she had reacted the way she did, but he was starti
ng to come around to the idea that maybe barging into Etienne Girard's hotel room wasn't the smoothest thing to do. Still, his intentions had been noble. He was holding out for the possibility that Tibby might eventually see it that way, too. He could have used some male company just then; he didn't understand girls. Unfortunately, his best friend was busy upstairs, and anyway, he was due to report back to the coach at school soon.

  His phone beeped.

  JasGen: Dude, sorry to bother u... r u around?

  ABMan: Yeah, downstairs in the bar.

  JasGen: Tibby with u?

  ABMan: Nope, just me.

  JasGen: What happened?

  ABMan: Long story... I'll tell u later?

  JasGen: How about now? I'm not busy...anymore

  ABMan: Uh oh.

  JasGen: Yeah, long story. I'll be down in 5.

  Brand looked at the clock, then waved at the barman. He looked up from his paper.

  "Uh, better make that two scotches."

  THE END