by Kennedy Fox
“I can tell how passionate you are just by the way you talk about it. And especially how you ran to Dylan’s rescue without a second thought.”
“I am. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a teen.” I basically already was to my baby sister by the time I was twelve.
My drink is completely gone, but I keep sucking on the straw, and Alex has already ordered his third beer when Adam and Natalie come strolling back by.
“We just wanted to let you know we’re heading to our room,” Adam tells me, holding Natalie’s hand tightly as if to keep her from roaming away.
“Are you two getting along?” Natalie speaks up, making things awkward again. “He’s single, River. Don’t worry, I checked for ya,” she says nice and loud, flashing a very obvious wink my way.
“Thanks,” I mutter, sliding off my stool and tossing my purse over my shoulder. “Let me help Adam get you back to your room before you tell everyone here I have daddy issues and a broken heart, m’kay?”
“I would never say that,” she whisper-shouts in a very serious drunken tone, forcing a laugh out of me. “Don’t worry, Alex. River’s totally normal and is a goddess in and out of the sheets.” She winks at him, and she doesn’t know how to wink with alcohol in her system, so she’s basically just blinking harshly at him like a witch trying to put a spell on someone.
“Okay, time to go.” I grab Natalie’s other hand and start to follow Adam.
“Bye, River!” Alex calls out, grabbing my attention.
I blush for some unknown reason and wave back. “See ya!”
The first five days in Key West have certainly been interesting. After meeting Alex and Dylan on Monday, we haven’t seen much of them since then. We’ve run into them during breakfast, but then Natalie and I have kept busy shopping and exploring the streets as well as tanning and drinking by the pool. I’m sure they’ve been busy themselves, but Alex has still been on my mind for some reason.
I can’t deny that he’s good looking, and his accent definitely alerts my senses, but there’s something else I can’t quite put my finger on. However, knowing my history with men, it’s probably not a good thing. Even if he is single, we’re from two different worlds. What would be the point of getting involved with someone who lives hundreds of miles away?
The fact that I’m even thinking about this makes me want to slap myself.
It’s gotta be from all the sun, I tell myself. Or the abundance of alcohol.
Either way, I’m quick to push those types of thoughts from my head. There’s no time for men in my life right now, especially after Asshole wasted half a year of it.
“Tonight, we’re going to a pub on Duval Street!” Natalie tells me as we sit for lunch.
“I think I need to detox for a night,” I whimper, waking up with a headache for the fourth morning in a row.
“No, tonight’s different!” she insists, and I resist rolling my eyes because she says that every time. “It’s ladies’ night, which means we drink for dirt cheap! Plus, there’s a local live band, and I really, really want to hear them play. Please!” she begs pathetically, yet it works.
“Being the third wheel was cute the first time, but now I’m just looking pathetic as fuck,” I tell her, groaning at the thought. I stab a piece of chicken with my fork and stuff it into my mouth. Considering the drinks have been nonstop, I need all the food I can get to absorb the alcohol.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you come to have fun and drink, or did you come to wallow like an old lady?” she scolds in a motherly tone. When she catches me roll my eyes that time, she continues. “That’s what I thought. You can be responsible and shit when we get back home. Until then, we live it up!” She raises both arms above her head like we’re on a roller coaster.
“Okay, I’ll go, just put your damn arms back down.” I chuckle around my forkful of food.
“Invite Alex and Dylan,” she tells me again, as she has for the last three nights. I’ve already told her my concerns and reasons for not wanting to get too close, but she waves it off and reminds me I’m here to have fun.
I head back to my room and get ready for the night. Natalie ordered me to wear my best dress, which isn’t hard considering I only own one. Working nonstop doesn’t give me a lot of time for going out or dancing, but this little black number has paid for itself in drinks time and time again.
Once I’ve showered and finished my hair and makeup, I slip it on and pull out my heels. I’m not sure exactly what kind of bar this is, but if there’s dancing and a band, I can only assume I’ll need to dress up.
I’m used to throwing my blonde hair up into a ponytail or bun while working, but tonight, I decide to leave it down and curl it in loose waves. I take a look in the mirror and barely recognize myself but smile at the reflection anyway.
A knock on the door grabs my attention, and as I walk toward it, I grab my purse and phone off the table before opening it.
“Girl!” Natalie squeals, barging her way in. “Hot damn.”
She gives me a once-over, and I do the same to her. She’s wearing an emerald cocktail dress that complements her fiery hair and pale complexion. She looks damn good, but Natalie always does. Walking over to the full-length mirror attached to the closet door, she reaches into her purse and digs out her lipstick.
“This color would look amazing on you. Come here,” she orders, opening the lid and twisting the bottom till a bright red color appears.
“Holy shit, that’s bright,” I tell her, wary of putting it on. “What color is that?”
“It’s called Hooker Red, but don’t let the name scare you. It’s actually really pretty on.”
My eyes widen, and my brows rise. “Why don’t I trust you?”
She chuckles, then pulls me to her till we’re both in the mirror’s view. “Just shush and trust me, all right?”
“But I don’t trust you.” I laugh, pulling away, but she grabs my wrist and pulls me back again.
Giving in, I let her put the Hooker Red color on my lips, and when she turns me around to face the mirror, I actually don’t hate it.
“Told you,” she gushes.
I playfully scoff in defeat and smile. “You got lucky.” I point at my black dress that would match any color anyway.
“Okay, let’s go! Adam’s waiting for us in the lobby.”
Even though the bar isn’t that far, we take a taxi because I’ll be damned if I’m walking in these heels. I don’t need to go back to work with a sprained ankle, or worse.
“Oh my God!” Natalie squeals as we exit the backseat. “How cool is this?”
People are piling out of the bar, hanging out on the streets, and the music is so loud it could probably be heard from the beach. This is definitely going to be a wild night.
Chapter Seven
ALEX
Hanging out with River and talking to her really opened my eyes to the kind of person she is—kind, caring, sweet. She didn’t hesitate for a second to come to Dylan’s rescue, and I find myself so intrigued by her that I want to know even more—if she’ll let me.
“Did you harass the nurses all night?” I tease Dylan while we’re in the back of the taxi.
“More like, they harassed me all damn night. When I’d finally fall asleep, they’d barge in, flick on the light, and say they needed to check my vitals. The first time, I was like okay, no big deal. But by the fourth time, I told her to get the hell out of my room.”
I snort, shaking my head at him. “You did not.”
“I sure as fuck did. Couldn’t get no more than fifty minutes of sleep before they were waking me up, and when four a.m. rolled around, I was over it.”
“Damn. Now, I’m glad you made me go back to the hotel last night. Otherwise, I’d be a cranky asshole like you.” I grin, adjusting my ball cap.
He wrinkles his nose and doesn’t respond. Once we’re back to our room, it’s just past noon, and I’m starving.
“Should we find someplace to eat?”
“Soun
ds good to me. Let me grab a quick shower first to get this hospital stank off me.”
I grab the remote and flick on the TV while he showers. The first few days in Key West have definitely been interesting ones, and even though it got off to a rough start with Dylan’s near-drowning, I know we aren’t going to let that ruin our time here. In fact, Dylan’s ready to party more now than ever.
Over the next few days, we continue exploring the island and even take one of those bus tours. I keep a lookout for River but don’t see her at the pool, bar, or beach. I’m partially worried she left, but then I remember Natalie saying they were here for two weeks too.
“Stop,” Dylan groans as we walk around the historical parts of the Keys.
“What?” I ask, not bothering to look at him.
“You keep looking for River.”
That grabs my attention. “What are you talking about? I’m looking at all the…” It’s then I realize I have no idea what I’m looking at. “This historical building.”
He scoffs. “You idiot. This is the Hemingway House.”
Blinking, I look around and realize he’s right when I see the sign. We’ve been walking around and taking buses to different areas, but I’ve also been so lost in my head I hadn’t realized where we were.
“I knew that.”
Looking up at him, he rolls his eyes and keeps walking as I follow behind.
“Okay, I was looking for her,” I finally admit, catching up. “I haven’t seen her since the bar on Monday night, and I kind of want to see her again. Is that so bad?”
“See her or bang her?” he teases, knowing my reputation.
It takes me a minute to really think about it. “Well, I wouldn’t say no if she offered, but I really liked talking with River and just being around her. I don’t know, she has this vibe I’m gravitating toward. It’s hard to explain,” I confess, feeling more confused than before. I don’t typically hang out with girls unless it’s to get her into my bed.
“I should’ve known,” he says as I fall into step with him, and we make our way back to the hotel.
“Known what?”
“That you’d get hung up on the first hot girl you saw—who’s way out of your league, by the way—even though there are probably hundreds from you to pick from, and now I’m gonna hear about it for the next ten days.”
“Okay, asshole.” I punch him in the shoulder. “I do not get hung up on girls. Wanting to chat up a girl is no different than when I meet a girl in a bar back home,” I lie, mostly to convince myself, but Dylan knows me way too well to know I’m bullshittin’ through my teeth.
“Fine, then prove it. Let’s go out tonight, hit up a busy bar or somethin’ and find a girl to hook up with.”
“You’re telling me to go sleep with someone to prove to you I’m not hung up on River?” I confirm, realizing how insane it sounds. But what’s crazier is how much she intrigues me, and we’ve only just met. If I’m going to hook up with a chick during this trip, I want it to be her.
Any other time, I’d be all over a dare like this. I’m not about to admit that to him, though.
“Pff, easy.” I swallow, not wanting him to see through my lies.
After grabbing a quick bite, we go back to the hotel and get ready for the night. I’m more determined to prove to myself that I can’t be hung up on River than to prove Dylan wrong. I can do this. I can find a chick and bring her back and fuck her brains out. Hell, it should be second nature by now.
“You ready?” Dylan calls out an hour later.
“Almost,” I tell him.
I finish up and step out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to head out. Deciding to leave my ball cap off, I comb my fingers through my hair until it’s tousled, then I decide to wear my black cowboy boots with my relaxed fit jeans.
“’Kay, I’m good to go.”
Dylan and I walk down Duval Street, knowing it has the best nightlife near the hotel. We’ve learned a cab ride back is cheap since most of the bars are within walking distance, but when you’re tipsy and can’t walk straight, it feels like miles.
“Don’t forget our deal,” Dylan reminds me as if I need reminding.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
He slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Good. Don’t forget the code word either.” He flashes a shit-eating smirk.
We head into the bar we’ve visited the last couple of nights and order our first round of beers. The streets are packed with tourists, and my hope for seeing River again diminishes.
“Hey, mates!” Liam, a guy we met the other night, greets us just as we order our second round. He has a girl hanging off his arm tonight, though. He’s from Sydney, which was pretty obvious once we heard him speak.
“Hey!” Dylan and I both say. “How’s it goin’?”
Before Liam can respond, the girl speaks up. “Oh my God! I love your accents!” she squeals.
“They sound like you,” he tells the girl, but she dismisses him with a wave.
“Texas, right?” she asks in an overly flirty tone.
“Yes, ma’am,” Dylan answers. “Where you from?”
“Ontario,” she replies with a wide smile. “I’m Jessica, by the way. I just love the south. I’m completely infatuated with it.”
The girl’s hand loosens out of Liam’s arm, and soon he’s shrugging her off and ordering himself another drink.
“Did you find your girl yet?” he asks me while Dylan chats with Jessica, or, rather, Jessica chats up Dylan.
I frown. “No. I’m starting to think it’s hopeless.” I shrug, pretending it’s no big deal.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Dylan interrupts with a groan. “You told Liam about her, too?”
Liam grins and nods.
“Not really,” I start to explain. “He asked why I wasn’t out on the dance floor, and I said I was trying to find a girl I met the other night. That’s all.”
“River,” Liam adds. “Guess we’ll need to put together a search party soon.” He chuckles.
Dylan shakes his head disapprovingly. “Well, he’s been given a new mission tonight,” he tells Liam and Jessica. “Find a girl to bring back to the room to prove he’s not hung up on her.” He jabs his elbow into my side.
Liam’s eyes widen as he takes a pull from his beer. “Really, mate?” He turns and looks at me for confirmation.
I shrug and purse my lips.
“If he brings a girl home tonight, where does that leave you?” Jessica asks slyly, directing all her attention back to Dylan.
Tuning them out, I turn toward the bar to order another beer. If I have to go through with this dare, fuck if I can do it sober.
“What if you end up finding her, after all?” Liam asks, sitting on the stool next to me without concern that Jessica is now all over Dylan. Apparently, he’s not bothered by it.
I shrug, not really wanting to answer that. “What if I don’t?”
“You won’t know, but I bet if you do, you’ll regret sleeping with someone else.” His words go straight to my gut.
“I’ve only regretted sleeping with two women in my entire life,” I tell him matter-of-factly. “One was because she forgot to tell me she was engaged—and I don’t sleep with women who are spoken for—and the other because she turned out to be bat-shit crazy. She left me thirty-four voicemails within twenty-four hours, and because that wasn’t enough of a hint to leave me the hell alone, she showed up at my door.”
Liam starts cracking up laughing. “No!”
“Not only that, she shows up wearing an oversized trench coat with a bottle of whiskey.”
“A trench coat?” He looks confused.
“Yep, and when I told her I wasn’t interested, she opened her coat and was completely naked.” I take a pull from my beer, shaking my head at the memory.
“Holy fuck. Naked?” Liam continues to laugh. “How’d you talk your way out of that one?”
I hang my head and shake it.
“No…” he slowly says. “No, mate.
Don’t tell me…”
I close my eyes and reluctantly shake my head. “Yep. I blame the whiskey, though.”
“So then what happened? How’d you get rid of her?”
I pinch my lips together, realizing it probably wasn’t the best story to share with a person I barely know, but what the hell. It’s not like I’ll see him ever again once we leave.
“Walked her to the door the next morning, told her I’d call her, and then changed my number.”
Liam is dying with laughter, completely losing control.
“Then when I saw her at the diner in town two months later, she walked up to me with an entire pie and smashed it in my face in front of everyone.”
“Oh, fuck.” Liam continues his fit of laughter.
“Then to top it off, she grabbed my hot cup of coffee and poured it in my lap.”
Dylan finally breaks away from Jessica long enough to show his interest in our conversation. “You talkin’ ’bout Crazy Carly?” He grins, and when I confirm it, he starts laughing along with Liam.
“Crazy Carly?” Liam asks. “Sounds fitting.”
“Way, way too fitting,” I agree, grabbing my beer and finishing it.
We hang out with Liam and Jessica for another hour before we decide to take off and find another bar. Loud music comes from both directions, but we head toward the bar where a live band is playing.
“You’re going to run out of time,” Dylan teases. “However, some girls are probably desperate enough to go back to the room with you tonight.” He chuckles.
“Fuck off.” I push him slightly as we enter the bar. “I don’t need a babysitter, so why don’t you find your own girl for the night.”
“I was trying to get Jessica, but I felt like I’d be stealing her away from Liam.”
“Nah, I don’t think he cared. Seemed like they’d just met anyway.”
“Really?” His brows raise. “Well, then I’m going to go back and find her. You sure you don’t mind if I leave?”