“I broke up with my girlfriend this past year,” he said. “And it was the same thing. I felt like we never really connected.” He paused, then let his hand float up her arm over to her back, tickling her ever so slightly. Alexa closed her eyes. His touch was setting her skin on fire.
“You know when you have that connection with someone,” Diego whispered. “You just feel it.”
When Alexa opened her eyes, Diego’s face was very close to hers.
“Do you feel it now?” Alexa asked him, her lips brushing against his. She was heady with lust.
Diego didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her.
It was a serious kiss. Deep, and slow, and full of longing. Diego’s full mouth felt sublime pressed against hers. Alexa was already greedy for the next kiss. She couldn’t get enough of him.
The humidity that had lingered all evening exploded in a clap of thunder. Fat, heavy drops of rain began to fall, splashing on Alexa’s bare arms, and legs. She was disappointed when Diego pulled away, stood, and drew the gauzy white drape across the cabana, shielding them from the rain. But then he returned to the sofa and resumed kissing her, even more passionately this time. Alexa twined her arms around his neck, drinking in his kisses. Then, she drew back to catch her breath. Her mouth felt wonderfully tender. Alexa realized she didn’t want to kiss five guys in one night. Kissing Diego, and only Diego, was almost more than she could take.
Diego slowly stroked the back of her neck, his lips teasing her earlobe. Then he reached up and undid her loose bun, so her hair spilled around her shoulders.
“Quélinda,” he murmured, gazing at her. “You are so pretty.”
“Say something else in Spanish,” Alexa whispered, nuzzling his neck.
Diego smiled. “Do you like that?” he asked. “There is something sexy about speaking a foreign language. You really got me back there when you spoke French.”
“I did?” Alexa asked in surprise. “Up until, like, two seconds ago, I didn’t even think you liked me.”
Diego shook his head, his dimples deepening. “No way. As soon as you got out of that car last night—”
“Oh, stop.” Alexa put her fingers on his lips.
“I’m serious,” Diego went on, caressing her arm. “It’s wasn’t only how you looked. You had this fire and energy that I’ve never seen in anyone, except…”
“Yourself?” Alexa finished for him.
“I guess,” he said with a slow smile. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer. “I wanted to see you again, but I thought you hated me. I didn’t expect you to come tonight.”
“But I did,” Alexa whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. “And I’m happy I did. So happy.”
I’m miserable, Holly thought as she stood in the Rose Bar, having failed at her attempt to order a drink. When she’d managed to flag down a bartender, she had hesitated, then ordered an apple martini, which was what she’d overheard the girls beside her order. But the bartender had asked to see Holly’s ID, promptly ending their exchange. Ian had offered to buy Holly a drink—he looked old enough that nobody thought to card him—but Holly had refused. She’d read in Cosmo Girl that boys expected something from you if they bought you alcohol. And Holly did not want to go down that road with, of all people, Diego’s friend.
But why did talking to Diego feel so lackluster? Holly wondered as she stood there, drinkless and boyless. She watched as Ian chatted up a girl at the other end of the bar; he seemed to have no problem making conversation. Holly remembered her awkward silences with Alexa on the plane ride to Miami. It’s me, she thought. I must be socially inept.
“Why so blue, Holly?”
Holly turned to see Aaron standing very close. He smiled, his aquamarine eyes boring into her.
Holly looked around. Thomas, Kaitlin, Daisy, and Jonathan were nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, I’m not blue,” Holly lied, annoyed that Aaron had cornered her.
“Promise?” he asked “Are you okay? I mean, I feel like you’ve been avoiding me or something.”
“That’s because I am avoiding you,” Holly retorted. She paused, startled by her own response. Maybe it was her frustration both over being carded and the way things were going with Diego, but suddenly she felt a lot more gutsy than usual.
Aaron looked surprised, but he didn’t back down. “Well, maybe we could hang out sometime,” he continued. “You seem like a really special girl.”
That rattled Holly for a minute. Aaron was definitely adorable and he did seem kind of into her. Perhaps she was being foolish, pining for Diego, when another guy was willing and available.
Then Holly remembered being with Diego that morning—the easy way they’d laughed over their memories. And the tantalizing, unspoken promise that more memories were waiting to be made. Holly couldn’t just throw that promise away. It was for Diego that she’d come to Miami in the first place. Not Aaron.
“Someone’s waiting for me,” Holly told Aaron. She stepped around him, and walked back into the lobby with a burst of determination. This time, she wasn’t going to make lame small talk. She was going to walk right up to Diego…and kiss him. That would certainly loosen things up, she decided boldly.
But, as Holly scanned all the fabulous people milling about, she couldn’t spot Diego. Maybe he’d gone outside. Alexa wasn’t around, either, but Holly figured she was off somewhere with the other Flamingo kids.
Not wanting to lose her nerve, Holly hurried out the double doors into the back garden. The night air was thick with moisture. There were ominous sounds of thunder overhead and the palm trees were swaying wildly in a gathering wind. Holly cut across the lawn, threading past couples snuggling in hammocks. She checked out the pool, deflated. No Diego.
It felt all too fitting when the skies opened up and it started to rain: a sudden, violent thunderstorm. Everyone started running for cover, girls shrieking and using their designer cardigans as makeshift umbrellas. Holly was wearing white—not a good plan in a downpour. She lowered her head and began hurrying back to the hotel. She was sprinting past the row of romantic cabanas when she heard the unmistakable sound of Alexa’s laugh coming from one of the whitecurtained booths.
Holly paused, suddenly seized with the desire to talk to her old friend. Holly hadn’t fully realized until now how much closer she’d felt to Alexa in the past couple days. Alexa probably suspected Holly’s crush on Diego, anyway—it was silly for her to keep that secret. And Holly hadn’t had time to text Meghan or Jess that day, so she was dying to indulge in some good girl talk. Now would be the perfect time to unburden herself to Alexa.
She’ll probably have some good advice, Holly reasoned, trying to peer through the gauzy white curtain. She could make out Alexa’s pink dress and a boy’s striped shirt. Holly wondered if Alexa was with Thomas, or some other guy she’d picked up in the lobby. Holly didn’t want to burst in and interrupt if they were making out or something.
“Alexa?” Holly asked tentatively, stepping closer to the curtain.
“Holly?” she heard Alexa respond, sounding surprised.
“Alexa, I’m sorry, but there’s something I really need to tell—” Holly began apologetically, drawing back the curtain. She stopped talking when she saw the couple on the sofa. Alexa had her arms around the boy’s neck, and was cuddled close to him, as if they were about to kiss. Or already had. Holly saw the boy’s caramel-colored hand on Alexa’s arm, then recognized his black pants and shoes. Her eyes moved disbelievingly up to his face, to the jet-black eyes that widened as he looked back at her.
It was Diego.
Diego and Alexa. Together.
CHAPTER TEN
Betrayal
Holly hugged her arms to her chest, suddenly aware that she was drenched to the bone. She should have been freezing, but instead she was burning hot—her skin boiling with hurt and shock. Something Diego had said to her earlier that night sprung unbidden into her mind: You can really get burned in South Beach.
/> “No shit,” Holly muttered, glaring at Diego. She wished she had been able to get a drink at the bar—just so she could fling it into his stupid, I-swear-I’m-innocent face.
“Holly, what’s wrong?” Alexa asked, watching as her friend’s eyes darkened with anger. Was Holly just freaked to see her making out with someone? Alexa looked at Diego in confusion, but he was glancing anxiously from her to Holly, his expression tinged with guilt.
Holly felt the deep, familiar ache of tears building in her throat as she struggled to make sense of it all. When she’d left Alexa and Diego in the lobby, they clearly still hated each other. How could they have gone from that blatant hostility to getting it on in a private cabana?
Alexa, Holly realized with a shiver of fury. Seductive, devious, slutty Alexa. Holly flashed to an image of her friend grinding with the twins back at Ohio’s. Alexa just had to make sure every boy in the universe was drooling all over her, didn’t she? And Diego must be an extra-special treat, Holly thought, trembling. Alexa had pursued him on purpose. Just to have in her clutches the one boy Holly really wanted.
“I—I can’t believe you,” Holly hissed at Alexa, once she found her voice. “How could you do this to me?” Her eyes filled with tears.
“What are you talking about?” Alexa cried, suddenly scared. Why was Holly looking at her with pure hatred?
Diego got to his feet, running a hand nervously through his dark hair. “Holly, please calm down—” he began, approaching her.
“Don’t,” Holly whispered. She took a big step away from him and burst into tears. Then she turned and ran back into the heavy rain. Holly was so flustered that she dashed in the direction of the beach instead of the hotel. But she didn’t care where she went, as long as it was away from the two people who had betrayed her.
Alexa watched Holly dash off, sobbing, and suddenly she understood. Of course. Holly and Diego had something going on. It all added up: their seemingly innocent date that morning. Holly wanting to buy a bikini—and a new dress. Holly’s eagerness to see him tonight…
Alexa stood abruptly, studying Diego with a new set of eyes. He’d played her. All his thoughtful words, and the intense way he’d looked at her, had been bullshit. And he’d even had the nerve to talk about Holly, mentioning that Ian might be hitting on her. As if Ian were the creep! It figures, doesn’t it? Alexa thought bitterly. The only guy she’d met in a long time whom she’d instantly clicked with had turned out to be a two-faced liar.
“Alexa, wait. I can explain,” Diego said, accurately reading the stony look on her face. He reached for her hand. “It’s not what it seems like.”
“Oh, that’s original,” Alexa snapped, rolling her eyes. “Please, Diego. Save your lies for some other girl.”
She shoved past him and stormed away from the cabana. She had to find Holly. The wind whipped Alexa’s hair, and the rain soaked her thin dress. Alexa spotted Holly sprinting toward the pool. Why isn’t she running back toward the hotel? Alexa thought in alarm. Slipping off her sling-backs, she quickly followed Holly across the lawn.
Holly reached the infinity pool, shivering and limping. The rain was coming at her sideways. Damn Kaitlin’s shoes, she thought, resting against a table and unbuckling the strappy sandals. She wiped her teary face with her hand, then stared helplessly at her mascara-blackened fingers. All she wanted to do was collapse on a bed, and wallow in a long, shuddering sob session. Holly was wondering if she could walk back to the Flamingo barefoot before she realized Alexa had the room key. And then, without warning, Alexa was there, beside her, rain streaming down her face.
“Holly, what are you doing?” Alexa cried, breathless. “Come on, let’s just go inside.” She gestured back toward the hotel.
“Get away from me,” Holly spat. She never wanted to see Alexa again. She spun around and fled off the Delano’s grounds and onto the beach. She clutched Kaitlin’s shoes to her chest as she trudged across the sand. To Holly, the ocean looked as furious as she felt—a roiling mass of blue-black waves. A zigzag of lightning split the charcoal sky.
“Holly, I didn’t know!” Alexa called through the wind and rain. “He didn’t tell me.” She ran up behind Holly and spun her around so that they were facing each other. “You didn’t tell me.”
And why didn’t she say anything? Alexa wondered, studying Holly’s mascara-stained face. She knew she and Holly weren’t remotely as close as they had once been. But did Holly have such little regard for her that she’d keep secret something that had happened on this very trip? So Holly had noticed how sexy Diego really was, Alexa realized with a wry smile. She simply hadn’t trusted Alexa enough to share that knowledge with her.
At the sight of Alexa’s smile, Holly felt another burst of rage. Did Alexa find this all funny? She was acting so innocent, but Holly wasn’t buying it. So what if Holly hadn’t told her the full truth about Diego? Alexa knew that Holly and Diego had some sort of history. But she’d still jumped him the minute Holly’s back was turned.
“You expect me to believe that Alexandria St. Laurent, boy expert, couldn’t have figured it out?” Holly asked Alexa through clenched teeth. “Give me a break. You knew what you were doing. You probably pretended to hate him so I wouldn’t catch on, right? And then you just threw yourself at him like…like a slut.”
Alexa recoiled, as if Holly had slapped her. Slut. The word sounded as sharp as a weapon. Alexa remembered how she’d almost let those frat boys do body shots off her in Ohio’s, and that seeing Holly across the bar had stopped her. But what gives Holly the right to pass judgment on me? Alexa fumed. She made her own decisions when it came to boys. And she’d be damned if anyone—let alone Holly Jacobson—told her how to conduct her love life.
“How dare you talk to me that way?” Alexa shot back, her eyes flashing. “At least I’m not some uptight prude who doesn’t know what sex is.” A violent crash of thunder punctuated Alexa’s statement. “I mean, how many times have you even kissed a boy?” she challenged, staring Holly down.
Holly brushed her wet bangs off her forehead. Her hands were shaking. The question cut her to the quick, but she couldn’t let Alexa see her cry again. Besides, Holly thought, since when does Alexa care about what I do with boys? Since when does she care about me, period?
“It’s none of your business,” Holly spoke quietly. “And you don’t know everything about me, Alexa. Things have happened in my life since I was twelve.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexa asked, wiping drops of rain out of her eyes. The storm was letting up, slowing down to a drizzle.
“Since I was twelve,” Holly repeated, louder this time. Holly felt her pent-up resentment toward Alexa, which had simmered for so many years now, finally boil over. “You know, back when we stopped being friends?” Holly went on, her voice quavering. “When you decided to drop me?”
Alexa bit her lip, ignoring a surge of guilt. “I didn’t drop you,” she snapped. “We grew apart, Holly. It happens. Deal with it.” She tucked her wet hair behind her ears, suddenly worried that they were heading toward dangerous territory.
“Oh, right. We ‘grew apart.’” Holly made air quotes with her fingers. “That’s code for you deciding I wasn’t cool enough to be your friend.” Holly was on a roll now, her memories resurfacing in a torrent. “Did you conveniently forget everything, Alexa? Like the time in seventh grade when I came to your house, and you told me to go home because you were making out with Eliot Johnson? Or when I called you for a straight week and you never called me back?” Holly crossed her arms over her chest. “You’d already dumped me by then, Alexa. I just didn’t realize it.” She let out a big breath, feeling drained and shaky.
Alexa stood still, the drizzle drumming on her face and arms. Now that Holly brought it up, Alexa did remember that time—Holly showing up unannounced on Alexa’s doorstep, wanting to bake cookies, right when Alexa had been about to get to second base with Eliot. Alexa had promptly sent her away and had also ignored Holly’s numerous pho
ne calls the following week; she’d simply been too busy with Eliot.
Alexa thought about how Portia and the girls gave her shit when she ignored them in favor of her boyfriends. Alexa wondered, not for the first time, if she was a bad friend. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I’m sorry, okay? But that was forever ago,” Alexa told Holly, collecting herself. “And it’s not like I set out to hurt your feelings,” she added defensively. “Not then, and not now. I’d never have kissed Diego if—”
“You kissed him?” Holly asked, her chin trembling. She’d been secretly hoping that Diego and Alexa hadn’t gotten that far in the cabana. Holly shook her head. Diego was supposed to kiss her that night. Where had it all gone wrong?
“Yes,” Alexa said. “But if I’d known that you two were together—”
“We’re not together,” Holly said with a sob. It was true; she had no real claim on Diego. Was I just being stupid this whole time? Holly wondered. I actually believed we had something. That morning’s bike ride had literally been nothing more than two old friends catching up. She and Diego didn’t have chemistry anymore; all they had in common was one week, three years ago. Holly didn’t even know for sure if Diego remembered their kiss.
The rain had stopped and the clouds began to part. Being out here on a beach, with the moon suddenly shining overhead, Holly was reminded of that long-ago night with Diego. It had been such a perfect memory, but now it was forever tarnished. Holly felt fresh tears spring to her eyes.
Alexa’s cheeks were very pink. “You’re not seeing him?” she asked, realizing with mounting regret that she should have given Diego a chance to explain himself. She watched in disbelief as Holly shook her head and dissolved into tears. Had Holly thrown a hissy fit because she had some stupid crush on Diego? Suddenly, Alexa understood with utmost clarity how different she and Holly were. This whole fight had been pointless. Alexa wondered why she was even wasting her time out here with such nonsense.