Page 15 of Best Vacation Ever

“That’s Dean! Oh my goodness, he’s so hot.”

I follow her gaze and can confirm that he is so hot.

He’s in the shallow end of the pool, the top half of his body visible, water dripping down the crevices of his sculpted chest and abs. It’s been less than twenty-four hours but he already seems like he’s got a nice solid tan.

Lori’s staring at him with wide eyes. I’m guessing that even after all that time at the gym, she’s never seen him shirtless.

“Lor, stop drooling,” I tease, and she looks away with a blush.

“Sorry. I can’t help it.” She sneaks another glance at him.

Her eyes move from Dean and land on the two girls he’s talking to, both devastatingly pretty.

She sighs, her mood souring. “I could never compete with them, Faye.”

My nostrils flare in frustration. Lori is so insecure that she never realizes exactly how gorgeous she is.

“Yes you can, Lor! Go flirt with him! He won’t even notice those girls once you pay attention to him.”

She frowns. “They look like Bollywood princesses.”

“And you look like a pretty, pretty princess! I usedtwo‘pretties’ in there, Lor, and you know I don’t go throwing those around all willy-nilly.” I totally do and she knows it, but she still cracks a smile.

We shove our way through the bar, which to my relief, or maybe disappointment, is Kellan-free. The bartender notices Lori and abruptly abandons everyone else who is waiting to take her order immediately.

I elbow her as if to say,See! You’re so hot you just got service before everyone else!but she shrugs it off, her mind already elsewhere.

I order two drinks and hand one to Lori, who will probably nurse it all night, and we sit on some foam-free pool chairs.

Lori stirs her drink with her straw. “I barely even know how to flirt, and it’s even worse around Dean. I turn into a bumbling idiot around him.”

“I can’t deny that.” She glares at me, and I laugh. “But it’s not too late to change.”

“I’m not like you, Faye. I can’t turn a guy into mush with just a look.”

Pride swells within me, but I push it down. This is not about reveling in my many skills; it’s about helping Lori. I lean forward, ready to drop some knowledge on her ass. “It’s not hard. I’ll give you some easy, never-fail, beginner tips that basically always work with the right confidence.”

She nods eagerly, giving me her full attention like she does in class.

“Okay, first and foremost, you need to laugh.”

Lori laughs, loud and obviously fake.

“No, not now!” She stops. “I mean when he talks to you and says something funny or tells a stupid joke, you need to laugh.

And not like that. Make it sound realistic, not like a dying robot on crack.”

She nods. “Laugh like a nondying robot minus the crack.

Got it.”

I roll my eyes but know she gets the point. “Okay. Other than the laughing, obviously you need to smile. Body language is important, too, so lean in when he’s talking, but not like, uncomfortably close. Bat your eyes at him or bite your lip to draw attention to them. Make excuses to touch him too. One of the easiest and very basic no-fail examples is exclaiming ‘you’re so funny!’ then play-shoving his arm. And of course,be confident!”

Lori’s eyes are wide, and I can tell she’s trying to memorize anything I can give her. Flirting often comes easily and naturally to people, so I’m sure once she gets going she’ll be fine.

She continues to stir her drink. “Laugh, smile, lean in, bite my lip, bat my eyes, touch him, tell him he’s funny, be confident.

Got it.”