Page 86 of Collide

We settle on an evening date, the night before I have to shoot the music video for ‘Sparks.’

The call is brief.

He sounds distracted, preoccupied.

Riley watches me the whole time, her chin resting on her hand, grinning like she’s witnessing the best reality TV show of her life.

When the food arrives, she immediately shovels tacos into her mouth, still grinning.

“You seem different around him,” she says between bites.

“Different how?” I ask, dipping a chip into some salsa and popping it into my mouth.

“I don’t know…your back’s a little straighter, more proper. Maybe even a little stiff.”

I groan. “He’s kind of intimidating. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I get it.” Riley waves her margarita. “Youlikehim. You’re worried you’ll say the wrong thing.”

Before I can argue, two guys saunter over to our table, all sun-bleached hair, board shorts, and easy surfer grins. Very typical of the guys back home.

“Sorry to interrupt, ladies,” one of them interjects, pointing to himself. “I’m Connor, this here’s Jake. We were wondering if we could buy you two drinks?”

Riley flicks her eyes to me, her face screaminghell yes.

I look back at her, sending a silentno thank youshrug.

She looks back with a silentplease.

I would never want to twat-swat my best friend. So I take a deep breath and nod.

Her face lights up with glee. “Why, of course you can! Pull up a chair.”

“Woah, did you hear her accent, man?” Jake says to Connor, bumping his shoulder. “Fucking hot, dude.”

I roll my eyes.

Charming.

“Where are you guys from?” Connor asks, sliding into the seat beside Riley.

She giggles, flipping her hair over her shoulder like she’s in a shampoo commercial.

Jake pulls up a chair beside me, and if I was stiff before, I am absolutely stone now.

I’ve seen Riley flirt her way through plenty of men. These two will be no exception.

“Australia,” she coos sweetly. “Are you two locals?”

They chuckle, nudging each other like overexcited puppies.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m Riley, by the way,” she says, pointing to herself. “And this is my best friend, Elena.”

The guys nod.

“Nice to meet you two,” Connor says flashing a smile.