Page 13 of Paradise & Vodka

We didn't have a direct flight. Instead, we had a two-hour layover in Los Angeles before our almost eleven-hour flight to Fiji. We also wouldn't arrive until Wednesday morning and would lose a day, but the less time I had to spend pretending I was okay with my sister marrying my ex, the better.

When I got to the airport, Nick was waiting inside at the check-in. My belly did that thing again where it felt as though it was going to drop out through my vagina. I smiled wide as I approached, and when he saw me, he slid his phone into his pocket and stood.

"Snookums," he greeted with a grin.

"Is that really what you're going to call me?"

He pulled me in for a hug, and I could have sworn I would have melted to the floor if he hadn’t been holding me up. I needed to get a grip. I was paying him, and he was only showing me affection because he had to. The problem was that it felt good to have a man wrap his arms around me. His strong, toned body pressed into my soft one. Plus, I had been thinking about my text conversation with Adriane, and I was wondering if Nick and I were going to hook up. Since I was spending my entire savings on the trip, I should get rewarded, right?

"I'm testing snookums out. Does it work?"

We pulled apart. "Yeah, if you want to."

"What did your ex call you?"

We started to walk to get in line to check our bags. "I don't think he called me anything except Ashleigh or Ash."

"The more I think about it, I don't think I can keep saying snookums."

"Okay, that's fine." I couldn't really see him using that term of endearment either.

"What do you want to call me?" he asked as we advanced in line.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it."

"Well, we're in love, right?"

I snorted. "Yeah, we're supposed to be."

"Then what would you call yourbad boylover?"

I chuckled again. "I don't know. Lover?"

"Lover?"

We moved again in line, and I lifted a shoulder before responding, "I don't think I've ever called anyone anything other than their name."

He stared at me for a few moments, his blue eyes searching my dark brown ones. "Are you telling me that this guy has been your only boyfriend?"

"No. I had another one my freshman year of college."

"And you didn't call him anything?"

"We didn't date that long."

"What happened with that guy?"

I sighed. "Well, it was more so I could—you know." I shrugged.

He furrowed his brow. "Lose your virginity?"

I looked around to see if anyone was listening as I felt my face heat. I couldn't believe we were having this conversation in line to check in our bags. I lowered my voice. "Yeah. He was cute, and we started talking at a party. We hooked up before summer break, and then I never talked to him again."

"So, he really wasn't a boyfriend."

"I guess not."

"Are you also telling me that you've only fucked two guys?"