Page 46 of The Other Side of Paradise

“Well, I’ll see you all tomorrow, probably. Ryan,” I said, turning to the others, “let me know if Allison hooks up with that girl, okay? She won’t tell me if she does, but you might catch her in the act.”

“There is noactto catch!” Allison called as I shut the door behind me, and it muffled out the world outside, but I was pretty sure Allison was immediately complaining about my sister to me.

Which was fair. But hey, it was her choice to stick around with me, and she seemed to be making it.

I made it back to the resort at the right time—I checked my texts and saw, from the guilt-tripping message from Mom, that everybody was at dinner right now, so I was able to shoot off a couple texts and get to my room undisturbed, where I took a quick shower, changed into my pajamas, and I’d barely crashed on the bed before I messaged Allison.

Tell the girl I said hi

She read the message right away, so I hoped she wasn’t with another girl. She sent an eyeroll emoji, and she sent a picture of, I assume, her room—dimly lit, and honestly, very romantic, like something out of a TV series. A wood-paneled room lit by moonlight, silky pink curtains draped over the windows and along the four-poster bed she was clearly taking the picture from, several easels set up around the room with canvases, desks covered with paint supplies, sculpting tools,little wooden models and piles of sketchbooks.nobody here but little old me

so cute though,I sent.looks like a dreamy little artist’s getaway retreat

well, this is my getaway retreat, and I am a dreamy little artist

I laughed, settling back into the mattress.obviously,I sent, and then,let me visit your place sometime? I want to see your paintings

yeah sure, have to show off the only thing I’m actually good at

I grinned at the phone.aside from flirting, ofc

ofc. complete with the long stalling in the middle while I try to think of something clever.

you know it’s my weakness

that’s what I’m counting on.And then,everything okay back at the resort?

I managed to dodge my family while they’re at dinner, but I sent some texts that I was back at the resort and mostly they’re just worried about me…I chewed my cheek, debating the next part of the message, before I decided to go for it. I liked this thing with Allison better without self-doubt and filters.I’m sick with nerves over facing my dad tomorrow. we had the worst fight today.

She was typing for a minute before she sent,I’m working a morning shift tomorrow, I can be there in the room when it happens just so he won’t act up in a way he would if you were alone?

My chest felt tight, and I swallowed, squeezing the phone tighter.I’m glad you’re not too busy with Jessica

oh my god,and then,stella,and,I do not have anything with Jessica

okay, who then? bc I’m still waiting to hear who you made out with in the bathrooms

oh,and in a separate message,my,and then,god.A second later,I did not make out with anyone

Liar. I pouted while I responded withsure, and then interrupted her typing with,we’ll get that changed though,and a winking emoji.

It took her a minute to type a response. I just wished I could have seen her expression when she shut down at the sight of the message.smooth,she said, finally, and I laughed.

I had no idea what Jacob’s deal was. Or all the other guys who had no idea how to talk to girls. Flirting with a girl was easy. And honestly, it wasfun.If a straight girl could flirt with a girl and have fun with it, they had literally no excuse.

Maybe I’d just stick to Allison anyway. I could hook up with someone once I was back on the mainland. Getting Allison laid was the time-sensitive one.

Once I found outwhoshe’d been making out with at the beach, I was going to get her into that girl’s bed or die trying.

Chapter 14

Allison

“Hey,” I said to Gavin right when I’d clocked in, in the back where I was slinging up my bag on the wall rack. “Just a heads-up, I got a request for some one-on-one concierge access at the spa center at nine today, so—”

“Stella wants you to give her a private massage?”

“What—no!” I bristled, turning to where he pushed away from the scheduling system computer, grinning at me. “I’m not a masseuse, Gavin.”