‘The excursion will be.The company not so much…’
‘I feel for you.At least you’ll be with other people so there won’t be any awkward silences.’
‘True,’ I said.My stomach rumbled loudly.‘And that’s my cue to go and get breakfast!’ I laughed.
‘Enjoy!And good luck.’
‘Thanks, hon.Don’t work too hard!’
‘I will!’ she joked, before hanging up.
Vanessa was the ultimate career woman and she was killing it, but sometimes I worried that she spent too long at the office.In her defence, she played as hard as she worked.She wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship.When she wanted some fun with a guy, she went and found one.
I admired how she lived life on her terms.If Vanessa wanted something, whether it was a successful career or some fun between the sheets, she was a go-getter.
Which was more than could be said for me.I didn’t have a career or any noteworthy conquests to speak of.But on the bright side, at least I was in California, a state I’d always wanted to visit.So although the circumstances weren’t perfect, especially considering it was where my ex was based and I’d been matched with someone who reminded me of him, I was gonna try my best to make the most of it.Starting with a great breakfast.
Once I’d showered and got dressed, I picked up my bag and rifled through it.I probably wouldn’t get time to come back to my room before we headed off on the excursion, so I needed to make sure I had everything with me now.
They’d told us to wear trousers and closed-toe shoes, so maybe we were going for a hike?I hoped it wasn’t anywhere too high.But they’d also asked us to pack sunscreen and sunglasses too.
The essentials like my purse, phone and make-up bag were already in there, but I added a jumper and an umbrella just in case.Although this was the sunshine state, I was an English girl at heart and I knew it was always best to be prepared for all weather possibilities.Speaking of which, I should also pack a rain mac.And some snacks.
I threw in my battery power pack and some insect repellent spray.The last thing I wanted was to get bitten by mosquitoes.Better add some bite cream.
That should be everything.
I picked up the bag and winced.Wow.It was heavy.
After sliding it onto my shoulder, I contemplated removing some stuff, but without knowing where we were going, it was hard to know what I’d to take out.Everything was essential.I’d just have to take it all.
When I got to the restaurant, the maître d’ showed me to the table where Jake was already seated.
‘Hey, Smiley!’ he grinned and my stomach flipped.
The action shocked me.Stomach flipping for men like Jake wasn’t acceptable.I’d make sure that nonsense didn’t happen again.
In my stomach’s defence, Jake was looking annoyingly handsome.Again.
He was wearing black jeans and a plain white T-shirt which on anyone else would look ordinary, but on him, for some reason it looked… good.
Maybe it was the way it clung to his muscular chest.Or the way the short sleeves hugged his biceps.I had no idea why, but knew that hating him would be much easier if he had the face and body of an ogre.
‘Hi,’ I said flatly, before pulling out my chair and plonking myself down.
‘So I’ve just been looking at some very cool photos of you.’
‘What?’ My brows pinched together.‘From where?’
‘Yesterday’s activity.’
Shit.I forgot about that.Sammie had mentioned that every morning the hotel would print photos that they’d taken of us and that we’d submitted so that we could choose our favourites for the silly memory book.
I’d declined Jake’s requests to take selfies (I really didn’t want to be featured on his Insta), but now I remembered that Sammie had taken some during our performance, but I couldn’t exactly stop mid-fake orgasm to protest.
‘Aren’t we supposed to go through those together?’ I raised my eyebrow.
‘Technically, yes.And I would’ve waited, but I got the impression that you weren’t interested in photos, so I thought I’d save you the hassle.’
