“I don’t know,” Bethani said, tilting her head this way and that, studying Joe. “The whole military thing is really doing it for me.”
“That’s because you spent the first twelve years of your life on Army bases,” Jessica reminded her. “You were conditioned from a young age. You basically have a Pavlovian response to buzz cuts.”
Bethani burst out laughing but knocked her plastic cup against Jessica’s. “Touché, my friend. Touché.”
Joe returned to the table and said, “Ladies, this is my buddy, Rick. Rick, this is Jessica and…”
“Bethani,” Jessica supplied, even though they’d done this less than five minutes ago.
“Right. Bethani.”
“Hello, Bethani,” Rick said, lips unfurling into a smirk, his eyes taking on thatthis-one-is-minetwinkle.
Bethani slid her palm into Rick’s. “Hello, Rick.”
Jessica sighed and sipped her marg.
“Are you guys going out tonight?” Joe asked her.
“We were planning on it,” Jessica said. “Though we’re not quite sure where yet.”
“We’re going to The City,” he said, flashing a neon orange wristband. “You should come! They’re selling these in the lobby.”
“Yeah!” Rick said, hooking an arm around Bethani’s shoulders. “Come out with us!”
The resort they were staying at also happened to be spring break headquarters for this travel company called StudentCity, which offered full service travel packages to students to give them the best bang for their buck. Jessica and Bethani had walked past the little booth on their way to the bar earlier, but hadn’t thought anything of it until now.
“Wait, you don’t have to be here with them to get a wristband?” Bethani asked.
“No!” Rick said proudly. “They sell these for twenty bucks to anyone staying at the resort. And they provide a shuttle to and from the club. There’s a different one every night, and the wristbands get you bottle service and free cover.”
Jessica blinked in surprise. That sounded like a dream come true, and a relatively safe way to go out and experience Cancún’s nightlife.
Joe pressed closer to Jessica, and she fought the urge to back away. “Stay close to me, Jessie,” he said, his beer-laden breath fanning uncomfortably across her cheek. “I’ll take good care of you.”
She opened her mouth to remind him her name was Jessica, but snapped it shut.
“So what’s The City like?” Bethani asked.
“It’s the largest nightclub in Latin America,” Rick informed her. “It’sinsane. Wall-to-wall bodies, a massive dance floor, multiple levels, club music, the works. Stick with us, and we’ll make sure you have a good time.”
Bethani stared at Rick as though she’d never heard a more enticing proposal, and Jessica fought a groan. At first, the attention from Joe had been nice, but now she didn’t like the familiar way he put his hands on her body, as though he now possessed something she hadn’t given him.
Honestly, what was with these guys? And why was Bethani falling for it?
Buzz cuts, Jessica reminded herself.
But she had to admit, The City sounded like a blast, and their moms would be far more amenable to letting them venture out on their own if they had two strong, capable guys like Joe and Rick looking after them. Even if Jessica would rather not spend the entire night pretending to be attracted to Joe.
Jessica pulled Bethani away from the table with a mumbled, “Excuse us,” to the guys.
“Where are we going?” Bethani asked, struggling to keep up.
“To make sure the moms are okay with us going out,” Jessica replied with a grin. “And we need money to get those wristbands.”
“But you don’t even like that guy,” Bethani protested.
“No, but you like his friend, so I’m willing to take one for the team.”
