Chance make-out session with Nikos: wide-necked top slipped seductively off one shoulder. Lacy, push-up bra. A swipe of highlighter on the boobs.
Uh-huh. Shine on, girls.
Unfortunately, I’d failed to anticipate a dancing scenario. It had been a while since I’d gone clubbing. Anytime I stayed out past eleven, I braced myself for an escalating stream of texts from Dolly. My mother was a highly evolved worrier. Not only did she cover all the worst-case scenarios, she also had dreams to back them up. Dead relatives were always showing up in her dreams with messages for me. I might have bought it, except the only things dead people wanted me to do were the things Dolly wanted me to do.
They certainly weren’t chiming in with tips on what I should wear for my night out with Nikos.
In the end, I opted for a curve-hugging black dress and metallic booties. The only accessory I needed was sex-bomb hair—amped up, but shiny and soft.
Getting ready in the tiny en suite was a challenge. The lighting was horrendous, and I kept bumping my elbows as I tried to blow-dry my hair. I turned on my phone, searched for a track, and kicked up the volume.
Elvis Presley, “It’s Now or Never.”
Because this was it—my make-it or break-it opportunity with Nikos.
I flipped my head upside down, spritzed on some spray, and tossed it back up. My hairbrush became a microphone as I sang along with Elvis.
Switching out the hairbrush for my lipstick, I swiped on a shimmery layer and pouted. The siren in the mirror pouted back at me. She curled her eyelashes and applied mascara, her mouth open (because it’s impossiblenotto make that face when you have a mascara wand in your hand). Damn, she looked fine.
Elvis and I crooned our devotion to her, our lips curling in tribute.
I pumped up my boobies and backed away from the mirror, giving my reflection twopew-pewfinger-gun salutes. When the chorus hit, I closed my eyes and swiveled my body around the door frame like it was a pole. My hips gyrated against it for good measure. Then I stood wide-stanced, bending my body at the waist, ass to the ceiling, and performed a saucy hair flip. Dark, sex-bomb tresses fell around my face as the song concluded. My breasts rose and fell in self-congratulatory exhilaration.
It was at this point that I realized I had an audience. Exhilaration turned into trepidation, which turned into indignation when I saw who it was.
“What are you doing here?” My arms crossed instinctively over my chest, as if Alex caught me naked.
“I…uh…” He scratched his chin, like he’d forgotten how to string words into sentences.
“You what?”
His infuriating dimple took over. “That was hot.”
I took a step toward him. My intention was to walk past him and out the door—maybe get a face transplant while I was at it. I was tired of the permanent cringe that altered my face whenever I was around Alex.
He must‘ve thought I was about to cause him bodily harm, because he stepped aside and held his palms up. “Captain Bailey’s given me the night off. Kassia’s cousin in Mykonos has invited all the passengers to her place for dinner. We’ll be dropping anchor in a little while. I thought I’d freshen up before heading out. I didn’t realize that you’d be…uh…making out with Elvis.” He gestured to the door frame I’d been gyrating against.
“Oh no.” I sat down on my bed. If we were all expected at Kassia’s cousin’s place, Nikos and I would have to cancel our plans.
“Don’t look so dejected.” Alex tossed his chef’s coat on the top bunk and shot me a cheeky grin. “We still have many nights together. You just have to put up with someone else’s cooking tonight.” His T-shirt hugged him in all the right places. Too bad his ego ruined the effect by bulging out in six stupid lumps where his tummy was supposed to be.
Hannah rapped on the door. “Sorry to disturb. Dolly is asking for you, Moti. She said Nikos is looking for you.”
“Thanks, Hannah. I’ll be up in a minute.” As far as Thomas’s side of the wedding party was concerned, I was still sharing the suite with my mother. Nikos must’ve dropped in, hoping to find me. I slipped my phone into my evening bag and was about to leave when I caught Alex’s look.
“You and Nikos?” he said. “I thought your grandmother was joking about the whole…” He wiggled his thumbs at me.
“It’s written in the stars.” I got up, forgetting there was another bed on top of mine. My noggin hit the steel frame and I yelped, pretty sure it would leave a nice, egg-sized lump.
“This is all your fault.” I glared at Alex, rubbing my scalp.
My life was chapter after chapter of awkward, embarrassing scenes, but did this jerk have to stand there, witnessing them all?
Double jerk,I thought when his laughter followed me out of the room.
As it turned out, Nikos and I didn’t have to cancel our date. Clubs in Mykonos didn’t start coming alive until after midnight. While everyone waited for the tender to take them back to the yacht after dinner, Nikos called for a limo.
Naani pulled me aside while he was on the phone. “Have fun,beta. You need to get out there and taste life. But not all in one bite, if you know what I mean.”
