“Anyway, halfway through, we got into a full-on argument at the seventh hole. He pitched a screaming fit because, and I quote, ‘you’re cheating me out of my par.’”
Charlotte snorted wine through her nose. “Seriously? Did he seriously say that?”
Skye nodded. “I know. It was so embarrassing. He kept going on and on, and people were starting to watch us. I could even see the mortification on their faces.” She dragged her fingers down her cheeks. “Iwas mortified. He kept moaning about how he’d never lost to anyone before, and all I remember was that my cheeks were burning red hot. Honestly, all I wanted at that moment was for the earth to swallow me whole.”
“What did you do?” Priya asked, her eyes wide.
“I did what every sane woman would do,” Skye said, hating how overly dramatic she sounded. But the contestants seemed to lap up her words, and so she leaned into the drama. She let her hands gesture animatedly and her voice rise just enough to make it entertaining for live TV. “I threw my golf club down at his feet and walked away.”
“Good for you!” Alexis exclaimed, smacking a palm across her bare thigh. “But I would’ve aimed for his head.”
“I agree,” Cleo muttered. “Or—”
She was interrupted by Lucy, who leaned forward until her elbows rested on her knees. “Was that date before or after you realized you were into women?”
“Before,” Skye said, flicking her gaze back to Lucy.
“How did you know you were a lesbian?” Lucy asked, her eyes narrowing and her smile disappearing to show a thin press of lips. Everything about the way she was looking at Skye, at the way she rested her chin on her fists, made it feel like she was undressing Skye layer by layer. Which honestly, was one of the hottest things Skye had ever experienced. A forbidden fruit. All Skye really wanted to do right now was storm across the room and pull Lucy into a kiss. But she didn’t.
Instead, she put on the biggest grin she could muster without looking ridiculous and turned her attention to everyone else. “I can ask the same of all of you.”
Tonight wasn’t the night to bring up all those fond memories. Especially her coming out story, which had been neither smooth nor especially inspirational.
“Well, I always knew,” Amy said, leaning back into the sofa. She crossed one leg over the other and bounced her ankle up and down. “I was in the seventh grade when I had my first crush. Her name was Charisse Walters, and she had the most beautiful ringlet curls you’d ever seen.”
Cleo snorted. “Seventh grade? That’s adorable.”
Priya grabbed a cushion from the floor and stuffed it onto her lap. “Mine was definitely in high school. I had a drama teacher called Ms. Laurent, and—”
“Of course it was the drama teacher,” Alexis cut in. “Well, mine was in college, and I’d say it was an enlightening experience.”
“Enlightening how?” Nova asked, reaching for a chocolate bar that sat half unwrapped on the coffee table.
Alexis shrugged and tossed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s just say I learned a lot more than the fundamental principles of matter in my chemistry class.”
“That sounds scandalous,” Priya said. “I love it.”
The conversation drifted to other things: worst first jobs, awkward family vacations, and the weirdest food they’d ever tried. There was laughter and more wine, and everyone had something to say. Well, everyone except for Lucy, who just stared at Skye in a way that made her inner thighs throb.
Eventually, Skye pushed herself off the chair. “Well, I’ve officially overstayed my welcome. It’s time for me to head to bed.”
There was a chorus of protests. “No! Stay! You can’t just drop in and leave.” And then another chimed in, “We’re keeping you here until you tell us every last thing we didn’t even think to ask.”
But Skye had to leave. It was how things worked. She smirked and started backing toward the door. “Goodnight, ladies,” she said when she reached it. She gave a final salute and then her gaze flicked one last time to Lucy. Their eyes met. Lucy smiled softly, and in that moment, Skye found herself willing Lucy to follow her back to her bungalow. Her brain was practically screaming.I’ll be waiting for you. Don’t take too long. But when she turned and slipped out into the warm night, she had no hope that Lucy would actually come.
The door closed behind her, and then Marla stepped out from the production tent set up outside the villa. “Was that story about the bad date really true?” she asked.
Skye smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She ran her fingers through her hair and let her hand rest against the back of her neck. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed.”
“Get enough rest. We’ve got that brunch thing tomorrow, and I need you to be on your A-game. No exceptions.”
Skye rolled her eyes. She left Marla and took a right toward her bungalow. By the time she slipped onto the stone path, she couldn’t see the villa anymore. Or hear the girls. Or feel the presence of the cameras. All she could hear was the scuff of her fluffy slippers against stone.
But then a noise sounded loudly behind her. It was very clearly the sound of twigs creaking under a weight.
Skye froze, and her pulse sped up. She turned back just enough to glance over her shoulder. But the path was empty except for the shadows created by the palms hanging overhead.
“Lucy,” she called out in a voice slightly higher in pitch than usual. “Is that you?”
