“No importa, cariño. Lo que importa es que la magia y el amor son reales.”
Charlotte bugs Riley about the bracelet and the weird interaction all day, despite Riley’s frequent requests for her to just drop it. Ever since she’s pocketed the bracelet after leaving the stall, Riley has refused to even show it to Charlotte, who keeps asking to get a closer look.
Back at the hotel, Riley resorts to heavy measures, asking what she will get in return if she gives in.
“A date,” Charlotte blurts out before she can stop herself. “You have been taking the lead in this whole… thing,” she says, motioning between the two of them. “But I can take initiative too, you know. Can I take you out?”
Riley’s grin is so wide, it gives Charlotte an unobstructed look at her molars. “A date, huh?”
“Yes. But, like, casual,” Charlotte starts to defend herself. “No expectations, just one single date. Or maybedateis the wrong word; we can just chill. Let’s just call it… a hangout.”
“I think we should call it anappointment,”Riley mocks her, curling her tongue up against her front teeth to keep herself from laughing. “You called it a date, no takesie-backsies.”
“Whatever, you’re such a sap,” Charlotte shrugs. She hopes the artery in her neck isn’t giving away her racing heartbeat. “I’ll text you the details.”Once I have figured them out myself.
“Do you need to make any phone calls? I know your Spanish can be… insufficient, on a good day,” Riley says, picking her words carefully. “Do you need my help?”
“Like a hole in the head.” Charlotte scoffs. “No, honey. Something simple like, I don’t know, making a reservation is something I can do without adult supervision.”
“Sounds good,” Riley shrugs, before her excitement returns. “It’s a date then?”
“Fine. Looking forward to our... date.”
“I know you do,” Riley says, slipping her hands into the pockets of her shorts as she turns around to leave for her room. Even from the back, Charlotte doesn’t miss the way Riley’s fist performatively clenches in victory as she utters a restrained cheer.
“You’re a loser, Ri!” Charlotte calls after her.
Riley answers without looking back. “A loser with a hot date!”
13
It’s not easy to sneak around when they’re constantly surrounded by the brides-to-be. Charlotte and Riley have to work to keep finding excuses to touch each other in public, making it seem innocent but necessary. They share glances, virtually exchanging images of their heated memories through their eyes, and when there’s an opportunity to lean in and whisper something outright filthy to make the other desperate to go to one of their rooms with a serious sense of urgency, they gladly jump at it.
It takes Charlotte two afternoons, a list of rejected ideas, and one major breakdown during which she comes very close to blowing the whole thing off, but she has finally managed to construct her impromptu date plans. She decides to be cute and mysterious about it when she texts Riley.
'Tomorrow, noon, reception. Bring sunscreen and a swimsuit. We’re telling G&L we’re going shopping for presents.'
Riley is cute and mysterious in response, and reacts to the text with the shushing emoji. Which is cool, totallycool, and the only thing Charlotte can think about when she’s sleepless in bed that night.
As she gets ready to go downstairs the next morning, she wonders whether the red splotch on her chest is a sunburn or a rash in response to the stress she’s endured. She throws on her one piece, a short jumpsuit that covers most of her chest, and a baseball cap that she weaves her ponytail through.
Her tote is packed with one of the hotel towels, sunscreen, her wallet, water, snacks, and some chapstick—what more should lesbians bring to a date? Shit, should she have bought flowers?
Her time to panic gets cut short when the elevator doors are about to close, but a hand slides through to reopen them.
“Oh, hi,” says Riley, slightly out of breath, one hand landing on her head to keep her bucket hat in place. “Wait, is it bad luck to see my date before the actual date?”
“Yes,” Charlotte replies in earnest while the doors slide closed again. Her eyes land on the knotted strings of Riley’s bikini in her neck, peeking out from her white t-shirt. She has to physically restrain herself not to pull them—an impulse she has not because she wants to embarrass Riley, but because she can’t wait to find out how Riley would get back at her for it.
Riley nods in understanding and leans back. “What aboutkissingyour date?”
She looks so frustratingly charming that Charlotte’s insides churn and she has to work to pretend it doesn’t affect her.
“If we’re already doomed, we might as well, right?” she says, acting like a kiss from Riley would be nothing more than something to get over with.
“Okay.” Riley perks up like a dog who has been offered a treat, but she doesn’t move closer. “Well?”
“What?” Charlotte says defiantly. “You want a kiss, you can come get it.”
