There she is, looking effortlessly beautiful. Her dark eyes sparkling with mirth at something Eva said, her hand wrapped around a beer bottle so tightly, I wish it were me. I want her hands on me, her hair in my face, her tongue in my mouth.
Fuck.
I grimace as I approach the group, trying to arrange my features into something pleasant. The memories of Naomi are nearly wiped out by the warmth of Junie’s hand on my shoulder as she says hello, but I pull away and find a stool at the far end of the table.
I grip Mike’s hand and signal to the bartender for a Bintang. I’m here for him—one of my true friends—one of the few who always stay. There’s no point in wasting my limited patience for social interaction on anyone else.
I don’t miss the way the interns and volunteers whisper to each other at my arrival. Have I really become so out of the loop that my presence causes a riptide of murmuring? I catch sight of Juliette’s guilty eyes. She probably thinks she’s in the doghouse since I’d taken over her class.
I can’t admit why I really did it.
The culprit sits across from me with eyes that drip sex. Her mouth is painted a pinky brown that makes my mind run wild; when her lips wrap around the stubbie, I nearly fall from my chair. Her tanned legs are crossed and bouncing in white sneakers. What has the little princess so wound up?
The waitress hands me my drink and I take a large gulp so that I won’t inadvertently lick my lips. Just one more night, and I’ll be free of her.
She’s surrounded by friends and sanctuary volunteers like she’s holding court. Her fingernails are perfect even after days of tightening straps and lifting gear. Her blonde hair falls back in beachy waves. I wonder if her skin still tastes like salt or if she’s already washed all traces of the sea off. Soon she’ll be somewhere in America with nothing to show for her time here but some sand in her suitcase. My chest does something funny when I hear her laugh.
Thomas pushes his glasses up his nose and starts talking to me, and for once, I’m grateful for the distraction. He’s a smart kid, but he’s a little too obsessed with trash.
“The work you’re doing is so impressive. The Seabin project has been such a gamechanger. Where did you get the idea?”
“It’s an Australian product,” I say, latching onto the topic eagerly. “It started in Sydney as a way to filter and track rubbish and microplastics in the Harbor. They’ve been really effective and they take far less manpower than walking the beach or skimming the water. They’re expensive, but that’s the kind of thing we can invest in with more donations.”
I must have gotten a little loud, or too impassioned because I slowly realize that every head at the table is turned my way.
“How awesome, that seems like a no-brainer,” Eva says.
“Seriously. Why aren’t those installed all over the world?” Junie asks.
“I’m not sure. The project is still kind of new and the bins aren’t cheap, but they work. It would be great to get some government backing.”
“I’ll definitely be looking into that when we get home,” Nancy giggles, her cheeks rosy with alcohol as she suppresses a little hiccup. “I might just have the ear of some of our council members down in Sarasota.”
“Hear, hear,” Nick cheers.
“You girls will keep in touch with us back in the States, won’t you? We’d love to have you down to Florida for a visit.”
The reminder hits harder than expected. Maybe the three beers I guzzled while talking to Thomas have something to do with it. The night suddenly loses all fun for me. Her eyes on me feel scorching and painful instead of exciting. I have to get out of here.
I look for Mike, but he’s deep in conversation with Victoria. Her hand brushes his bicep and I cringe. He doesn’t need me here. I’d only bring the mood down.
Excusing myself, I push my stool in and take off toward the bathroom to cover my abrupt exit. I rinse my hands and splash some cold water on my face. The mirror shows a washed up, tired old man. Turning 30 is really messing with me.
I step out of the men’s room, planning to make a quiet exit, but I can’t catch a break. Junie is standing there, my singlet folded neatly over her arm.
“Hey, I just wanted to make sure I got this back to you. Thanks.” I see her blush even in the dark hallway. No one looks better with pink cheeks. I bet they’d look even better on her backside—
“Keep it,” I grunt, looking over her shoulder for an escape. It should be impossible to want someone this much. It’s a physical ache.
“I feel like we got off to a rough start, but I’d hate myself if I didn’t ask…” She looks down, running the fabric between her hands.
Blood is rapidly leaving my brain and concentrating in another area entirely.
“I’ve never done this before…” She looks up and bites her lip. “God, I could kill Eva. I was just wondering if, maybe…”
My chest is tight. If she asks me to fuck her, there’s no hope. She’s leaving tomorrow and I don’t want to backslide. I cannot just stand here and let her finish that sentence.
I panic. I look both directions then slip through a side door, leaving her stunned in my wake without a backward glance.
