“I can fend for myself.” It’s not Benard’s fault I can’t handle my liquor. “And he’s not a predator. He’s a classics major.”
“The two are not mutually exclusive,” Ryan insists.
I roll my eyes at him and grab the granola bar. “If I eat this, will you go away?”
Ryan scruffs my hair, like he used to when I was a kid. “Only long enough to get us some water.” He heads toward the restaurant, and his shadow stretches across the sand behind him.
“Bonjour, belle,” Benard says, and I turn as he steps onto the sand from the stairs. Something flutters deep in my stomach as he pulls me to my feet and slides his arms around me. “The night got cold, and I enjoyed your warmth.” He leans in to press a kiss beneath my ear, and suddenly I am tingling all over.
“I enjoyed yours too.” I slide my arms behind his neck and inhale the scent of his sunscreen.
The sun casts a halo around his dark hair. “Will you excuse me while I find my toothbrush?”
“Of course.” I need to find mine too.
Benard kisses my forehead, then heads back up the stairs.
I head for the restaurant to find my brother, hoping he packed toothpaste, and on the way, I hear Holden and Genesis arguing behind the communal bathroom.
“You’re completely overreacting.” His tone drips with tedium. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but—”
“You crossed a line. So here’s how this is going to go.” Genesis’s voice is like a wall of ice. “You’re going to be theidealboyfriend for the remainder of spring break. If youeven look at Penelope again, I’ll slip the nearest soldier a fifty to give you athoroughsearch for contraband. Which hewillfind. And Iwillleave your ass to rot in a Colombian prison.”
I squat to brush sand from my feet, trying to listen inconspicuously. I can’t help myself.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?” Holden demands, but his question lacks conviction.
“Extreme would be calling in Colombia’s finest right now. I’m being pretty damn generous. So go pack. We’re done with Cabo.”
No way. Wejustgot here!
“Nico’s taking us to see some ruins in the jungle.”
Queen G has spoken, and her subjects will no doubt follow her into the wilderness. But that doesn’t meanIhave to go.
When I stand again, I find Benard heading down the beach from the hut, wearing a fresh set of swim trunks. Sunscreen glistens on his skin. I start to jog toward him, but someone grabs my arm.
“Salut,” Milo says as I pull my arm from his grip.
“Salut,” I return. But my gaze is glued to Benard as he heads for a group that’s just emerged from the jungle path, carrying hiking gear.
Unease crawls over my skin. Something feels wrong.
Benard wraps his arms around a girl at the front of the group, lifting her off the ground with the enthusiasm of his embrace.
I stare, and in spite of the bright, warm sun, I feel suddenly cold.
“That’s his girlfriend,” Milo says, so close to my ear that I jump, startled. “So, maybe you won’t mention sharing a hammock with him,oui?”
I’m too humiliated to speak. Of course he has a girlfriend. Of course she’s tall and beautiful and graceful, even at a distance.
Of course yesterday was too good to be true.
“We are all adults,non?” Milo says in his stupid French accent.
I nod. That’s the only response I can manage.
He leans down to kiss me on the cheek. “I knew someone as mature as you would understand.”
