Why does it even matter?
“No.”
“Off to a hotel?”
I shake my head again, and her eyes narrow shrewdly.
“Something’s strange with you, I can feel it.” She lifts her chin as she continues studying me. “I’m magical that way.”
I laugh. “Sure. Yes, something’s off,” I admit quickly, trying to hurry us along. “Doesn’t matter. You’re already late for work, so here.” I wave the shoes, but she continues to ignore them.
“Tell me.”
I frown and reluctantly let the Louboutins hang limp at my side. Why does she care?
I stay silent for another moment, thinking with a little resistance that she’ll take the shoes and be on her merry way, but she continues our staring contest long enough that I know I won’t win this battle. A tingle racks my spine, and it’s seriously spooky to have a stranger look at me the way she is.Maybe sheismagical.
With a sigh, I release the floodgates, talking fast. “Fine. Yeah, it’s been a shitty morning. Someone stole money from me at my last hostel and I had to wait forever to file a police report and now I need to find a new place to stayanda job, but it’s nothing.” I laugh. “Seriously, it sounds worse than it actually is. It’ll workitself out, butnowwill you please just take these shoes? I’m going to worry about you the rest of the day if you don’t take them.”
“There, see?” She grins, and her whole face lights up. “I knew I read you right. You’re a good egg. What’s your name?”
“Isabel.”
She holds her hurt palm out for me, winces, then trades it out for her uninjured one. “I’m Simone.”
“Nice to meet you. I like your hair.”
“I like your dress. And these,” she says, pointing at my chest. “They’re quite nice.”
I burst out laughing, and she follows suit.
She tilts her head back in the direction of where I just came. “Listen, come with me to work. We’ve got heaps of first aid kits lying around, perfect for sorting ourselves out.”
I shake my head and wave her off. “You’re late for that training. I can just find a Band-Aid somewhere.”
She rolls her eyes at my obstinance as ifshe herselfisn’t being just as difficult! “No, come on.”
“I’ll go if you take the shoes,” I declare, not bothering to hide the triumph in my gaze.
I’ve bested her, and she knows it.
With a dramatic groan, she takes the high heels. “I’llborrowthe shoes, only because I don’t have time to run home and get another pair, butI’m giving them back.”
“Fine.”
I don’t point out that she’ll have a hard time returning them if we never see each other again.
I retrieve my duffel bag off the ground, and then we fall in step together. “Is your work close?”
“Right around the corner.” Hope blooms in my chest a moment before she confirms, “I’m a server at Aura, the nightclub.”
I laugh at the absurdity of the circumstances.Winnie, are you doing this?
“What?” She eyes me suspiciously.
“No, it’s just funny. I tried to apply there earlier today and got turned away,” I admit sheepishly.
Nowshe’slaughing. “Of course you got turned away! You’re a bit late. I applied for the job back in February. This is Ibiza we’re talking about—all the best jobs go quick.”
