The Trade(30)

“He’s wearing a shirt with palm leaves on it?”

“Oh yes, he is and he’s wearing the hell out of it.”

“Have you seen him with his shirt off yet?”

I shake my head. “I refused to look when he came out to the pool area. I can’t do that to myself, not when . . . the thing happened to me.”

“Okay,” Monica says, growing frustrated. “You’re going to have to divulge. What’s this thing that happened to you?”

Taking a deep breath, I say, “I’m sharing a room with him.”

I cringe, waiting for her outburst but instead of getting one, she stares at me as if I’m crazy. “You’re sharing a room with Cory Potter?” I nod. “And why is this a thing? You should be taking a magnifying glass to your lower regions to make sure all the hairs were waxed before you went to St. Croix. Natalie, this is amazing.”

“Monica, it’s Cory Potter.”

“Exactly. It’s Cory Fucking Potter, one of the hottest guys ever to walk the planet. Those eyes, those shoulders. God, what I wouldn’t give to be in your position right now, and I love my man more than anything, but sharing a room with Cory? Uh, sign me up. Pretty sure hubby would push me out the door and tell me to take my top off if he knew I’d be sharing a room with Cory Potter. This isn’t a thing; this is an opportunity.”

I shake my head, the pounding sensation starting at the base of my skull. “I love your confidence in me, but let’s be honest. He’s way out of my league. Like above and beyond any man I would ever be able to land.”

“And I love you, Natalie, but just because you were married to Ansel, doesn’t mean that’s what you should expect in a man. Ansel wasn’t the best you could do, not even close. He was lucky you even looked his way. You are a catch. You are funny and smart and have a kind heart. You might be a little twitchy at times and say weird things, but that adds to your charm. And you can’t help that, because you are genetically related to Jason Orson. Besides that, Cory would be lucky to have you look his way. Give yourself more credit; he’s not out of your league, you’re equal.”

Monica is delusional.

Seriously . . . deranged. Lost her marbles. Hey, maybe she’s high.

“Are you high?”

“What? No,” she says, her voice rising. “I’m being serious.”

“Hmm.” I tap my chin. “Maybe I’m high.”

“Good Lord, Natalie. You and I both know you’re not; you’re just drunk. Listen to me, okay? I need you to focus.”

I zero in on her face and nod. “I’m focused.”

“Good. Because I need you to absorb these words. You are a stunning and amazing girl in her twenties looking for fun. Cory Fucking Potter has a libido, as every man does. You’ve got a fucking gorgeous body. Flaunt it. Give him the good views.”

“What are the good views?” I ask, my mind immediately going to spread-legged on the bed. “Because I’m not comfortable waiting naked on the bed with my legs spread until he gets back. It’s drafty in here.”

“I’m not asking you to give him the spread eagle. We want to entice him, not scare him away.”

“Are you saying my vagina is scary?” I ask, personally offended. “The waxing lady with the wax and the strips and the wax, she said I had a nice . . . what did she call it? Oh, kitten. She said I have a nice kitten.”

“I’m sure you do since Ansel had a pencil for a penis and never really touched you.” Monica gives me a challenging look.

Muttering I say, “More like a Sharpie than a pencil.”

“Either way, you have a nice vagina, but let’s save the grand reveal for when he’s begging for it. For now, get to know him a little, give him accidental touches here and there, seduce him slowly. It will be fun.”

“What you think sounds fun, sounds like a nightmare to me.”

“You know how to flirt, Natalie.”

“Yes, everything you said, I can do, but to Cory Potter? His sister is here, his friends are here. I would make a fool of myself. Not to mention, when he saw me, when he found out we had to share a room, the look on his face made it seem like a little elf was in his pants, twisting his balls. He clearly doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“That’s not true. He’s approached you on multiple occasions to talk to you.”

“Because I’m his new teammate’s sister, because his new teammate is best friends with his brother-in-law, not because he was interested in me. I love that you’re trying to pump me up, but let’s be realistic. A girl like me is never going to be with a guy like Cory Potter. I’m not his version of fling material.”

Monica groans out in frustration but doesn’t keep pushing me. “Can you at least try to have some fun, flirt a little, maybe meet an islander?”

“And what? Take him back to the room I’m sharing with Cory?”

“Hmm . . .” She pauses, thinking. “See if Cory is familiar with the sock on the doorknob signal.”

Rolling my eyes, I give her a kiss and say, “Bye, Monica.”

I hang up and rest my phone on the bed next to me. Not under the covers, still wearing my cover-up with my beach hat strewn over the pillows, I curl up even further into myself and take a deep breath. My stomach has settled and now sleep is overtaking me. I briefly close my eyes to see if the room keeps spinning and when it doesn’t, I decide to take a nap until I’m feeling better.