Lazy hammocks were strung up between giant tree trunks, and indoor lamps swung from branches, casting a warm glow. A row of cozy white cabanas, each containing a white sofa with a white gauze curtain, caught Alexa's eye. A few of the cabanas were occupied by couples, hidden in their own private cocoon. Palm and ficus trees were everywhere, creating a dense canopy through which moonlight filtered dreamily.
"Wow," Alexa said, breathless.
"I know," Diego said. "The pool is even better." He
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put a hand on the small of her back as he guided her down the steps. Alexa was tempted to sink back against him, so he would encircle her waist with his arms. She wanted to feel his lips against the nape of her neck. But she resisted. She still wasn't sure what he thought of her.
They walked to the infinity pool -- a flat sheet of clear, blue water. People lay around on white lounges, sipping drinks. Beyond the grounds lay the beach, and Alexa caught a glimpse of the ocean behind the palms. She and Diego stood side by side, their shoulders rubbing lightly as they admired the pool. Then Alexa tipped her head back. It was a sticky, too-warm night, and the sky was cloudy, but she could make out a brilliant sprinkling of stars, glinting in the blackness.
"What sort of photographs do you take, Alexandria?" Diego asked.
Alexa looked away from the stars, back at Diego. She loved how he spoke her full name, pronouncing certain vowels with a lilting Spanish accent. But hardly anybody called her Alexandria, especially not her friends. And she did want Diego to be her friend.
"Will you call me Alexa?" she replied softly. The wind blew tendrils of hair into her face. She thought she heard the distant rumble of thunder.
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"Alexa," Diego echoed. He reached over and brushed the hair away from her eyes. For a minute, Alexa forgot what they had been talking about.
"I ... I like to capture people in public places," Alexa said, coming to. "On street corners, or in cafés. Actually, I was hoping to take pictures of Lincoln Road one night this week."
They drifted toward one of the unoccupied, white-draped cabanas, their conversation unspooling naturally, fluidly. Alexa sat down on the soft white sofa, and her rose-colored skirt spilled out around her, princesslike. She felt incredibly elegant, being here with Diego. He sat next to her, setting his drink down on the glass table in front of them, and she inhaled his spicy Cool Water cologne. She was dying to find out what his lips tasted like, felt like. Was it the humidity that was making her feel so sensual? she wondered, watching as people paraded past.
Alexa noticed a brown-haired girl in a lace dress go by "I wonder if Holly's still inside," Alexa mused aloud. Of course, she had no intention of going back in to find Holly; she felt deliciously languorous sitting right where she was.
"I bet Ian's hitting on her." Diego's eyes flashed mischievously. "I guess it's pretty obvious he's on the make, huh?"
"No kidding." Alexa rolled her eyes, then smiled at
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Diego. "Poor Holly. She's not very good at handling advances from boys." Alexa remembered how antsy Holly had been on the beach after kissing the surfer dude. "I think she just needs some experience," Alexa added thoughtfully. "With the right guy"
There was a moment of silence, and Diego moved closer to Alexa on the sofa. When he spoke, his breath tickled her ear.
"How about you?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky. "Have you found the right guy?"
Alexa turned to look at him. His dark eyes were fixed on her intently.
"You mean am I seeing anyone?" she asked. Suddenly, her palms were clammy and her heart was thumping like mad. "No," she said. "I just came out of a relationship. And he wasn't the right guy He didn't get me the way -- " You do, she wanted to say. The way you do.
Very gently, Diego traced his fingers up and down her arm. Yes, Alexa thought. Her entire body tingled, responding to the feel of his warm fingertips on her skin. She couldn't believe he was touching her so deliberately. Was something going to happen between them?
"I broke up with my girlfriend this past year," he said. "And it was the same thing. I felt like we never really connected." He paused, then let his hand float up her arm over to her back, tickling her ever so
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slightly. Alexa closed her eyes. His touch was setting her skin on fire.
"You know when you have that connection with someone," Diego whispered. "You just feel it."
When Alexa opened her eyes, Diego's face was very close to hers.
"Do you feel it now?" Alexa asked him, her lips brushing against his. She was heady with lust.
Diego didn't answer. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her.
It was a serious kiss. Deep, and slow, and full of longing. Diego's full mouth felt sublime pressed against hers. Alexa was already greedy for the next kiss. She couldn't get enough of him.
The humidity that had lingered all evening exploded in a clap of thunder. Fat, heavy drops of rain began to fall, splashing on Alexa's bare arms, and legs. She was disappointed when Diego pulled away, stood, and drew the gauzy white drape across the cabana, shielding them from the rain. But then he returned to the sofa and resumed kissing her, even more passionately this time. Alexa twined her arms around his neck, drinking in his kisses. Then, she drew back to catch her breath. Her mouth felt wonderfully tender. Alexa realized she didn't want to kiss five guys in one night. Kissing Diego, and only Diego, was almost more than she could take.
Diego slowly stroked the back of her neck, his lips
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teasing her earlobe. Then he reached up and undid her loose bun, so her hair spilled around her shoulders.
"Qué linda," he murmured, gazing at her. "You are so pretty.'"
"Say something else in Spanish," Alexa whispered, nuzzling his neck.
Diego smiled. "Do you like that?" he asked. "There is something sexy about speaking a foreign language. You really got me back there when you spoke French."
"I did?" Alexa asked in surprise. "Up until, like, two seconds ago, I didn't even think you liked me."
Diego shook his head, his dimples deepening. "No way. As soon as you got out of that car last night -- "
"Oh, stop." Alexa put her fingers on his lips.
"I'm serious," Diego went on, caressing her arm. "It's wasn't only how you looked. You had this fire and energy that I've never seen in anyone, except..."
"Yourself?" Alexa finished for him.
"I guess," he said with a slow smile. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer. "I wanted to see you again, but I thought you hated me. I didn't expect you to come tonight."
"But I did," Alexa whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. "And I'm happy I did. So happy."
I'm miserable, Holly thought as she stood in the Rose Bar, having failed at her attempt to order a drink.
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When she'd managed to flag down a bartender, she had hesitated, then ordered an apple martini, which was what she'd overheard the girls beside her order. But the bartender had asked to see Holly's ID, promptly ending their exchange. Ian had offered to buy Holly a drink -- he looked old enough that nobody thought to card him -- but Holly had refused. She'd read in Cosmo Girl that boys expected something from you if they bought you alcohol. And Holly did not want to go down that road with, of all people, Diego's friend.
But why did talking to Diego feel so lackluster? Holly wondered as she stood there, drinkless and boyless. She watched as Ian chatted up a girl at the other end of the bar; he seemed to have no problem making conversation. Holly remembered her awkward silences with Alexa on the plane ride to Miami. It's me, she thought. I must be socially inept.
"Why so blue, Holly?"
Holly turned to see Aaron standing very close. He smiled, his aquamarine eyes boring into her.
Holly looked around. Thomas, Kaitlin, Daisy, and Jonathan were nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, I'm not blue," Holly lied, annoyed that Aaron had cornered her.
"Promise?" he asked
"Are you okay? I mean, I feel like you've been avoiding me or something."
"That's because I am avoiding you," Holly retorted.
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She paused, startled by her own response. Maybe it was her frustration both over being carded and the way things were going with Diego, but suddenly she felt a lot more gutsy than usual.
Aaron looked surprised, but he didn't back down. "Well, maybe we could hang out sometime," he continued. "You seem like a really special girl."
That rattled Holly for a minute. Aaron was definitely adorable and he did seem kind of into her. Perhaps she was being foolish, pining for Diego, when another guy was willing and available.
Then Holly remembered being with Diego that morning -- the easy way they'd laughed over their memories. And the tantalizing, unspoken promise that more memories were waiting to be made. Holly couldn't just throw that promise away It was for Diego that she'd come to Miami in the first place. Not Aaron.
"Someone's waiting for me," Holly told Aaron. She stepped around him, and walked back into the lobby with a burst of determination. This time, she wasn't going to make lame small talk. She was going to walk right up to Diego ... and kiss him. That would certainly loosen things up, she decided boldly.
But, as Holly scanned all the fabulous people milling about, she couldn't spot Diego. Maybe he'd gone outside. Alexa wasn't around, either, but Holly figured she was off somewhere with the other Flamingo kids.
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Not wanting to lose her nerve, Holly hurried out the double doors into the back garden. The night air was thick with moisture. There were ominous sounds of thunder overhead and the palm trees were swaying wildly in a gathering wind. Holly cut across the lawn, threading past couples snuggling in hammocks. She checked out the pool, deflated. No Diego.
It felt all too fitting when the skies opened up and it started to rain: a sudden, violent thunderstorm. Everyone started running for cover, girls shrieking and using their designer cardigans as makeshift umbrellas. Holly was wearing white -- not a good plan in a downpour. She lowered her head and began hurrying back to the hotel. She was sprinting past the row of romantic cabanas when she heard the unmistakable sound of Alexa's laugh coming from one of the white-curtained booths.
Holly paused, suddenly seized with the desire to talk to her old friend. Holly hadn't fully realized until now how much closer she'd felt to Alexa in the past couple days. Alexa probably suspected Holly's crush on Diego, anyway -- it was silly for her to keep that secret. And Holly hadn't had time to text Meghan or Jess that day, so she was dying to indulge in some good girl talk. Now would be the perfect time to unburden herself to Alexa.
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She'll probably have some good advice, Holly reasoned, trying to peer through the gauzy white curtain. She could make out Alexa's pink dress and a boy's striped shirt. Holly wondered if Alexa was with Thomas, or some other guy she'd picked up in the lobby. Holly didn't want to burst in and interrupt if they were making out or something.
"Alexa?" Holly asked tentatively, stepping closer to the curtain.
"Holly?" she heard Alexa respond, sounding surprised.
"Alexa, I'm sorry, but there's something I really need to tell --" Holly began apologetically, drawing back the curtain. She stopped talking when she saw the couple on the sofa. Alexa had her arms around the boy's neck, and was cuddled close to him, as if they were about to kiss. Or already had. Holly saw the boy's caramel-colored hand on Alexa's arm, then recognized his black pants and shoes. Her eyes moved disbelievingly up to his face, to the jet-black eyes that widened as he looked back at her.
It was Diego.
Diego and Alexa. Together.
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CHAPTER TEN
Betrayal
Holly hugged her arms to her chest, suddenly aware that she was drenched to the bone. She should have been freezing, but instead she was burning hot -- her skin boiling with hurt and shock. Something Diego had said to her earlier that night sprung unbidden into her mind: You can really get burned in South Beach.
"No shit," Holly muttered, glaring at Diego. She wished she had been able to get a drink at the bar -- just so she could fling it into his stupid, I-swear-I'm-innocent face.
"Holly, what's wrong?" Alexa asked, watching as her friend's eyes darkened with anger. Was Holly just freaked to see her making out with someone? Alexa looked at Diego in confusion, but he was
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glancing anxiously from her to Holly, his expression tinged with guilt.
Holly felt the deep, familiar ache of tears building in her throat as she struggled to make sense of it all. When she'd left Alexa and Diego in the lobby, they clearly still hated each other. How could they have gone from that blatant hostility to getting it on in a private cabana?
Alexa, Holly realized with a shiver of fury. Seductive, devious, slutty Alexa. Holly flashed to an image of her friend grinding with the twins back at Ohio's. Alexa just had to make sure every boy in the universe was drooling all over her, didn't she? And Diego must be an extra-special treat, Holly thought, trembling. Alexa had pursued him on purpose. Just to have in her clutches the one boy Holly really wanted.
"I -- I can't believe you," Holly hissed at Alexa, once she found her voice. "'How could you do this to me?" Her eyes filled with tears.
"What are you talking about?" Alexa cried, suddenly scared. Why was Holly looking at her with pure hatred?
Diego got to his feet, running a hand nervously through his dark hair. "Holly, please calm down -- " he began, approaching her.
"Don't," Holly whispered. She took a big step away from him and burst into tears. Then she turned and
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ran back into the heavy rain. Holly was so flustered that she dashed in the direction of the beach instead of the hotel. But she didn't care where she went, as long as it was away from the two people who had betrayed her.
Alexa watched Holly dash off, sobbing, and suddenly she understood. Of course. Holly and Diego had something going on. It all added up: their seemingly innocent date that morning. Holly wanting to buy a bikini and a new dress. Holly's eagerness to see him tonight....
Alexa stood abruptly, studying Diego with a new set of eyes. He'd played her. All his thoughtful words, and the intense way he'd looked at her, had been bullshit. And he'd even had the nerve to talk about Holly mentioning that Ian might be hitting on her. As if Ian were the creep! It figures, doesn't it? Alexa thought bitterly. The only guy she'd met in a long time whom she'd instantly clicked with had turned out to be a two-faced liar.
"Alexa, wait. I can explain," Diego said, accurately reading the stony look on her face. He reached for her hand. "It's not what it seems like."
"Oh, that's original," Alexa snapped, rolling her eyes. "Please, Diego. Save your lies for some other girl."
She shoved past him and stormed away from the cabana. She had to find Holly. The wind whipped
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Alexa's hair, and the rain soaked her thin dress. Alexa spotted Holly sprinting toward the pool. Why isn't she running back toward the hotel? Alexa thought in alarm. Slipping off her sling-backs, she quickly followed Holly across the lawn.
Holly reached the infinity pool, shivering and limping. The rain was coming at her sideways. Damn Kaitlin's shoes, she thought, resting against a table and unbuckling the strappy sandals. She wiped her teary face with her hand, then stared helplessly at her mascara-blackened fingers. All she wanted to do was collapse on a bed, and wallow in a long, shuddering sob session. Holly was wondering if she could walk back to the Flamingo barefoot before she realized Alexa had the room key. And then, without warning, Alexa was there, beside her, rain streaming down her face.
"Holly, what are you doing?" Alexa cried, breathless. "Come on, let's just go inside." She gestured back toward the hotel.
"Get away from me," Holly spat. She never wanted to see Alexa again. She spun around and fled off the Delano's grounds and onto the beach. She clutched Kaitlin's shoes to her chest as she trudged across the
sand. To Holly, the ocean looked as furious as she felt -- a roiling mass of blue-black waves. A zigzag of lightning split the charcoal sky.
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"Holly, I didn't know!" Alexa called through the wind and rain. "He didn't tell me." She ran up behind Holly and spun her around so that they were facing each other. "You didn't tell me."
And why didn't she say anything? Alexa wondered, studying Holly's mascara-stained face. She knew she and Holly weren't remotely as close as they had once been. But did Holly have such little regard for her that she'd keep secret something that had happened on this very trip? So Holly had noticed how sexy Diego really was, Alexa realized with a wry smile. She simply hadn't trusted Alexa enough to share that knowledge with her.
At the sight of Alexa's smile, Holly felt another burst of rage. Did Alexa find this all funny? She was acting so innocent, but Holly wasn't buying it. So what if Holly hadn't told her the full truth about Diego? Alexa knew that Holly and Diego had some sort of history. But she'd still jumped him the minute Holly's back was turned.
"You expect me to believe that Alexandria St. Laurent, boy expert, couldn't have figured it out?" Holly asked Alexa through clenched teeth. "Give me a break. You knew what you were doing. You probably pretended to hate him so I wouldn't catch on, right? And then you just threw yourself at him like ... like a slut."
Alexa recoiled, as if Holly had slapped her. Slut.
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The word sounded as sharp as a weapon. Alexa remembered how she'd almost let those frat boys do body shots off her in Ohio's, and that seeing Holly across the bar had stopped her. But what gives Holly the right to pass judgment on me? Alexa fumed. She made her own decisions when it came to boys. And she'd be damned if anyone -- let alone Holly Jacobson -- told her how to conduct her love life.
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