Free Player in Paradise by Rebecca Lewis Page A

together under the circumstances that we’re in. And I hate secrets; I hate lying. I know I technically do it every day, but it’s easier to lie about someone else’s life than my own.
    I down my second glass of wine faster than the first and the bartender starts a tab. I want to call Mandy and tell her what happened, but she’d kill me, and I’m embarrassed that I was so easily won over by his charm, his body, his smile, that sun-kissed skin, and unforgettable beachy scent…
    A familiar face takes a seat across from me at my littl e table. “How are you feeling?” Kai asks. He leans in close and seems genuinely concerned.
    “Physically, better . Emotionally, drained.”
    “Good to hear that I didn’t cause you any long-lasting damage. Although, I was kind of hoping you might have had some shoulder strain…I have been known to give a pretty good neck massage.”
    I smirk. I guess Austin’s not the only player in town.
    “Cute,” I respond.
    “Seriously, if you’re bored we can go hang out somewhere. I got off of work a few minutes ago.”
    Is he really asking me out? His dimples are kind of alluring. And technically I’m not attached to Austin, or anyone else for that matter.
    “You know what? I’d love to hang out with you.” I close out my tab and walk with him to his car, a regular-ole Toyota Corolla.
    “There’s a great bar up the street where a lot of the hotel staff go, is that ok ay?”
    “Sure!” At this point, I’ll do anything to escape my thoughts about Austin and the stress my job has been causing.
    We enter the local dive and it’s exactly how I pictured it, overly-crowded and slightly run-down, with a karaoke machine in the back and people drinking out of plastic cups. Kai buys me a drink, something infused with lots of rum. The liquid burns at first, but after the first few sips, it starts to feel smoother and smoother. We dance to the music and sweat glistens over my skin as the shoddy air conditioning doesn’t cool the temperature down at all.
    “You’re a blast,” Kai shouts over the loudspeakers.
    I’m on my fourth drink of the night and heading from buzzed to drunk.
    “So are you!” I throw my arms around him as we dance closer. I don’t know why I’m flirting with him, I don’t think I like him that way, but I can’t help it.
    The music pulses through my body and he leans in for a kiss. I let him touch his lips to mine, but there’s definitely no fire in my belly, not even a slight spark. I ease him off gently and flash a kind smile.
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    “Nothing, let’s just dance.” I put some distance between us and rock out on my own. I just needed a release. Not a sexual release, but an emotional one. Something to take me out of my mind for just one moment, and this did the trick perfectly.

Chapter Fourteen
     
    I check my phone as Kai drives me back to the hotel. Four missed called from Austin, three text messages, and one voicemail. All with the same message – “Where the hell are you?”
    Why is he so concerned?
    I stumble back into the hotel lobby, feeling like a sweaty mess, with my arm wrapped around Kai’s waist for support.
    Austin shows up out of nowhere and immediately runs toward us, pulling me close to his side. He towers over Kai. “What the hell did you do to her?” he asks, getting all up in his face.
    “Nothing, man, back off,” Kai says, swaying me back in his direction. “We just went out for some fun.”
    Austin steps closer, looking like he’s ready to throw a punch. I mouth “sorry” to Kai and he quickly drops his hand from my arm.
    “I’ll see you later, Olivia ,” he says, walking out the front entrance.
    I turn to Austin and his strong forearm catches me as I wobble in my heels. “Where did you come from?” I ask.
    The room spins and I place my weight on his shoulder to keep myself from falling.
    “I’ve been at the lobby bar trying to find you, or wait for you, or I don’t know what,” he quips.
    I