Free Wanderlust by Natalie K. Martin Page A

ages getting ready, deciding on what to wear and trying to see herself through Alex’s eyes, and since arriving at Erin’s house, she’d worked through myriad ways to try and step things up to the next level in her head. It would all have been for nothing if they left now but one look at his face told her that he’d already made up his mind.
    Selina sighed. ‘Okay. If that’s what you want.’
    ‘I’m sorry. This just isn’t what I was expecting.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s just a party.’ She shrugged and looked away, trying to hide her disappointment.
    Maybe it was better that they did go home. They’d grown closer, but she’d made a promise to herself to stay away from guys. Maybe he was doing her a favour and saving herself from something she’d regret down the line.
    Alex sighed. ‘Ah, egal .’
    ‘In English?’
    ‘Sorry. It means fuck it,’ he explained. ‘I can handle it a little longer.’
    ‘Really?’ She grinned. ‘Because if you’re really not into it, we can leave. I don’t mind.’
    Alex stuffed his hands in his pockets. ‘Another hour won’t hurt.’
    His body language suggested the opposite, but an extra hour would buy her a little time.
    ‘Thanks. Really.’
    ‘It’s nothing.’ He shrugged, but it was something.
    The reality was, she still wasn’t even sure that he liked her like that but somehow, being at the party bolstered her courage. It was less pressure than being alone in the quiet romantic surroundings of Colinas Verde.
    ‘I just need to nip to the toilet, could you keep hold of this?’ She handed him her glass with a grin. ‘I’ll be back in two minutes.’
    ‘You’d better get a move on, then because we've only got fifty-eight left.’ He returned her grin and she left for the bathroom.
    Fifty-eight minutes. Surely that was plenty of time to try and move things forward? They’d already wished Erin a happy birthday and spoken with some of the other guests. When she got back to him, they’d find a quiet corner somewhere and talk alone, and make the minutes count. And the glass of champagne she’d left with Alex would be her last. The bubbles had gone straight to her head and she didn’t want to make a fool of herself. Being the one to make the first move was nerve-wracking enough without feeling too tipsy to do it.
    On the way back outside, she saw a half empty bottle of water someone had left on the table. She could go back to the kitchen and get one, but it seemed like such a long way away and she wanted to get back to Alex. She shrugged and greedily drained the bottle in record time. It was only water and whoever it belonged to had obviously forgotten about it. She grimaced once she’d finished, hoping it hadn’t been filled from the tap. The last thing she wanted was to get sick and the water had a funny, bitter taste to it. Still, it had satisfied her thirst and she’d needed it to clear her head.
    As she wandered back outside, she saw faltered. Alex was chatting to a group of people. How was she supposed to get him on his own? She headed over to him, fixing a smile onto her face.
    ‘This is Selina,’ Alex said when she joined them. ‘She’s staying at Colinas Verde too.’
    If he hadn’t told her he’d wanted to leave, she’d have believed he was in his element. Nothing about his tone or body language even hinted at him not having a good time. After introducing her to the group they were soon drawn into conversation and he seemed as at ease as he did back in Colinas Verde.
    Selina leaned back against the railing, trying to involve herself instead of wishing she could drag Alex away to somewhere they could talk by themselves, but with every passing second, she felt more and more removed from what was going on. She fixed a look of concentration onto her face and tried to focus, but she couldn’t hear anything other than the beat of her heart in her chest.
    ‘Selina?’
    Alex’s voice jolted her and she pulled her head back down. When