“Opposites attract all the time.”

“But those attractions don’t last, or they make for a rocky relationship.”

“So the sex is good, then.”

Recalling how Darren made me climax through a foot massage, I don’t respond right away.

Simone grins. “Yeah, I knew it. It has to be something if all that you said is true.”

“It’s good,” I mumble into a bite of pizza.

“Well, enjoy it. I bet Thailand is a great place to have sex.”

“Even if Darren is serious about it, I can’t go. I don’t have a passport, I have classes—”

“Get the class notes from someone, and Amy can help you with stats.”

“—and my job and my current internship.”

“How long are you going to be gone?”

“I don’t even know. Thailand seems so…so random. I thought Darren was joking.”

“You’re going to turn down an all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand?”

“I don’t know that it’s ‘all-expenses-paid,’” I continue to protest.

“Well, if you’re not going, I’ll go in your place.”

The conversation turns to a different topic after that. After we clear the table, I head back into the room I share with Amy, ready to attack the paper I was trying to work on yesterday before Darren showed up.

Amy’s clothes cover the floor.

“Sorry,” she says as she digs through a drawer. “I could have sworn I had brought my bikini back here from home, though a new one would be more fun. But the stores aren’t likely to have a great selection of swimwear this time of year. I’m going to have to order something online, which isn’t as fun as trying things on. Plus, I’m going to need a dress for the wedding.”

“Wedding?” I ask as I perch on the bed and watch as Amy holds up a short-sleeve sweater in front of a mirror.

“JD’s sister is getting married in Thailand.”

So Thailand wasn’t as random a destination as I’d thought.

Amy whirls around, her eyes bright with stars. “Can you believe how fast things are moving with JD? I mean, I’m going to be meeting his family.”

“That’s usually a significant step,” I acknowledge with hesitation.

I still have questions about JD. I can’t quite put my finger on why I have reservations. Maybe because he comes across so cool and smooth. Amy’s falling hard for the guy, and I don’t want her to get hurt.

To offer my way of looking at things, I share, “Darren actually invited me, too, but I doubt he considers us a serious relationship.”

Amy stares at me agog. “What?”

“He came by yesterday. Asked if I wanted to go to Phuket.”

“No way! He’s got to be into you, Bridget! And to think, you threw soda in his face when you first met!”

I chuckle now, though the dominant feelings that night had been anger and hurt, followed by mortification, remorse and sheepishness. Darren had approached me and disparaged the sweater I was wearing at his swanky club. Apparently he had thought I was part of some prank being pulled on him, but I didn’t know that. So, yeah, I threw my Coke at him for being so mean. I also didn’t know at the time he was the club owner and JD Lee’s cousin.