Selina was going to murder Cass’s meddling ass.
When Cass saw Aubrey turn down Ria at the bar the other night, she’d become convinced the woman had gone through a miraculous change and that Selina and Aubrey were soul mates meant to be together forever. Her enthusiasm made Selina’s skin itch—mostly because her hopeful heart begged her to allow those same feelings to roam unbridled.
However, she’d always been too pragmatic for that.
Yet, because of Cass’s meddling, they were going out to the bar with Aubrey’s crew, one big celebratory party, since after tonight, they only had one more day of vacation. The conclusion of the trip loomed in her mind, a far bigger ending than returning home from a week of ocean breezes and sunny reads.
Part of being a pragmatist meant she didn’t waste too much time deluding herself.
She’d already begun to fall for Aubrey and hard.
No matter the limits they’d placed on things, every time she was in the same room with the woman, her heart had begun to accelerate like she’d hit the freeway and jammed on the gas. And she’d begun to fantasize about what could happen if Aubrey changed—if she was willing to give this connection between them a chance.
The sign for Castaway Cantina stood out overhead as she waited in line with Cass. Tonight, Steph and Zane were having a date at the Oyster House to celebrate the last full night here, so she and Cass were on their own to do what single women did in Rehoboth—troll the bars in the hopes of finding themselves a wild night.
Except Selina would be around Aubrey yet again. Those first kisses had just been flirting with flame, but the deeper her feelings grew, the more the fire began to take hold and spread until an entire forest got caught in the blaze. She tugged at the chunky bracelets weighting her wrists, wishing they’d tethered her to some common sense in the first place. Either way, her traitorous heart hadn’t taken the memo.
When Aubrey turned down Ria to spend the night with her friends and then came out to find Selina later, the butterflies had threatened to consume her. They’d avoided the talk up until now because Aubrey never made any promises, and Selina hadn’t harbored any delusions… at least, before.
Now, her mind was traveling years into the future without her permission, her heart hopping on a flight while she couldn’t even get to the airport.
She skimmed her fingers through her hair and smoothed her skirt instinctively. She’d gone with a slouchy crimson tunic and a short black skirt, busting out her eighteen-hole Docs.
“You’re going to wingman for me tonight before you go off and make out in whatever shadowy corner you can find with your lady love,” Cass said, the closer they got to Castaway. “I’m sick of going everywhere solo.”
Outside of the bar, folks lingered to either catch a smoke or chat under the lamplight, everyone engaged in casual conversation. The murmurs threaded through the sea air, and in the distance, she could hear the quiet lap of the tides to shore, steady and undulating. Selina focused on the sound to calm the jitters sneaking through her at the thought of spending yet another night with Aubrey.
“I can handle that,” Selina murmured, wishing she had a belt or loops to grip onto—something to occupy her hands. After tonight, she had one more day until she’d be relieving Heather from bar duty. If she didn’t have a bar manager she trusted, she would never be able to take this trip in the first place.
“You’re not mad that I invited them with us tonight, right?” Cass asked, glancing her way.
Selina sighed and shook her head. “I’m not mad. Conflicted, confused, and all of that mess, sure, but I know your heart’s always in the right place.”
“I just want you to find happiness,” Cass murmured, nudging her in the shoulder. “I’d be content with a good lay, but you’ve been so patient. You’ve tried so hard to stick to your guns, and you deserve a happy ending more than anyone I know.”
Selina squeezed Cass’s shoulder. “As if I could love you any more. You know you’re going to find what you’re searching for too.”
Cass offered a hesitant grin, her dark eyes dancing. She tugged on one of her careful braids. “Someday, I hope.”
Chatter poured out of the constantly opening door of Castaway Cantina, along with the throb of electronica. Even from here, she caught the scent of tart lime from the abundance of cheap margaritas on the specials menu tonight. Selina’s heart sped the closer they got to the door. At the beginning of this week, she’d been bored out of her mind in this bar, and Aubrey Moore had been a big warning sign of “avoid at all costs.” One talk outside of here changed all of that.
They stepped inside, and the blast from the AC greeted them first, followed by the dim lighting and the thrum of a packed bar. Part of Selina wanted to bolt in the opposite direction at what felt like a Saturday night at Renegades, but the other part of her searched the crowds for any sign of Aubrey.
It didn’t take long to pinpoint their group. Aubrey and the others had taken a seat at the back of the bar, all wedged around a few tall tables with stools to accommodate everyone. Aubrey was dressed to kill in ripped jeans and a shortened tee that exposed her delicious abs. Selina couldn’t help but recall the feeling of those curves pressed against her, and how Aubrey had strength enough to pin her down. The fantasy of the woman lifting her up and fucking her snuck into her head quite a few times, along with about a dozen others.
Every make-out session left Selina panting for more—which might never happen. All she’d have would be the scorching kisses and quiet moments they’d shared. In truth though, that was far more than she gave to most.
Aubrey lifted her molten gaze and pinned her to the spot. The air may as well have evacuated the room. Selina smoothed her hands along her skirt again, as if that might help. The intensity threatened to consume her, but by some miracle, her feet continued to carry her across the bar in their direction. Cass zeroed in on her a couple of times followed by a knowing smile, but she just weathered the looks. She knew she was barely keeping her usual cool.
As she got closer, Selina sucked in a steadying breath. They stopped in front of the tables and claimed the open stools.
“How many drinks deep are you guys in?” Cass asked, dropping her elbows to the table. “I’m planning on letting loose tonight.”
“I’m going to drink the bar dry,” Ky muttered, staring into her margarita. “My fling from the other night decided to fling herself in the arms of another woman.”
“Back into the pool with the rest of us, eh?” Aubrey said, elbowing Kyle in the side. Selina’s stomach twisted at the comment, but her steady gaze didn’t flicker. “Unlike the gross almost-married couple over there.”
Mia stuck her tongue out at Aubrey, and Sky shrugged, her arm comfortably wrapped around Mia’s shoulders.
“I’ll grab a refill for anyone who needs one,” Selina offered, needing the breather. “Cass, what are you drinking?”
“Whatever’s on special,” she said, beginning to scan around the bar.
“I’ll come and help,” Aubrey offered, a wicked glint lighting her eyes. Something reckless had surfaced tonight, something that set Selina on edge. She hadn’t spent years observing people to miss the subtle signs.
Aubrey slunk up beside her as they headed toward the bar. “You look fucking delicious tonight.” Her voice was husky as her breath hit Selina’s ear.
A shiver traveled down her spine—this was the cocky, self-assured woman she’d been avoiding for years because she was dangerous as hell. However, this version had never swayed her in the past, not until she’d seen the softer side to Aubrey that existed beneath all the arrogance.
“And you look like you’re destined for a cold shower,” Selina teased, reverting to autopilot.
“I’m pretty sure my dildo’s going to run out of batteries after the past few days,” Aubrey commented, a conspiratorial grin reaching her lips. Something felt off tonight, like the tender, loyal, and protective woman she’d gotten to know had been locked away in a tower, and Selina didn’t trust the current facade.
“Lucky for you, there are convenience stores and loose women everywhere,” Selina drawled, unable to help herself. Even still, her heart squeezed tight.
As much as she wanted to indulge in the escape Aubrey offered, she’d withstood the temptation to take things to the next level for a reason. She didn’t toss around sleeping with people easily, and her long-standing rule was she only had sex in relationships once the emotional groundwork had been laid. Not like it saved her from heartbreak, but the opposite would corrode her over time.
Selina leaned over the bar to order a pint, two margaritas, and a rum and coke for Aubrey, trying to ignore how the woman scrutinized her.
She cast a glance at Aubrey. “Did something change?” she asked point-blank. “Back home?”
Aubrey’s gaze shuttered, the expressiveness in her eyes blanking out. “Nothing that can’t wait until the end of vacation.”
Right. That explained the closed off version she’d received tonight. Every time she got close to cracking the code with this woman, Aubrey would throw in a twist, and Selina felt like she stood on wet sand that changed with every whim of the tide.
“Let’s get these back to the crew,” Selina said before any more questions slipped from her lips. She turned on her heel, but she could feel Aubrey’s heated presence close beside her as they carved their way over to everyone.
She set the margaritas in front of Cass and Ky before she slid into place beside them. Aubrey slipped in on her other side, the flash of a challenge reflecting in her gaze. Mia leaned forward and glanced between the two of them.
“I’ve got to say, you guys are adorable. I didn’t think I’d ever see Aubrey tied down,” Mia said, her eyes shining with genuine warmth. Her expression socked Selina in the chest. Beside Mia, Sky winced and tugged at her arm.
Aubrey’s gaze darkened. “You’re going to be waiting awhile on that one, Mia B.”
Selina schooled her face, even though the violent jerk inside hurt.
Aubrey pushed up from her spot at the table. “It’s about time I started casting nets for the night too. Maybe I’ll catch up with the rest of you later, or maybe I won’t.” The tone of her voice affected charm, but the coldness underneath could freeze the entire group. She didn’t look Selina’s way once as she hopped up and made her way to the bar.
The ice infiltrated to Selina too, coursing through her veins and numbing out those hopes that had started to emerge.
“Oh fuck,” Mia murmured, glancing toward Selina. “I thought…. I’m so sorry.”
Selina couldn’t feel anything. Aubrey’s switched mood dropped onto her like an atomic bomb, and her hopes for the night, for the vacation—period—were destroyed in the wake.
Cass reached over and placed a hand over Selina’s, even though she could barely feel it. “I’m sorry too. I just wanted to see you happy. I thought after the other night that maybe she was different.”
Selina lifted the pint to her lips, unable to process much else. She was still reeling, and the temperature had dropped to subzero for the rest of the crew.
Ky leaned forward. “If it makes you feel better, I can go over there and challenge her to a fight. She might collapse from laughter alone.”
Selina attempted a smile that faltered. “Sweet of you, Kyle, but I didn’t hold any delusions about changing her.”
She dragged her gaze away, but in the process caught one sight in her peripheral that made the situation even worse. Aubrey leaned in at the bar, talking to a sweet redhead with perky tits who lapped up the attention.
This was the exact nightmare she knew would come. It just was a bit sooner than expected.
She shouldn’t have gotten attached.
She shouldn’t have allowed herself to fall.
The quiet at the table was deafening as everyone got really fascinated with their drinks to try and avoid the awkwardness seeping into their pores.
“So, what are your plans for the last day of vacation?” Selina forced out, by some miracle keeping a tremor from her voice. Sky met her gaze and nodded, seeming to understand her need to get out of this discussion and fast.
“Probably going to spend it by the ocean again. Did you know less than five percent of the world’s oceans have been explored?” Sky dove in headfirst, and Selina could’ve kissed her for the reroute. The moment she started spouting out weird oceanic facts, Mia caught on and redirected the conversation. Cass gave her hand one last squeeze before diving in to chat with the rest of them.
Selina did her best to avoid looking toward the bar, not wanting to inflict the sting of the lash on herself with every glance. Even still, the temptation was tearing her apart. The chatter at the table faded to noiselessness around her until all she could hear was the heavy thump of her heart in her ears. None of the girls bothered her, since they seemed to understand that she needed the space right now. Selina continued to lift her drink to her lips, even though she barely tasted the porter gliding down her throat.
Focus. One breath in. One breath out.
This hit harder than running into her ex at the coffee shop, even though she and Aubrey never made any promises. The cold chilled her from the inside out. They’d never discussed anything about the potential for a relationship, because deep down, she’d known that would send Aubrey running into the arms of the closest willing woman. Beneath it all, she hadn’t been able to help indulging for once, even though this summer fling would wreck her.
Selina glanced up as if her gaze were being magnetically drawn.
Aubrey slipped her arm around the redhead, leaning in so her lips almost brushed her ear, charm written all over her features. The redhead stared at her, blue eyes drenched in lust. Selina’s breath snagged in her throat. Her pulse slowed, and the movement around them seemed to cease.
Aubrey and the redhead pushed away from the bar, and together, they made their way to the door.
She was going to be sick.
“I need a minute,” Selina murmured as she stood from her seat. She couldn’t even feel her legs move beneath her, but somehow she floated toward the bathroom just in time to watch the door click shut behind them.
She slipped into the first empty stall she could find, her fingers trembling as she tried to tug on the handle. Selina slid against the cool surface, her legs barely keeping her upright. Once she locked the door behind her, the first tears slipped down her cheeks, hot, spiteful, and unrelenting. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, ones she covered with her mouth as everything she’d held back slipped out.
Spending time with Aubrey, getting to know her, and allowing her in—it had all been a mistake. All of the back-and-forth comments, shared glances, and tender words all shattered like a crowbar to a mirror.
The tears continued to stream down her cheeks as she leaned against the bathroom stall, cracked wide open.
She should never have let herself fall for Aubrey Moore.