Chapter 3

Gia shuffled through her clothes. “What the hell is appropriate for dinner in a guy’s hotel room?” she muttered, tossing yet another outfit on her bed, which already covered with all the rejects. “Em, what do you think?”

Emmie smirked as she reclined in the plush chair, her silky mini-housecoat pulled firmly around her. “The way you two were eyeballing each other, I’d say a box of condoms.”

With an eye-roll, Gia spoke, “That may be for later, but seriously. This is a date and I need something cool to wear. And no, before you say it, I’m not goin’ naked.“ She paused, a devilish grin spread across her face. “Though I might end up that way.”

“You know damn well it will, Gia!” Emmie laughed. “Those guys were SO on the prowl!”

“Yeah, they sure were. Wonder what they do for a living. Male escorts?” Gia giggled as she dropped her towel, sliding on a red lace bra and matching thong. She finally decided on a red, strapless, cling-to-your-body mini-dress. “Here, zip me up, will ya?” she asked after pulling the dress up, bending down to Em, who was still sitting in the armchair.

Emmie raised up and slid Gia’s zipper up. “Going in for the kill tonight, eh?” She nodded appreciatively at the dress. “Actually, I think they’re in shipping or something. While I was having a couple glasses of wine with Richie, he was busy talking to other guys about, well, crate loading times? European legs? And passing through customs? Maybe they ship illegal body parts on the black market.” Emmie laughed. “Seriously, Gia, I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

Gia joined in her laughter. “Wouldn’t surprise me. After all, we are in Jamaica...or is that another country--or wait, no!--South America is where all that happens.” Gia sat down on the bed, bending down to slide on her four-inch red stillettos, then stood before the mirror to play around with her hair. “What do you think: up or down?” She held up her long, raven tresses close to her head.

“I don’t think it really matters. It’s just gonna be down and messy later, right?” Emmie chuckled. “Leave it down, Gia.”

Gia laughed. “True, so should I bother to even curl it or straighten it?” Gia briefly slipped into her own thoughts. What the hell is it about this guy that I’m making such a fuss?

“Gia, for goodness sakes! Just...leave it! You look gorgeous, okay?” Emmie couldn’t help but laugh. Gia was known to go all out for a nice, good-looking guy, but right now she was acting like a fourteen-year-old with her first secret crush. It was very amusing.

She brushed her long tresses until they shone, then applied a touch of makeup. Her olive skin didn’t require much, or else she ended up looking like an overdone hooker. Then, to finish it off, she put a dab of Chanel behind the ears and at the crevice between her breasts. She twirled around. “How do I look?”

“Stunning, classy, yet totally fuckable.”

Gia smiled for a moment, then grew serious. “Em, you know I’m not really a slut, don’t you?” She turned to face her cousin. She had no clue why she felt the need to ask, but it was like Gia had stepped into the Twilight Zone ever since she’d laid eyes on Jon.

Emmie looked at Gia with unveiled confusion. “Gia, since you share every single little tryst you have with me in blow-by-blow detail, then I think I know. It takes more than four sexual partners in your whole life to be considered a slut, okay?” Why would Gia even ask her that? Of course she knew. She knew each conquest by name, even! It was simply their inside joke. Gia talked big, but it was mostly for show to irritate the pants off of Emmie’s mom, and as bad as it may have seemed, it tickled Emmie to no end to see her mother all uncomfortable, embarrassed, and worked up over stuff that wasn’t even true. She truly did love the woman, but she just needed to relax a bit and not be so damn serious!

“Yeah, I know, just--I can’t--hell, Em. I don’t know why it matters. Nevermind. I’m gonna go have a great time. You are gonna be okay alone, right? ‘Cause I don’t know how late I’ll be, if I come back tonight.” Gia looked at her cousin. “You’ll be okay if I don’t?”

Emmie held up her thick book and donned her reading glasses with a smile. “I’ll be just fine! Me and Prince Charming of fantasy land.” She winked and settled down onto the couch. “Go on with your bad self, girl.”

“Okay, here I go. I’m gonna be at the Hedonism Resort, suite 415, if you need me,” Gia called back as she picked up her purse and traipsed to the door. Then, she turned back to smile at Em. “See you when I get back, whenever that is.” She winked, then left.

Emmie smiled at Gia’s disappearing back, then promptly buried her nose in her book, and was soon lost in another world.