Sun, Dates, And Paper Plates

Chapter 1

Oh my God. He's walking right at me.

I tried to smile, but had such a bad case of tense lock-jaw it probably ended up looking more like a grimace. Regardless, the hot guy returned my smile with his own perfect, lopsided grin. 

He was shirtless. There was a light layer of sunscreen shimmer all over his built, tan chest. He was wearing a stack of pamphlets. And he was still walking right at me.

The closer he got, the more I wondered if I'd shaven my milk bottle legs properly. Then I wondered if I was only imagining he was smiling at me. 

Odds were he was aiming to talk to my sister Joyce, who was standing next to me. Usually, guys preferred her - except when they were trying to make a point about how they 'hated' girls who wore too much makeup and were 'too popular' like Joyce. 

"Hey," the guy said. 

"Hi," I replied simultaneously with the three other girls in our group. There was my sister Joyce, and Joyce's friends Paisley and Skye. 

I saw them post quotes on social media last night, priding themselves on being strong and independent. They still drooled buckets all over this guy, fluttering their eyelashes and pulling their shoulders back to show off their chest. 

Maybe I shouldn't judge, because I'd be doing the exact same thing if I had any semblance of flirting skills.

The guy's pearly smile widened. "Have you ladies been here on Majorca long already?" 

Joyce reached for her sunglasses, pushing them up into her long, brown hair. "No, we arrived this afternoon. We're staying for two weeks." 

"Great! Then you're in for a fantastic first night. Party at Club Ocean from 12 o'clock on. Be there! Find me, and I'll fix you all a free drink." 

The guy pushed a pamphlet into my sister's hands, and I was shocked that she accepted it. Let's just say Joyce wasn't the type to take pieces of paper from strangers or treat them with any kindness. I'm sure the guy's hazel eyes framed by long lashes had everything to do with this exception. 

"Maybe we'll check it out." Joyce tilted her head to the side. "Who should we ask for, for our free drink?" 

The guy laughed. "My name's Ty. And yours?" 

His eyes glided over all of us, even me, before focusing on Joyce again. 

"I'm Joyce," my sister introduced herself with full confidence. 

"Paisley." Paisley twirled a strand of her curly hair around her finger, while Skye went for her trademark coy smile that drove guys wild. 

"Skye." 

I expected Ty to ignore my presence, but he looked at me expectantly when I didn't promptly introduce myself like the others. They must've taught him to be polite to everyone in a group when trying to get guests for their club. 

"I'm Charmeine," I croaked, about two seconds too late.

Ty didn't ignore my presence, but he did ignore my obvious awkwardness. 

"Charmeine," he said. "That's an interesting name." 

"That rhymes," I replied, mentally slapping my forehead for that remark the moment it left my mouth. 

I practically felt the hostility radiating from my sister next to me, but she held back because we were in Ty's company.

Ty, however, let out a loud, barking laugh. "Alright Charmeine,  I hope to see you at the club again," he rhymed on purpose, offering me a pamphlet.