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Samantha noticed and didn’t shut up about it the entire way down to the beach.

Even through my sunglasses she picked up on my annoyance but it only fueled her laughter and commentary.

With a heavy sigh of relief we reached the bar and I dropped my purse on the counter top with Samantha to my left and a dark haired woman to my right. She looked young, and wasn’t accompanied by anyone.

“One Pina colada.” Samantha said, grabbing my attention and I turned to see the bartender in front of us. “I’ll have a…strawberry margarita,” I smiled and he nodded. “And you’ll have…?” I turned to the lonesome girl and her eyes widened before she shook her head.

“I’m fine… thanks?” She smiled.

“Relax.” I chuckled, and Samantha leaned her forearms on the countertop to look at her too.

“We don’t bite.” She half promised.

“No seriously. I don’t drink.”

I shrugged. “Virgin… tequila sunrise it is.” I smiled at the bartender and he nodded before disappearing.

“Nirah.” I extended my hand toward her.

She smiled hesitantly. “Dakota.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dakota.” I shook her hand before pointing my thumb over my shoulder. “That’s Samantha. Don’t feel bad if you don’t like her. It’s more common than you’d think.”

Samantha gasped beside me and Dakota chuckled.

“You here by yourself?” I asked.

“No.” Dakota glanced around.

The bartender handed us our drinks and I chugged nearly half my glass down.

“Let me guess.” I caught my breath. “Girls trip?” I tried but she shook her head. “No. Family trip?” Nope. “Solo birthday but ‘you happened to meet someone’ trip?” I slowly asked and she laughed.

“No. I’m here with my boyfriend.”

My eyes widened. “And he left you here all by yourself with creeps like Samantha roaming around?” I leaned in and she broke out into laughter.

“I will drown you so goddamn fast in this ocean, Nirah…” Samantha started and I hopped off the bar stool.

“Let’s go.” I grabbed my purse, motioning toward the sand and after scanning the area one last time, Dakota agreed and the three of us found ourselves sunbathing on the shore.

Dakota’s cellphone dinged and whilst Samantha and I conversed—argued about where to go for dinner—she was glued to her screen before finally tossing the device in her bag and joining in on the conversation.

She was laying on her side, propped up on her forearm when she bolted upright, waving her hand in the air.

I followed her line of sight and narrowed my eyes at the man approaching us. He looked familiar.

“What are you doing here with them?” Were the first words to leave his mouth, taking me aback.

“Kaden.” Dakota quietly reprimanded. “Be nice.”

“Well, well, well,” Samantha said, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head. She grinned, ready to speak again but when her eyes shifted to Dakota, then up to Kaden, I could see the dots connect in her head.

She rolled her eyes, positioning her glasses over her eyes again before lying down. “Never mind.”

I shifted my attention back to Dakota. “Ah. So this is your boyfriend?” I asked, wiggling my finger back and forth between the two of them. A deep blush crept up her cheeks as she nodded.

“Let’s go.” Kaden reached for her handbag.