Chapter 1
Five years ago
CASSANDRA
I step into the beachfront apartment and savor the coolness of the air-conditioned room with white walls and tiled floors. Behind me, I hear my girlfriends squealing.
My best friend, Naomi, screeches loudest of all. “Oh my God, this place is insane.”
I’m here with Naomi and Jeanine. The three of us have been friends since school, although I’ve always had a slightly closer relationship with Naomi due to her living on the same block as me growing up. Since we were toddlers, we’ve been at each other’s houses constantly. We practically lived together as kids; she’s more like a sister. Jeanine became the third member of our little group in Junior High when she moved to California from Canada. The three of us have been inseparable since we were twelve years old.
It makes me sad to think things will soon be changing.
We walk around the Airbnb we’ve rented for the next week to enjoy one last girls’ vacation before Naomi moves to New York to start her own realtor firm. One final blowout before we go our separate ways.
The place is better than I’d imagined. When Naomi had said she’d found the perfect budget location, I’d pictured cracked walls and moldy fixtures, but everything is pristine, and we couldn’t have asked for a more idyllic location. Her talent to find the best real estate is simply undeniable.
The third-floor apartment is bright and airy. There is a twin room and a single. For the price, I can’t believe how spacious it is. I’m impressed by the large open plan kitchen and living room with white marble floors; there’s a set of double doors at the far end which open out onto a little balcony overlooking the sea. There’s a small round table and three chairs waiting for us. When I step out, I can feel the warm breeze on my skin and smell the salt in the air from the waves, barely a ten-minute walk from the apartment door.
We’re as close to the ocean as we could be, right on the seafront in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was Naomi’s choice to come here; the place is known for its gorgeous beaches and hip nightlife. We’re planning to enjoy both.
She skips over to me now, threading one arm around my shoulder, the other around Jeanine’s, and pulling us both tightly toward her in a suffocating hug.
“This is going to be the best vacation ever.”
I hold onto the hand she has slung over my shoulder and pout a little as I look out over the white sand and blue waves. “I can’t believe you’re going to New York.”
She jolts back like she’s been burned and holds up her hands, squeezing her eyes shut. “Nope, nope, nope. We said we weren’t going to talk about that.”
Naomi is wearing a pair of cotton shorts with lace trim and a crop top. She hasn’t changed her style since she was eighteen. We’re twenty-five now.
Jeanine laughs, pulling her frizzy brown hair back into a ponytail, and slumping down on the lightweight canvas sofa. An absolute sun-worshipper back in Sacramento, she looks like she’s already been here a month. Her tan skin glows.
“You two are so dramatic,” she says. “It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. New York isn’t so far.”
I force a smile. “You’re right. We’ll still see each other all the time.”
“Especially when I’m raking in the big bucks,” Naomi says. “I’ll have you girls over all the time for mojitos by my luxury pool, maybe a flight in my private helicopter…”
I laugh. “Dream big, girl.”
Jeanine wanders onto the balcony, leaning on the rails and looking out across the ocean. Her light sundress flutters in the breeze. She lets out a content sigh. “This place is incredible. God bless businessmen who are never home. Without them, what would paupers like us do for holiday apartments?”
“I know!” I reply. “Imagine being able to buy prime real estate like this.”
Naomi saunters onto the balcony and takes a seat on one of the chairs. She props her feet up onto the glass table and leans back. Her chair is on two legs.
“Prime real estate is what it’s going to be all about in New York.”
Naomi has been working her ass off for years to save enough to fund her own business venture. She’s finally scraped together enough for the rent on a small office in uptown New York and started making inroads with her first clients. She’s branding herself as a realtor for luxury properties. I know she’ll thrive. She’s got all the confidence and charisma in the world.
“We’re so proud of you,” I say.
“A toast!” Jeanine announces. She sprints back into the apartment and opens up her large suitcase. She pulls out a bottle of tequila, a bottle of triple sec, and a bag of limes.
Clapping her hands, Naomi howls with laughter. “You brought a whole bar with you?”
“Just the makings of a margarita. You know, to get us going.”
I look over to the fridge and grin. “Ice maker!”
“Fill up a bowl,” Jeanine instructs. She lifts up a pair of skimpy denim shorts from her case and takes out a cocktail shaker from underneath. Naomi laughs even harder. “What? I came prepared.”
We mix the ice, alcohol and lime juice in the shaker and find some glasses in the cupboards to make a pitcher of margaritas. We head out onto the balcony and sit around the table.
Jeanine lifts her glass. “To our incredible Naomi. We’re so proud of you and hope you have the time of your life in New York. May you kick ass, make millions, and be swarmed by hunky men.”
“I’ll toast to that!” I raise my glass.
“I plan to get swarmed by hunky men tonight,” Naomi says. “I’ve got the perfect little number to have them drooling.”
Jeanine chuckles. “Unfortunately, I’ve got the old ball and chain at home. Dan would kill me if I even looked at another guy. No hookups for me.”
They both turn to me with expectant stares.
“What about you, Cassie?” Naomi asks. She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Jeanine here is fully available to be your wing woman all night long. Shall we find you a nice sexy little number to have wild vacation sex with?”
I laugh. “I wouldn’t say no.”
“How long have you been a nun now, anyway?” Jeanine asks with a teasing grin. “Three years? Four?”
I stick my tongue out at her. “I’m not a nun. Just lacking the time to meet guys these days.”
She scoffs. “Come off it! You’ve got more chances to meet hot, young men than anyone.” She mimes holding a phone to her ear and puts on a breathy secretary voice. “Hello? Mr. Taylor? I have a job for you. Location? In my pants.”
Naomi thinks Jeanine’s hilarious and lets out a high-pitched cackle.
Less amused, I raise my eyebrows. “I’m not sure you understand what a recruiter does.”
“You must speak with a hundred men a day.”
“So? That doesn’t mean it’s easy to get dates.”
“If you wanted to, you could have them eating out the palm of your hand. Look at you, you sexy minx.”
I laugh. Jeanine doesn’t stop. She pinches my stomach. “Look at this tiny little waist!” She runs her fingers through my long brown hair. “And hair like Rapunzel!” She goes to squeeze my boob but I bat her hand away. “And then there are those beauties!”
Giggling, I flush and look away. “You’re embarrassing me.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “You know it’s true, girl. You’ve got all the goods, you’ve just got to learn how to own them.”
Naomi nods in agreement, her head swinging up and down like a novelty bobble-head figurine. “Jeanine’s right. You were always the high school hottie. Guys only ever spoke to me to try and get closer to you.”
I squeal. “That’s not true! You girls are gorgeous.”
“But you’re gorgeous-er,” Naomi says. “And tonight, we’ll prove it. We’re going to find you a man.”
We drink until the first pitcher of margaritas runs dry, then make up one more to drink while we get ready for a night out in the town. We’re heading to Callejero, one of the most exclusive nightclubs in Puerto Vallarta. Naomi has booked us VIP tickets for the night.
For the next hour, we get ready as the sun goes down. As promised, Naomi is wearing something jaw-dropping. It’s an off-the-shoulder light pink shimmer dress that shows off every single curve of her body.
“Wow, Naomi.” Jeanine whistles. “You weren’t kidding. I look completely underdressed next to you.”
Naomi bites down on her smile. “Aw, thanks. You look great, too. Absolutely fab.”
Jeanine is wearing an A-line sequin dress with strap sleeves. She does look great, especially when she slips on a pair of killer stilettos.
I stand in front of the mirror to finish spraying my hair with hairspray. I don’t look too bad either, even if I do say so myself. I’m wearing emerald green to match my eyes. Everyone says green is my color.
My outfit is a floating mini dress which crosses over the chest and cinches at the waist. It looks almost Grecian, especially when I pair it with matching high heels with ribbon straps that twist around the ankles and tie at the back.
I make up my eyes so they’re smoky, flecked with shimmering green and silver.
Naomi looks impressed. “You look smoking, Cassie! Where did you learn to do make-up like that?”
“I’ve been following a make-up artist on YouTube,” I admit.
“You look great.”
I grin. “Thanks!”
When we’re all ready, Jeanine pulls out another of her must-have vacation essentials from her case—a selfie stick.
We stand together on the balcony, posing with big cheesy grins and margaritas as the camera flashes.
Watch out, Mexico!