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because …”
    “Because he’s the king of asshats,” I answered. “He’ll probably bring his snake buddy.”
    “You didn’t think he was an asshat when you were drooling over that hot body of his,” Kinsley said with a smirk.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, he was so much hotter with his mouth closed.”
    “I doubt he’ll even be there,” Jenn insisted. “He seemed to be really passionate about the wildlife and all that. He’s probably one of those tourists that the guide said likes to rough it out there. I’m sure he doesn’t want to come within three feet of this place.”
    She had a good point. Besides, I was starving. So, after changing into a maxi dress and sandals, I grudgingly followed them downstairs to Kómma, the resort’s outdoor restaurant facing the ocean. I grabbed Kinsley’s hand and squeezed it tight when I noticed her biting her nails.
    “First step to moving on,” I whispered to her. “It’s just lunch, okay? No one’s saying you have to marry the guy.”
    Kinsley nodded, but she still looked like a deer in the headlights. “You’re right,” she murmured. “Sorry for being such a drama queen. It’s just hard. Aaron was supposed to be … well, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m going to do my best to enjoy this.”
    “So will I,” I replied, scanning the crowd for Derek. I groaned out loud when I found him, and saw who he was with. Easier said than done , I thought as he approached us with a grumpy-looking Chase on his heels.
    “I doubt he’ll even be there,” I mocked, imitating Jenn’s voice. “Thanks a lot, spaz.”
    Jenn shrugged. “So, I was wrong. You can put up with this guy for Kinsley, can’t you?”
    Damn that girl, she was right. Kinsley and Derek really hit it off, and I didn’t want to mess that up.
    “Hey,” Derek said, smiling down at Kinsley from his impressive height. “We got a table right over here.”
    I found myself next to Chase, who stiffened when my shoulder brushed his. I made a huge production of leaning away from him. “You didn’t bring any of your little animal buddies, did you?”
    To my surprise, he actually smiled … which made me forget for a second that I hated him. “Nah,” he answered, “we’re in your habitat now, princess. I don’t want to risk you turning one of them into a new outfit.”
    Smiling back, I lifted my menu. “I do happen to look stunning in green snakeskin.”
    A perky, blonde waitress wearing blue jean shorts and a T-shirt with Kómma across the front baring her midriff came bouncing up, pad and pencil in hand. “Hi, guys, welcome to Kómma! Can I get you started with drinks and appetizers?”
    “I’ll have a blood orange Cosmo,” I said. “And keep ’em coming.”
    Luke and Christian ordered a pitcher of beer to split, Jenn and Kinsley ordered Cokes, and Derek and Chase both ordered bottles of some beer I’d never heard of.
    “Wolaver’s? Never heard of that,” said Luke, who never drank anything except Bud Light.
    “It’s an organic beer,” Chase answered, leaning back in his chair and toying with his fork. “It’s good, you should try it.”
    “I tend to stay away from things that are organic,” Luke joked. “That’s just code for ‘expensive’.”
    “Get one and put it on my tab if you want to try it,” I offered. “You too, Christian.”
    Chase made a noise from beside me, and I turned to glower at him. “I’m sorry, Chase, do you have something you’d like to say?”
    Hunching his shoulders, Chase continued fiddling with his fork, keeping his eyes on the table. “Nope,” he said. “Don’t mind me.”
    “I won’t,” I snapped, turning my attention back to the menu. The waitress returned with our drinks and I took half of mine in one swallow. This guy was starting to give me a headache and I needed to get good and buzzed.
    “What are your vegetarian options?” Chase asked the waitress after taking a sip of his beer. “I don’t eat anything with a face.”
    “We