I thought about my use of the word friend, but f**k buddies felt too impersonal. I hit send and then dressed. I chose a tropical print halter dress in grass green that came to the middle of my knees. With it, I wore matching water shoes. They were comfortable and would make it easy to walk in the sand. I put my hair on top of my head then slicked on a little mascara and gloss. I drank a bottle of water in the hopes of keeping my hunger pangs at bay.
Less than five minutes later, I was in the lobby. It was cheerful and contemporary and beautiful people went about their business, but I didn't care about them. I searched for Griffin. He wasn't near the front desk, nor was he sitting in the waiting area. I wondered if he went without me.
“There you are," Griffin said, tapping me on the shoul
