Page 27 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

Sarah chuckled above her scarf. “More like what’s wrong with you, girl.”

Leia threw her sister a dirty look and dove into her tote, digging out Sarah’s compact umbrella, its retro rose print a much-needed touch of spring on a drizzly winter’s day.

“Well, there is a lot of dishy gossip about you and Ty online. Maybe he Googled you? Some guys might be put off by that.”

“Tarquin couldn’t have seen it. He doesn’t know Tyler’s name or occupation.” Leia unfastened the snap on the umbrella. “And all that trash is searchable under Leia McClelland, not Leia Scott. I know, I’ve checked.”

“So, what is the problem? Not his Star Wars obsession? Oh my god, are you worried he likes to role-play?” Sarah peeked up at Leia. “He’ll definitely want to show you his lightsaber.”

“Shut up!” Leia laughed, settling into a sigh as she clicked the button on Sarah’s flowery umbrella and it bloomed above her head. “Ah, it just sucks. I am attracted to him…” Her eyes trailed over a small corner shop standing shoulder to shoulder with an Ethiopian restaurant.

“But he’s not that into you?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m pretty sure he likes me.”

“Well, you’re the one with the silly ‘no dating guys into Star Wars’ rule! And you said it yourself, Ley—it’s just sex. It’s not like he’s going to be your new husband.”

“I know, but there’s something else.” Leia bit her lip. “He’s…rich.”

“And that’s a problem?” Sarah shook her head. “Tyler was rich, too, you know.”

“Yeah, he is now—playing hockey—but he didn’t grow up that way. Not like Tarquin. He’s old money—there’s a massive difference.” She tilted the umbrella so it covered Sarah, too. “I Googled his family last night on the way home. The Balfours used to be in the oil business, but now his dad owns a sports apparel chain—Sports Now?”

“He owns that?” Sarah gaped as she checked for traffic and rolled down a dropped curb into MacKenzie Road. “I’m pretty sure that’s Britain’s biggest sporting goods retailer! Jordan buys all his basketball stuff there!”

Leia nodded, crossing the road beside her sister. “His family own huge homes all over Europe. They even have a village, a castle, and a hospital on the Orkney Islands named after them. Saz, it makes me uncomfortable. Guys like him use wealth and power to control people.” She let her sister ride up onto the sidewalk first and followed. “I’ve seen it in New York. I know you’ve seen it here. Nothing comes without strings attached—especially sex. I don’t want to get tangled up in that.”

“Yeah, but you can more than hold your own. It’s not like you’re hurting for cash, either.”

Leia shook her head. “Only because Tyler was a cheating, lying scumbag. And it’s not like my settlement comes anywhere close to Tarquin’s wealth. I can’t afford to splurge on clothes or a big house. That money pays my rent and funds Frill-Seekers—for now. It won’t last forever. I need that full-time Institute job and a financial backer. Frill-Seekers won’t survive without one.”

“Play your cards right, sis—maybe Tarquin could fund Frill-Seekers!”

“Uh. No.” Wide-eyed, Leia whispered, holding the garment bag against her parka, away from the rain. “I can’t have sex with him and then take his money. Jesus, Saz!”

“Well, it’s an option.” Sarah steered around a row of recycling bins and Leia dropped behind. “So, he’s obnoxiously rich, impossibly single, drop-dead handsome”—Sarah looked over her shoulder—“and probably a total player.”

Leia grimaced.

“That’s not a bad thing, Ley. No neediness, no broken hearts. Just lots of condoms in the bedside table and toe-curling sex on demand…he’s exactly the guy you’re looking for, if you think about it.”

Leia covered them both with the umbrella again. “Yeah, I guess.” And everything was going great until I got all touchy-feely when he seemed sad, telling me about his mom pulling him out of cross-country. I broke Rule #1: no feelings. I panicked and couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Talk about sending mixed messages…

“It’s the perfect fling.” Sarah smiled. “In two weeks, you’ll fly back to New York, and he’ll move on to his next conquest. I’m sure he’s not short of admirers, not with money and good looks.” She chuckled. “God, listen to me. Forget my TED Talks on ableism—I should be dishing out sex advice.” Sarah stared up at her sister, who silently looked straight ahead. A black cab honked at a passing motorcycle, so she raised her voice and tried again. “Ley, I know the rich thing seems like a red flag and your brain is screaming, Wrong guy, wrong time, but can’t you see that’s good? There’s no chance you’ll fall in love with him.”

“I don’t plan to fall in love with anyone.”

“Okay, great! So call him!”

“I feel weird, though, booty-calling him out of the blue,” said Leia, fighting against a gust of wind with the umbrella. “I saw the trainer three, four times at the gym before we slept together.”

“The Trainer—forever nameless.” Sarah veered around a discarded pizza box. “Just an anonymous penis you played with for a while.”

A snorty laugh burst from beneath the umbrella. “His name is Xavi—the trainer, not the penis. Happy now?” Leia squeezed the garment bag in her arms while Sarah nodded her approval. “Anyway! I feel like I have to ask Tarquin out first—but without it feeling like a date-date.”

“Well, what’s he into? Choose the least romantic option.”

“Scuba diving and rock climbing? He mentioned those.” Leia cringed. “I get hives just thinking about those things.”