“He hated school and dropped out his junior year to backpack around Asia. He loved Shanghai so much he moved here. Got a gig in the restaurant industry, made some good connections, and opened this place two years ago.”
“You make it sound so easy.” The wheels in Blake’s head started turning. When he chose to major in business, he’d been thinking about a corporate job in marketing or operations. Not entrepreneurship. He didn’t know the first thing about starting and running a business. The thought of doing his own thing was tempting, though. Blake could be his own boss. No one would tell him what to do.
“It was tough at first, but he made it work. Greg’s good at this sort of thing.” Mina left to tend to the other customer, but not before giving Blake a wink that said she’d be back.
Blake’s heart beat fast. The wheels in his head turned faster.
He liked sports bars. He knew what people who frequented sports bars liked because he’d grown up with them. He knew how to build and sell a brand—he’d been selling himself as a brand for years.
It was like a dam broke. After months of not knowing what he wanted to do after graduation, the ideas flowed so fast Blake couldn’t keep up.
He asked for the check and scribbled his signature, eager to return to the dorm and put some of his ideas on paper. They might not lead anywhere, but it felt good to have a plan. He couldn’t wait to tell—
Who?
His family? His father wasn’t going to be happy
unless Blake rejoined the football world; his mother and Joy would try their best to be supportive, but they wouldn’t get it.
His friends? His Shanghai friends were in Thailand, and they didn’t know him well enough to understand why he was so excited.
Meanwhile, his friends back home were far and few in between after he quit the team. He and Cleo didn’t part on the best terms, and Landon had his hands full with his mother.
When Blake led the TSU Mustangs to their third national championship, he had 50,000 people cheering him on. When it came to the personal wins, he had no one.
The realization washed over him like a cold shower.
“It was nice talking to you.” Mina whisked his signed receipt off the counter. “I have to keep an eye on things until my brother gets in tonight, but I’ll be free after eight.” She pressed another slip of paper into Blake’s hand. “We could have some fun. No strings attached.”
Blake raised his eyebrows. “No strings attached, huh?”
“I’m in Shanghai for a few more weeks, and you’re cute.” Mina shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be a big thing.”
Blake thought about the empty dorm waiting for him on campus and slipped her number into his pocket. “I’ll see you at eight.”
Chapter Nine
The rays warmed Farrah’s skin like a luxurious blanket, the sound of water lapping against the shore provided a soothing natural soundtrack, and the coconut drink next to her was the best she’d ever tasted.
Life was good.
She propped herself up to take another sip of her drink.
“You’re blocking my sun,” Kris said.
“Sorry.” Farrah lay down. Despite their idyllic setting, Kris was grumpier than usual.
“Cheer up.” Courtney stretched her arms over her head. Hours of sun had darkened her freckles until they resembled a constellation of stars across her nose and cheeks. “Look at this place. How can you not be happy here?”
Koh Samui was a popular tourist destination, but the group was lucky enough to stumble on this remote beach on their way back to the resort. Swaying coconut palms, big boulders framing the pristine stretch of powdery white sand, crystal water that glittered like a sheet of aquamarine beneath the sun. It was a tropical postcard come to life.
“It’s my dad’s stupid girlfriend.” Kris adjusted her sunglasses. “She convinced him to spend Christmas in Aspen. Aspen! It’ll be snowing and shit. I mean, who wants a white Christmas?”
The rest of the group exchanged glances.
“Uh, is that a rhetorical question?” Sammy asked.
Kris ignored him. “We’ve spent every Christmas in St. Barths since I was five. It’s tradition. Now this girl waltzes in and tries to change everything.” She sighed. “On the bright side, Daddy feels so bad he’s buying me Harry Winston for Christmas. He usually gets me Tiffany.”