The Luna Choosing Game

“Oh, no! Piper, I'm so sorry!” she exclaimed. She placed her empty glass down on a nearby table then held her hands out to me like she intended to do something. Yet she never actually touched me or my clothes. “What can we do? That will stain right away!” She was right. Red wine stains didn’t come out at all once they were set.

I studied Bridget for a moment, trying to determine if this had truly been an accident. Everything had happened so quickly. Bridget could have lost balance. In the moment, that had been what it looked like.

Bridget was a professional actress. She could make anything look accidental.

But what would her end goal have been

for deception? To ruin my outfit? To get me out of the way? I wasn’t even talking to Nicholas, I had been talking to Julian! And Bridget hadn't really shown any possessive interest in him. At least, not on the same level of Nicholas.

If this hadn’t been an accident, that meant that Bridget had it personally out for me, and that just seemed so... I don’t know. Too much.

It had to be an accident.

Veronica stood from her spot. She had a handkerchief and tried to help me wipe at the various spots. But it didn’t matter. The stain seemed set already and trying to wipe it away only stretched the stain out, making it worse.

The outfit was basically trash now.

Unless I could get it soaking in cold water. That might be the only way to salvage it.

Veronica traded me the handkerchief for the empty bottle. “We'll keep an eye on Elva,” she said. “Go change.” That seemed like the best plan to me.

“Thank you,” I told her.

“Oh, Piper. Forgive me,” Bridget said.

I didn’t reply as I walked around her and headed toward the sliding glass door that seemed

the wait staff was there. As I gestured to my shirt, I asked, “Do you have any idea where

waiter looked sympathetic. “We’ve moved all the luggage into the foyer while the room

and I slipped inside. The inside of the building was as beautiful as the outside, with bamboo motifs and a tropical theme. Photos of palm leaves and exotic birds covered

the nearby closet. Our luggage was lined up there, just inside the door. I recognized mine

back toward the bathroom. I

Some still didn’t. I was worried a little about what the situation would be here. It was a relief to

joined me as I

clothes for you when you are ready, Miss. The

her. So I ducked into the bathroom with my bag, changed out of my clothes, and then held them out for her after opening the door enough for my

collected them, and I heard

it down on the floor, zipped it open, and in a flash,

bag was covered in sticky red paint! It looked like someone had put a paint bomb in here. Cursing, I dug

paint, bit every single one of my clothes seemed damaged. @ For this to have happened, someone must have put in a few different paint bombs, to create the maximum

corner of this one. That seemed entirely

that didn’t help me

my clothes were damaged. And I had already given my

would have to

1 hoped it would be Veronica or

Unless...

too embarrassed to try on. It had seemed too revealing then. But. We were on a beach, right? Would it really be so bad for me to put on my swimsuit? € At least for as long as I could get Veronica’s attention. Maybe