check in again soon, I hit send, log out of my email, and bring it back to the home screen.
The beach is my next destination; after all, it is the main attraction of this place. Recalling Lena saying there is a restaurant and bar down there by the scuba shop, I sling my bag over my shoulder and follow the signs, ready to soak up some rays and enjoy a frozen fruity drink.
One hundred and sixty-six spiraling stairs later, I take my first ever step into the warm, soft, powdery sand. Immediately, I slip my feet out of my flip-flops, allowing my toes to sink into the golden sugar. My heart does a little dance of exhilaration, surprised at how fluid the fine granules feel as they slide across my skin, and I begin to skip over to one of the open beach chairs close to the water’s edge.
Surprised there aren’t many people down here, I wave a hello to Lynnette and another woman I recognize from last night —Julia, I believe—who are eating over at the small restaurant. There are a few people out in the water, but none of them look like anyone I’ve met yet, so I spread my towel out on the chair, shed my cover-up, and make myself comfortable with some relaxing Jack Johnson in my earbuds and a steamy romance novel on my e-reader.
Soon after I’m settled, a guy dressed in a Ti Kaye t-shirt and board shorts approaches with a warm, welcoming smile and an outstretched hand. “Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Jerry, the person in charge of making sure everything you need down here at the beach is taken care of. How are you today?”
I turn down the music and shake his hand, impressed at the exceptional politeness of the staff. “Nice to meet you, Jerry. I’m Bristol, and I’m doing great, thank you.”
“Is there anything I can get for you to drink or eat? Might you be interested in exploring the reef with some snorkeling equipment?”
“I would love one of those rum-runners and a bottle of water for now. I think I’ll wait a little while before I grab a bite to eat, and I’m not so sure about snorkeling,” I laugh. “I probably need to brush up on my swimming a bit before I dive to the ocean floor.”
He chuckles and nods. “Well, that would be scuba diving not snorkeling, but I understand. I would definitely not recommend going alone, but I’m sure once you get out there, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. I’ll grab those drinks for you, as well as a menu for when you’re ready to order, and be right back.”
Jerry disappears to the bar as I crank the tunes back up and dig into my book, basking in the bright rays of sunshine. Minutes later, my drinks are delivered and I immediately begin sipping from both, as the sizzling heat is already forming beads of sweat that trickle from my chest, between my breasts, and down my stomach, only to be stopped by my red bikini bottoms.
I attempt to read, but the glare makes it nearly impossible, even with my sunglasses on; plus, I keep getting distracted by people walking by and the jubilant sounds coming from the water. Wishing my friends were down here with me, I set the reading device down and lean my head back with closed eyes.
“So, I guess you made your decision,” Davis’ voice rumbles as a shadow looms in front of me, blocking the sun, “especially now that you know the kind of fucked-upness I really am?”
Slowly, I open my eyes and push the sunglasses up onto my head, staring straight into his unsettling eyes. “I think you made my decision for me last night,” I bite out, surprising even myself at the irritation in my voice.
“What are you talking about?” He crosses his arms, growing defensive. “After I told you my name and you figured out who I was, you haven’t even attempted to talk to me, and you sure as hell didn’t give me the kind of welcome you gave that other guy last night.”
“That other guy is like a big brother to me, someone I’ve talked to for over three years online, a friend I was excited about finally meeting!” My
The beach is my next destination; after all, it is the main attraction of this place. Recalling Lena saying there is a restaurant and bar down there by the scuba shop, I sling my bag over my shoulder and follow the signs, ready to soak up some rays and enjoy a frozen fruity drink.
One hundred and sixty-six spiraling stairs later, I take my first ever step into the warm, soft, powdery sand. Immediately, I slip my feet out of my flip-flops, allowing my toes to sink into the golden sugar. My heart does a little dance of exhilaration, surprised at how fluid the fine granules feel as they slide across my skin, and I begin to skip over to one of the open beach chairs close to the water’s edge.
Surprised there aren’t many people down here, I wave a hello to Lynnette and another woman I recognize from last night —Julia, I believe—who are eating over at the small restaurant. There are a few people out in the water, but none of them look like anyone I’ve met yet, so I spread my towel out on the chair, shed my cover-up, and make myself comfortable with some relaxing Jack Johnson in my earbuds and a steamy romance novel on my e-reader.
Soon after I’m settled, a guy dressed in a Ti Kaye t-shirt and board shorts approaches with a warm, welcoming smile and an outstretched hand. “Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Jerry, the person in charge of making sure everything you need down here at the beach is taken care of. How are you today?”
I turn down the music and shake his hand, impressed at the exceptional politeness of the staff. “Nice to meet you, Jerry. I’m Bristol, and I’m doing great, thank you.”
“Is there anything I can get for you to drink or eat? Might you be interested in exploring the reef with some snorkeling equipment?”
“I would love one of those rum-runners and a bottle of water for now. I think I’ll wait a little while before I grab a bite to eat, and I’m not so sure about snorkeling,” I laugh. “I probably need to brush up on my swimming a bit before I dive to the ocean floor.”
He chuckles and nods. “Well, that would be scuba diving not snorkeling, but I understand. I would definitely not recommend going alone, but I’m sure once you get out there, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. I’ll grab those drinks for you, as well as a menu for when you’re ready to order, and be right back.”
Jerry disappears to the bar as I crank the tunes back up and dig into my book, basking in the bright rays of sunshine. Minutes later, my drinks are delivered and I immediately begin sipping from both, as the sizzling heat is already forming beads of sweat that trickle from my chest, between my breasts, and down my stomach, only to be stopped by my red bikini bottoms.
I attempt to read, but the glare makes it nearly impossible, even with my sunglasses on; plus, I keep getting distracted by people walking by and the jubilant sounds coming from the water. Wishing my friends were down here with me, I set the reading device down and lean my head back with closed eyes.
“So, I guess you made your decision,” Davis’ voice rumbles as a shadow looms in front of me, blocking the sun, “especially now that you know the kind of fucked-upness I really am?”
Slowly, I open my eyes and push the sunglasses up onto my head, staring straight into his unsettling eyes. “I think you made my decision for me last night,” I bite out, surprising even myself at the irritation in my voice.
“What are you talking about?” He crosses his arms, growing defensive. “After I told you my name and you figured out who I was, you haven’t even attempted to talk to me, and you sure as hell didn’t give me the kind of welcome you gave that other guy last night.”
“That other guy is like a big brother to me, someone I’ve talked to for over three years online, a friend I was excited about finally meeting!” My
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