Bad Seed

Neither of the guys had been at brunch, but it didn’t shock me that they weren’t. I knew I was worn out from the acrobatics Rhett had put me through, and by the way Ana talked about her night, it sounded like Tommy had every right to be exhausted as well. But as Ana continued to talk about their escapades, something else sprang to my mind.

What if Rhett hadn’t come because of my note?

I had no idea if he had found it, but I began to wonder if I had been a jerk for asking that of him. I wasn’t ready to field any of the questions or listen to Ana chew my ear off for anything, but was it right of me to tell him to keep things a secret? It wasn’t like it would come as a shock to anyone. It was clear who had slept with who last night as people cozied up to one another at the brunch this morning, and no one seemed upset or ashamed of their actions.

I wasn’t ashamed either, but I also wasn’t ready to admit how much I’d enjoyed it.

If I did, then I had to entertain the idea that something was blossoming between us. After everything Rhett had admitted, from missing me to keeping tabs on me, I felt myself falling back into him again, the man who had broken my heart and left me crying on a slab of sidewalk. I wasn’t sure where any of this was going to go, and the whole point of this trip was for me to get my confidence back and to wipe my slate clean and move forward with my life.

That wasn’t going to happen if I was fucking my past.

He’d said prom night was an accident, and he had been ashamed of himself. And I wanted to believe him. A part of me did believe him. That trusting part of me had taken over last night and allowed him to get closer than I had ever intended him to be. Yes, the orgasms were mind-blowing, and yes, it was wonderful to be with a real man again. But it wasn’t worth all of this.

The sun beat down on my body all day as I fell in and out of sleep. I moved to the shade to cool my skin down as people splashed in the pool and relaxed in the hot tub. This was the type of cruise I needed, the kind where no one bothered me, no one talked to me, and no one expected anything of me. I didn’t have to listen to explanations or dredge up my past. I didn’t have to fight between wanting Rhett and keeping him at arm’s length. The only thing I had to worry about was making sure my tit didn’t flop out of my bikini top as I shifted to tan my back.

But then, a familiar voice rumbled at my side.

“Well, if it isn’t Chanel Mathews.”

My eyes fluttered open, and I saw him sitting there. Luke Thomas, the king of all nerds from our grade. I’d had several classes with him back in high school, Chemistry and Calculus, plus the physical education courses I’d taken. He’d even joined the swim team once, and we swam together for an entire year, taking our team to nationals and kicking ass in the relay races.

“Luke?” I asked. “Is that you?”

“It is,” he said as he knelt beside me. “At first, I didn’t think it was you. Until I saw your beautiful face peeking out from underneath your hat.”

“How have you been?” I asked.

I moved to sit up, but he placed his hand on my back. He eased me back down on the lounger I was lying on, but his hand lingered much longer than I thought it would. He sat down by my face and rubbed my back, smoothing more oil into my skin. “You missed a spot with the oil,” he said before quickly removing his hand.

“Thanks.”

“Anyway, life’s been much kinder than high school,” Luke said. “But you have seen a great deal of success. I loved your articles in The New York Times.”

“You read those?” I asked.

“Every single one,” he said.

He was still goofy and awkward after all these years, but I couldn’t be mean to him and tell him to get lost or something. We had established a sort-of friendship in high school.

It didn’t occur to me that he would’ve been someone who would’ve cared to know what I was doing after the fact.

“Will you be at the dinner tonight?” Luke asked.

“I think Ana and I are going, yes. We stopped by the brunch this morning, but not many people were there,” I said.

“Oh. Ana’s here?” he asked.

“She’s lying right next to me,” I said with a giggle.

“I don’t see anyone,” he said.

I looked over to where Ana was supposed to be tanning but found the lounger empty. I lifted myself up and looked around and then reached for my body wrap. Where the hell had this woman gone now? I stood and picked up my camera to go find her, but I felt a pressure come down on my arm.

“Where you headed to?” Luke asked.

“Sorry. I’ve got to go find Ana. I told her I would be her buddy for the cruise, and now she’s gone,” I said.

“Oh, I’m sure she’s having fun. Relax. I’ll get you a drink,” he said.