The Vacation - Don't Hate Me

Danny sent me a few more messages setting up the time and the location. He knew I wasn’t going to go home. I wasn’t the least bit surprised he choose my favorite restaurant. He even sent me a little lobster emoji as if everything between us would be okay. Was okay.

Seconds after I said goodnight, he drove off and I was able to take in a full breath of air. I rolled over onto the floor, exhausted from the conversation.

After twenty minutes—according to the clock on my phone—I got up. I quickly dressed and checked my bags.

I grabbed my purse and brought everything downstairs. I stood next to the front door and tapped a number into my phone.

“Yes,” I said. “I need a ride to a hotel near the airport, please.”

3

Olivia

I hadn’t said goodbye to Hope or Tori. I ran away. Like always.

The plane hand landed an hour ago. It wasn’t until the driver announced we were almost there that I sent both Hope and Tori a text that I had landed and was doing well.

Tori told me to have fun.

Hope asked if I was okay but I didn’t want to talk about what had happened. While I was in Mexico, I was going to pretend that Danny didn’t exist. I was going to pretend I didn’t exist.

This vacation was about inventing a new me. A new start. A new Olivia Watts.

We pulled up to the beautiful dark-wood cabin. The second I stepped out of the car, I could hear the ocean.

I sucked in a slow breath, filling my lungs with the salty air that was somehow cool even though the sun above was hot. The breeze gently shook the leaves in the tree.

As I exhaled, I envisioned my old self leaving my body. I was a blank slate.

“Want me to bring in your bags?” the driver asked.

“Oh, that’s okay,” I said. “I can get it.”

“As you wish,” he said bowing his head. “Here’s your key, a pamphlet with some information about the area, and a few delivery places. Be sure to call early as they’re all about fifteen minutes away.”

I gave the short, thin man a smile. “Thank you.”

“If you need anything, call the number on the paper,” he said. “I’ll be back in a week. You sure you don’t need anything else?”

“I’m good, thank you again,” I said.

“Of course.” He got back into the car and drove off, leaving me standing on the gravel path with my bags.

The sounds of the birds, ocean, and wind instantly relaxed my entire body. Coming to the secluded beach was the best decision I had ever made.

My phone buzzed. I already knew it wasn’t Hope or Tori on the other end.

Danny was looking for me. I hadn’t shown up for our date. He was surely pissed.

Oh well. No time to even check his message.

I grabbed my bags and pulled them toward the cabin. I fumbled with the key and had to set down my bags. The last time I’d stayed in a hotel, it had a special key card to open the door, not an actual key.

“Ah-ha!” I said as the key slid into the lock. I wanted the door to know I had defeated it.

The room was rather plain but everything was still nicely decorated. There was a bed in the far corner of the room with white curtains falling down from the canopy. From the window near the bed, I could see the ocean through the trees.

A simple kitchen was on the other side of the room. The bathroom behind the little dining table was bigger than I would have imagined.

There was a large built-in tub. A tall glass vase sat on the edge with fresh white and pink flowers that lightly scented the room with their sweet, floral smell.

I couldn’t wait to jump in the ocean and relax in the tub afterward. I opened my suitcase and pulled out my black bikini. It was my favorite because it fit me comfortably and I looked damn good in it.

Confidence wasn’t something I had much of but the black bikini helped me find what little I had left. But that was going to change.

I was different here already. I liked who I was here and I hadn’t even been here long.

There was a fruit basket on the kitchen counter and some other staples in the cabinets. A bottle of wine sat at the far end with a note attached.

Have a lovely time. Love, Tori.

Not sure what I’d do with a bottle of wine and no one to share it with. Maybe I’d have a glass with dinner.

I laughed at myself. Drinking wasn’t something I did a lot of but maybe that was the old me.

I grabbed my phone, a beach towel and dashed out of the cabin. The fresh air felt good on my skin.