“He needs to suck it up. We only have one life to live. Move along, cowboy.” She gave me a side hug before backing away.
Hades set his empty glass down and slid from his stool like he was leaving.
“You guys keep playing without me,” I said to no one in particular, making my way to the pool stairs.
“Then we don’t have a full team!” Guy said.
“You two are the team,” Sara countered.
Hades started to walk away, and I ran to catch up with him. He was within arm’s reach when my feet slid from underneath me. There was a reason resorts put “No Running” signs up everywhere around pools. I winced, waiting for the impact of concrete, but a pair of strong arms caught me.
“You’re extremely clumsy,” he said.
I let my eyes roam over his arms flexing as he held onto me, supporting my weight. He wore a tank top, but it didn’t stop my mind from imagining what he looked like underneath it. Did he have the ‘V’? Those carved tapering abdominal muscles that led down. My gaze dropped to his cloth-covered stomach.
I stood, attempting to wipe the water beads from his arms. “So kind of you to notice.”
He cocked an eyebrow, watching me squeegee his biceps. Considering my hands were also wet, it wasn’t doing much good. Once I stopped, he wiped his arms on the side of his shirt.
“Are you going to the masquerade ball in a of couple nights?” I interlaced my fingers behind my back.
“Masquerade?”
“Yeah. Everyone wears masks, dresses to the nines—”
He smirked. “I know what a masquerade is, darlin’. I’m just surprised they’d have one. It seems old-fashioned.”
“I figured it’d be right up your alley. You can hide your face from everyone. Pretend you’re something you’re not. You could even spend the whole night brooding and sulking in a corner.”
He ran a hand through his hair, briefly exposing his entire face. “I’ll…consider it.”
“I figured you’d say th—wait, really?” I’d expected him to say no given the obvious party pooper he was.
“I said I’d consider it. But it could be refreshin’ to pretend I’m not the divider of souls for a change.” He squinted at me, canting his head like he was gauging my reaction.
“Are you a therapist or something?
He narrowed his eyes.
When he didn’t answer, I poked a finger against the elaborate artwork of his tattoo. His scent filled the air. Why did he always smell like he’d come from a bonfire?
“What’s your tattoo?”
His eyes narrowed further. “Cerberus.” He grabbed my finger, which hadn’t left his arm.
“Right.” I gulped, feeling the calluses on his palm brushing against my skin.
He tightened his grip. “I’m not sure whether to take your persistence as flattering or irritating.”
“If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that one.” A nervous chuckle escaped my belly, transfixed on his hand holding my finger prisoner.
“I think you’re being summoned, sweetheart.” His eyes lifted.
Sara waved her arms back and forth from the pool. After holding up a single finger to her, I looked back at Hades, but he was gone. How in the world did he keep doing that?
When I reached the water, Sara smiled up at me, her eyes drooping. “I didn’t want you to miss the race. Look!”
They’d lined up several lounge pool floats. Keith, Guy, the Michigan man and Rupert, the Englishman we’d met earlier, stood at the edge outside of the water.
“What are they doing? And are you—drunk?” I sat down, dangling my feet in the water.
“They’re going to race across the floats. Whoever gets the farthest, wins. It’s Canada vs. America vs. England. Fun, huh? Oh, and I could possibly, very well be on my way to drunk-y-ness.”
I laughed. “How much did you drink while I was gone?”
She held up two fingers. “Three shots.”
The men sprinted across the floats. Most of them fell in after hitting the second one, but Keith managed to make it all the way across, diving into the water after the last one.
“Is there anything athletic Keith isn’t good at?” I asked.
“I’m starting to think not. It explains a lot about his big—” She pointed downward, but then moved it to her face. “Head.” She giggled and burped at the same time.
“Come on, you. I need you sober so we can go shopping tomorrow.” I coaxed her toward the stairs.
She gasped. “You’re going to let me take you shopping for dresses? I might cry.”
“As sad as it is, I don’t trust my judgment. I haven’t worn a gown since senior prom.” I helped her up the stairs, despite her unwillingness to set her drink down.
She whined, slumping over my shoulder. “Can you carry me to our room?”
“We’d get about two feet, if that, Sara. Come on.”
“Need some help there?”
A part of me wished it’d been Hades who asked, but I knew the voice didn’t belong to him. Keith stood there, giving his blonde hair a toss, the sun sparkling off the water beads littering his tanned skin.
“Actually, yes. Would you mind?” My feet were slipping, trying to hold her up.
He laughed and slipped one arm around her waist, securing the other under her legs. It was an awkward, silent walk to our room.
“Which room?” He asked.
I contemplated ways around him knowing our room number, but came up empty. “This one right here.”
I swiped the card through the reader. Would it have been impolite asking him to drop her on the floor so I could drag her in? That way, he wouldn’t physically be in our room? Nah. Sara wouldn’t be happy with rug burn on her back.
“If you can put her on the bed over there. I really appreciate it.” I tapped the card between two of my fingers, impatiently waiting, and side shuffling to the phone on the nightstand.
After setting her down, he walked past me, rubbing the back of his neck with a snarky grin.
“Thank you! Have a good day!” I nudged him toward the door.
He chuckled, stumbling forward. “Alright, alright. What are you two up to tomorrow, though?”
“We’ll be off property.” Thank God.
“You going to be back in time for trivia night? I hear it gets pretty crazy.”
Did they stalk our names on the sign-up list or something? “Wouldn’t miss it! See ya then! Bye!” I nudged him the rest of the way into the hall and slammed the door shut.
After drinking a gallon of water and drowning herself in coffee last night, Sara started to act more like herself. Filling her belly with greasy food and carbs was first on today’s agenda. The buffet was set up in an outside eating area with open spaces, allowing the wind to blow through, and a breathtaking view of the horizon. We sat at a table facing the beach, munching on smoked pork, toast, and brine cheese.
“How did you get me to the room yesterday?” Sara asked.
I choked on my toast and grabbed for my water. “Keith.”
Her forked clanked against her plate. “Keith? He carried me?”
“You wouldn’t walk on your own, and you’re a foot taller than me. I didn’t see it going well. Don’t worry. I escorted him from the premises post-haste after he dropped you off.”