“Was that who I think it was?” I quietly ask Carmen before we take a seat across from Matt.
“Yep, that was Austin Jones and Reese Blackwood. They’re married and have a daughter. She spends all her off time here in Indianapolis with him, since he plays for the Eagles.”
“You weren’t kidding when you said this place was laid back and people could just go about their lives as if it was normal for them to be here.”
“I think that’s why so many people from the two teams congregate here. That and the food is killer,” she states. “Hey, Matt, how’s it going?” she asks him, placing the menu I hand her from the pile on the table. Apparently, she doesn’t need one, if that move indicates anything.
“Can’t complain. Just trying to plan a trip,” he says.
“Oh yeah? Where to?” Carmen asks. I spot JJ and Riley headed our way, the baby carrier in JJ’s hand. He’s shortly followed by Derek and his wife and two girls. He’s also carrying an infant carrier, as they just had a new boy a few weeks ago.
“Mexico, maybe, or the Caribbean. I don’t really care all that much. I just want a beach, the sun and some drinks. Maybe take a fishing charter one day or go out jet skiing. Any of you guys want to plan something together, I just need out of the dreary winter we’re getting into.”
“A beach sounds good right about now,” Carmen muses.
“I wish we could, but this little man,” Jillian points at the baby in Derek’s arms, “is keeping us from any vacations right now. He’s still a little on the young side for me to feel comfortable going anywhere far from home.”
“That’s understandable. How’s life with a newborn?” Carmen asks Jillian.
“Great, just tiring. And now we’re outnumbered so things can be a little trickier at times, but the girls have done so good with having a baby brother in the house.”
“Aww, I bet they are just the cutest with him. Two little extra mothers.”
“I’m sure he won’t find that cute when he’s a teenager,” Derek chimes in.
“Eh, I’m sure he’ll give them just as much shit as they give him,” JJ states.
“He’s got lots of girls to protect, between his sisters and cousin,” Riley adds.
“Are you guys ready to order?” a waitress asks, interrupting our conversation. I realize no one else has even attempted to look at the menu, so I let everyone else order while I scan over the options and go with the daily special.
“Hey, are you serious about a vacation somewhere?” I ask Matt as we all chow down on the chips and salsa.
“Yeah, I just need to get out of here for a little while. Need to reset.”
“I’ll talk to Carmen about it tonight, see if I can convince her that we should go, and then shoot you some ideas on where. We’re watching my nephew tonight, so we can do some research once he’s in bed,” I tell him.
“No convincing necessary,” Carmen interjects. “I’m all over some beach time.”
I lean over, speaking only loud enough so Carmen can hear me. “I’m already getting hard at the thought of you in a bikini for a week,” I tell her, my eyes dropping to my lap. I love the way her cheeks pinken with a slight blush as my words register.
“You’re incorrigible. If we go, I’ll be bringing my suits that cover the most amount of skin possible, maybe even a full-on wet suit.” She laughs. “I don’t think you’d like all your friends seeing me in the skimpy bikini you have pictured in your head right now,” she whispers and I growl at the thought of other guys getting to see her like that.
“Okay, maybe you’re onto something here with the wet suit.” I smirk.
We’re pulled from our private conversation about bathing suits when our food all arrives. Damn this place is fast and hella good. I can definitely see the appeal to this place.
Eighteen
Carmen
I step out into the sand, the sun warming every inch of my skin as I soak it all up. The amount of time we scheduled this vacation in should go down in the record books. Just ten days ago this was an idea, and here we are at a resort in the Caribbean.
“Hey, baby.” Lucas comes up behind me, his hands sliding along my waist as he pulls me against him. We stand here, looking out at the water from our semi-private beach front. Our room has walk-out beach access, which is amazing. “Ready to go find some lunch?” he asks.
“Yep, and a fruity drink,” I tell him as he links his fingers with mine. We casually walk towards the buffet that is set up by the large outside bar.
We grab plates, piling them high with all sorts of things, then make our way to one of the tables in the shade. Lucas waves Matt down as he sees him enter the line to grab his own plate. It ended up just being the three of us that could get away so quickly for this trip.
“You guys get settled in?” Matt asks, sitting down with us.
“Somewhat,” I tell him between bites of food. “I unpacked enough to pull out our suits and my cover up. I can do the rest later. The beach and food were calling my name,” I tell him.
“Same. That early morning flight kicked my butt. I’m not a morning person.”
We casually visit while we finish up our lunches, then make our way back to the beach, finding some lounge chairs to claim as our own for the afternoon.
“Can you help me?” I ask Lucas, handing him my sunscreen.
“Absolutely.” He smirks, taking the tube from me. I watch as he squeezes some out onto his hand before setting it on the chair. He rubs his hands together as I remove my cover up. “Fuckkkkk.” He groans once he sees me in my bikini. This one isn’t all that skimpy, but still shows off all the goods. “You’re going to kill me,” he says as he starts rubbing the sunscreen on my back. Even with the heat from the sun, my skin still puckers in goosebumps as he touches me. The shiver that runs down my spine as he slips his fingers beneath the straps of my top, and under the band in the back, has me wishing we had more privacy at the moment.
“Will you too quit eye-fucking each other?” Matt asks from his beach chair on the other side of Lucas’s. “I almost feel like we’re in a fucked up threesome.” He barks out a laugh.
“You can keep your eyes and paws off my woman,” Lucas tells him, shooting him a death stare, or what I assume is a death stare underneath his sunglasses.
“I need to find myself a woman.” He groans.
“Look around, buddy, I’m sure you can find one to have a little fling with over the next few days,” Lucas tells him.
“Maybe,” Matt says as he looks down the beach. I’ve noticed a few groups of girls here, for what appears to be bachelorette weekends or just a good old fashion girls’ trip.
Once we’re both properly sun screened up, we lay back, soaking in the sun. Before I laid down, I moved my chair to be closer to Lucas’s. I grab my phone and snap a few pictures of our view, posting one of me lying on the chair with the water out in the view to my Instagram page. Enjoying paradise for the next few days! I even flip the camera around and angle myself, so Lucas is somewhat behind and next to me. I snap a picture, loving how relaxed we both appear in it, then shoot it off to Tiffany so she knows we made it here safely and are enjoying our time.