Sadie placed her hands on my shoulders. “We’ve known her forever, trust us. Why do you think we’ve been creeping on you two? It’s like an anomaly seeing Easton hang out and truly be herself with a guy. It’s a breath of fresh air. It’s just too bad you can’t stick around.” A sad smile graced her lips.
“I wish I wasn’t leaving, trust me. But that’s just not in the cards, so I’ll be sure to spend as much time with Easton as I can until I go. I don’t want to waste the time I have.”
I walked over and kissed Easton on the forehead, and I heard her friends sigh from behind me. Weirdos. I waved goodbye as I walked out the front door.
I spent the journey to the hotel thinking about what they’d said and questioning every conversation we’d had since we met. I knew Easton wasn’t the relationship type, and that she wasn’t into spending time with guys, but it looked like I’d won the war without even having to fight. I couldn’t help but think that we had a special connection. I’d never felt anything like it.
I shook off the thought, knowing there really wasn’t any point in reading too much into it. We didn’t have much time together. It wasn’t like I could bring her home with me.
Walking into the lobby, I was determined to go straight to my room and take a cold shower. I didn’t want to spend the rest of the week complaining of sore muscles.
As I stepped up to the elevator, I heard Sean shout, “There’s the fuckwad.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. He may be one of my best friends, but for a rich kid, he had zero class. Who shouted that across the lobby of an upscale hotel? Sean, that was who. I didn’t want to turn around, but we’d come here together and I hadn’t spent much time with them. So, I sucked it up and whirled around with a big fake smile on my face.
I waited until I was close enough before speaking. “What’s up, dick face?”
“Where the fuck have you been?” Sean asked with a smirk. “Have you been too balls deep in pussy to come up for air?”
Dustin smacked him on the back of the head. “Could you keep your voice down? Jesus, have some respect for the people around you.” He turned to me. “But seriously, what have you been up to? I can’t believe you’ve left me with this dick.” He thumbed toward Sean. “Do you know what that’s like? He’s done nothing but grumble about not getting a piece while you’re out getting all you want.”
I laughed. “I told you Easton was taking me surfing today.”
“You’ve been gone all day. You’re telling me you’ve been surfing all day?” Sean seemed a little more irritated than I expected.
“First of all, I thought we’d made a pact that if any of us found a chick that we’d be good to do whatever?” We were guys; of course, we’d had that conversation before we came.
“In all fairness, I thought that it would be me.” Sean threw up his hands in frustration.
“I did, too. I didn’t think it would be you getting laid, nor did I expect that I’d be stuck with him. I never would’ve agreed to it if that were the case.” Dustin chuckled, but there was some truth in what he said.
“Fuck you both. I can get pussy just as easily as you guys.” I glared at them. “Do you see my skin? I’m burnt to a crisp, and my muscles feel like they’re going to explode. That shit was way harder than I thought. We took a nap because we were tired, and I came back right after. Easton was still sleeping when I left her.”
“You do look like a lobster; I guess you weren’t thinking about sunscreen. Did you have fun?” Dustin wasn’t upset with me.
I’m sure he wasn’t happy about spending this much alone time with Sean, but we were all best friends. Sean was just cranky because he hadn’t been the one to find a chick that wanted to hang out with him.
“Yeah, but dude, I suck at surfing. However, Easton is amazing. Watching that girl on the waves was like nothing I’d ever seen. She’s a natural for sure.”
Dustin pushed my shoulder. “You like her.”
I looked over at Sean, who wasn’t even paying attention; he was scrolling through his phone. “Yeah, I do.”
“I know you, Tanner; don’t get attached, man—it can’t end well.” The sad smile he tossed my way ate at my chest because I knew just how right he was.
“I know, I know. I keep reminding myself that it can’t be more. Although I know it’ll be hard when I have to leave, I can’t step back. I’ve never had this type of connection.” I scrubbed my hands down my face and sighed. “I’m fucked.”
“Yeah, you are, but as long as you know it’s worth it, then it is what it is. You’ve always thought with your head and not your dick, unlike our other friend here.” Dustin looked over at Sean, who wasn’t paying us any attention. “Enough talk about chicks; you up for a swim at the pool?”
“That’s probably not a good idea for my skin. How about a drink at the bar?”
“Drinks work for me.” He elbowed Sean. “Hey, dick, you want to have some drinks?”
“Whatever.” He didn’t even look up from his phone. “On second thought,” he lifted his phone to show us a pic of a girl in lingerie, “It’s my turn to get some pussy. Later, assholes.”
And that was that. He took off without a second glance. “Fucking Sean. Well, I guess it’s just the two of us. I need to go get showered and put on some more aloe. My skin is on fire—I hope the gift shop has some.”
“All right, meet back down here in an hour?”
“Sounds good.”
Nine
What A View
Easton
“What’s up your ass?” Joe must have noticed my foul mood; I’d tried to hide it but clearly not well enough.
I sighed and jumped up onto the counter. “I’m not sure. I’m just cranky. Maybe it’s because I’m working both jobs today.” I shrugged.
“Mmmhmm. Boy trouble?” He was kidding—he knew I didn’t have boy trouble.
“Yeah, right, you know me, always with the drama surrounding the guys in my life.” I was full of shit.
I hadn’t seen Tanner at all yesterday. He claimed to be spending time with his buddies, but it ate at me just the same. I’d never cared to even ask a guy what he was doing. I would see him tonight at Barangas, but still, I couldn’t help feeling like a total chick and actually missing him.
“Speaking of boys, you seen that kid, Tanner, from the charity event?”
I whipped my head over to look at him, shocked that Joe would ask. God, I hoped he didn’t have cameras in here. Now that would’ve been embarrassing.
“I take that as a yes?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen him a couple times. Why do you ask?” I snapped.
He threw up his hands in surrender. “I was just asking, jeez. Why are you so defensive?”
“I’m not. I’m sorry. Promise not to make fun of me?” I didn’t talk much, but Joe was usually a good listener and the closest thing I had to a parent at this point in my life, so I trusted him to help me when I needed it.