Page 24 of Vitamin Sea
Minutes later two drinks were placed in front of them. A buttery-yellow blended drink for Chloe, and a bright blue concoction for Lala that was accompanied by an umbrella pick and a potent smell. Juan turned to some other guests and moments later the grating sound of the blender drowned out the bar’s music.
Lala took a sip, and her head rolled back in ecstasy.
“I’m going to marry Juan,” she said decisively.
“That good, hey?” Chloe inquired. “I don’t mean to rain on your parade, La, but I think I saw a ring.”
An exaggerated pout sprouted on her friend’s face.
“Well, the week is young and if the other bartenders can make a drink half as good as this, I’m proposing.”
Chloe lifted her glass in the air and toasted.
“Here’s to terrible choices and great stories.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Lala clinked her glass against Chloe’s and they both took a drink.
Three hours later, Lala had worked her way through one half of the menu. Granted, there were only four drinks on each side as well as a variety of beers and canned beverages, but four drinks was a lot. They had loaded up on protein and carbohydrates at breakfast, but it had become increasingly evident that it hadn’t been enough for her friend. The remnants of a bright green concoction sat in front of Lala as she wobbled unsteadily on her chair.
“I need to have a nap,” she slurred.
“Good call.” Chloe nodded her head. She had kept her wits about her and stuck to virgin drinks, aside from the single pina colada. “I’m going to take a walk on the beach after this.” She gestured to her lemony mocktail, which was one-quarter full.
One-quarter full.
See?
She was already acting more optimistic. The work assignment was serving her well. Even if it did require her to be in the presence of nudity anytime she left her room.
Lala slid out of her seat and stood up. Chloe noticed she had a slight sway to her. Which was no wonder, given the number of shots she had seen Juan dump into Lala’s drinks.
“Do you want me to walk you to the room?” Chloe was concerned—she wanted to support her friend, and Lala clearly looked in need of it, but she also didn’t want to impose.
Lala giggled
“I think I’ll be okay,” she said, grabbing her purse and trying to pull herself together. It was a feat that she didn’t entirely accomplish due to her sunglasses being slightly askew and one portion of her hair that she had run her hands through sticking up at an odd angle.
“But thanks.” She leaned over and put her arms around Chloe in a big bear hug. “If you find my dignity out there on your walk, bring it back.”
Chloe giggled and hugged her back.
“Okay, well at least send me a text when you get to the room,” she implored. “So I know you made it safely.”
“Will do, Chlo. And if you find anything with abs, bring that back too,” Lala said. And with a flourish—a slightly unsteady one at that, Chloe was alone. Just her and Juan and the naked couple sitting next to her.
She was surprised to find she was getting used to the sights of the resort. Which wasn’t just limited to the architecture and scenery. Really, it was just like being in the sauna at the gym. The brain’s ability to adapt to different situations was wild. Habituation was it called? She had taken a psychology class where she had learned all about that sort of thing, but the details were hazy.
She turned back to her mocktail and sucked the blended ice up through the straw when her phone lit up with a text from Lala.
Made it!
She had also included a photo of her wrapped up in a bathrobe, lounging on the bed and wearing her sunglasses. Chloe also spotted a big bottle of water on the nightstand beside her.
Good choice, La, she thought to herself.
She sent a text reply letting Lala know she would message her when she was on the way back from her walk, to which shereceived an emoji thumbs-up. With a sigh she pushed the empty glass away from her and slid two American dollar bills towards the bartender and got up to leave.
“Gracias!” she said loudly to Juan who was busy mixing up drinks.
