Page 50 of Vitamin Sea
Jack changed into the swim shorts he had brought along and Chloe took off her dress to reveal a bright-pink bikini.
She was surprised to find that once she and Jack were in
the water, she didn’t give the people around them a second thought. Jack, in fact, and despite his teasing, had seemed to adjust to the environment far faster than her. He seemed to have a ‘go with the flow’ type of personality, which she really liked. It occurred to her that Liam would not have taken to the resort so easily. In fact, she could have seen him abandoning her for the resort next door and refusing to spend any time at Costa Morpho.
Not that she was comparing Jack to Liam. It was just one of many interesting observations that had popped into her head over the past couple of days. Both men were handsome, smart, and successful, but they were also very different in a myriad of ways.
She and Jack swam around and cooled down for a bit before getting out of the water and drying off in the sun. Jack’s wet muscles glistened in the lounger and Chloe found she was having a hard time adhering to Costa Morpho’s number-one rule—no gawking.
As the sun began to set, she and Jack shared cocktails in the lobby. They found a corner with squishy furniture and soaked up the air conditioning while they continued getting to know each other. Jack asked her so many questions—about her work, her life, her childhood, her friends, her family. How did she come to be a writer? What were her hopes and dreams? Her values and her beliefs?
There seemed to be a genuine interest on his part in truly understanding her and it was a feeling that was entirely mutual.
It occurred to her as she was telling him about how she hoped to one day write a book about all her funny travel stories, tips, and tricks that Liam had never asked her some of those things.
Odd, she thought, how something can seem so perfect when you’re together, but perceptions can change with the benefit of time and distance.
Had her and Liam’s relationship really been all that great?
Not that she was deluding herself into thinking that a
relationship with Jack was where things were heading.
Quite the opposite, really.
She was enjoying getting to know him and spending time together, but what it was, in her estimation, was two individuals finding themselves brought together by happenstance who also happened to find that they liked one another’s company.
For right now, that was enough for Chloe.
“You said earlier we had to check out some entertainment tonight,” Jack said a little while later. “What is it?”
Chloe twisted her mouth to the side.
“Believe it or not,” she said wryly, “but it’s actually a talent competition.”
Jack snorted and shook his head in good humour.
“Remember,” Chloe teased, “it’s important for my work!”
“It’s all good, Chlo,” he smiled.
Her stomach tightened at his casual use of her nickname. Something about it gave her a happy feeling inside.
“I can’t wait to tell Daniel about our day.” Jack shook his head. “My friends are never going to believe me.”
Privately, Chloe thought her friends were never going to believe her either. About Jack, her near drowning, or the resort.
Twinkle lights spiraled around the trunks of the palm trees that lined the darkened path to the pool. The cement pad where Chloe and Jack had taken the aerobics class earlier was now outfitted with rows of chairs that reached all the way to the bar.Almost all of them were occupied with people who had drinks in their hand, and fanny packs, purses, and bags hanging from their chairs. One woman, Chloe noticed, was wearing a bright-pink wig, and one man was wearing a top hat.
Facing the chairs was an elevated stage that had black fabric curtaining the bottom and a tall red-velvet curtain that provided a backdrop for the performers. A spotlight flooded the empty stage with bright light, and loud salsa music pumped through the air.
Jack and Chloe grabbed two seats at the bar and ordered up a drink.
“I can’t tell you the last time I took in a talent show,” Jack said after taking a drink of his beer. “I think it might have been in sixth grade. I don’t go to a lot of resorts—is this typical?” he inquired.
“No,” Chloe shook her head. “I saw one at a family resort in Cabo, but that was years ago. They usually offer some kind of entertainment—cultural shows, singing, dancing—those kinds of things. I was in Panama one year over Christmas and got to see averysaucy version ofThe Nutcracker,” she trailed off.
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
