Page 43 of Harper's Holiday Romance
“You’re doing great.”
“Why’s that one not helping? He’s lazy.” I gave that one a little nudge with a twig, and he soon got to work.
Billie returned from the pool and hovered her dripping wet body over me.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m watching the ants. That one there is the biggest, and he keeps carrying big boulders from there to there.” I gestured.
“Big boulders?” Billie burst out laughing. “It’s carrying a grain of sand.”
“It’s tiny. It’s like us carrying a car sized rock. It’s impressive.” I beamed. I was now the spokesperson for the Mexican ants. It was a role I didn’t ask for, nor did I expect to be called upon, but sometimes you have to answer your calling in life.
“I’ve got so much more respect for them now.”
“Okay, weirdo.” Billie emptied the pool water from her bikini top onto my back with one quick squeeze.
I spent the next hour baking in the sun, whilst researching how ants created their homes. Apparently,humans aren’t the only living creatures with awe-inspiring homes. I learnt all about ant colonies, queen ants, worker ants, and male ants, as well as what their different job roles looked like. The biggest ants go away from the nest to forage for food. They leave a chemical behind so they can find their way home. Amazing.
“Why are you glittering?” Sarah questioned.
I sighed. “I bought the wrong sun cream.”
My whole body shimmered, which I wasn’t mad about until I realised it didn’t come off in the shower.
“You bought a sun cream with glitter in it?” Sarah said.
“It’s written in Spanish. How am I supposed to know? I just needed a higher factor.” I handed over the bottle.
“It literally says sheer touch right there in large swirly writing.” She turned the bottle in the sun. “And the bottle glistens!”
I shrugged. If there was one thing in life I could guarantee, it was a laugh at my expense. After waking up that morning and realising the max power of the shower head did nothing to wash away my glittering layer of skin, I embraced it, and uninvitedly immersed myself into the Cullen family.
“Has she texted you yet?” Billie yelled. She rolled over, earbuds half-hanging from her ears in a balancing act; it was a wonder they didn’t fall out.
“Shh.”
“Sorry.” She removed one earphone.
“No, she hasn’t.” I sighed.
“Oh,” Billie said sheepishly.
“Would you text back after that ridiculous text?” I scowled. When an hour passed without reply from Julia; it was too late to take it back.
“You told me to be less formal.” Billie poured a glass of water over her legs. Don’t ask.
“Yes, but I didn’t say be cringey.”
It was our first time around the cove pool. We pulled together three regular loungers next to one of the thatched roofed palapas. I liked to have the option of shade even if I pretended I didn’t need it. The man-made sand beach surrounding the pool allowed for easy access to the water. We were warned on arrival about the sargassum seaweed effecting the Mexican beaches in the area, so like most we opted for the man-made version.
The hotel Wi-Fi didn’t reach the pool area, at least not without hiccups. If I reached my arm behind me at a forty-five-degree angle and flapped it up and down like a bird trying to take flight I occasionally gained one bar. It was hopeless.
The pool staff returned with another margarita every time my empty glass presented itself. I closed my eyes. I watched the splashes of colour and dashes of light dance around on the black background of my eyelids like little fireflies in the night sky. I felt the sun beating down on my face until I sensed a shadow. The light turned to dark, and I was given a brief moment of respite from the tropical conditions; it happened whenever a cloud passed by, but I didn’t recall any clouds in the sky.
“I had no doubt you’d look good in a bikini, but wow.” Julia said.
My eyes flew open; that wasn’t a cloud speaking. Julia had on some tight running shorts and a luminous green vest top. Her hair was wet and wavy in the style girls desperately try to emulate using sea salt spray and a curling iron. I sat upright in the most flattering way I could, pulling the edge of the towel over my body to hide any imperfections. Julia had a bird’s eye view of myentire body, and I was extremely thankful the salon managed to fit me in for a last-minute bikini wax.
