Page 83 of Harper's Holiday Romance
Sarah had her headphones in, so there was zero input from her.
“How are you feeling about meeting the in-laws?” Billie winked.
“Please, don’t make it weird.”
“They did say they wished Julia would find a nice young girl like you.”
“They said that?” My pitch increased. I straightened up.
“No, but good to know you care.”
“I hate you.”
“Yeah, you say that a lot.” Billie smirked.
My mind had forgotten how to function normally. All I saw were little Julias running around in cropped white tank tops with no bras and the tightest pairs of female Y fronts I’d ever seen.
I was grateful for the middle-aged black couple who entered the pool area thirty seconds later. They instantly eased my mind with their larger-than-life personalities. The guy wore a pair of black Crocs, which he flicked off at the edge of the pool before diving straight in. The woman strolled on down like a lioness stalking her prey; she looked stunning in her leopard print bikini.
“She’s trying to kill me ya’ll. She’s gunna do me like laundry. Watch out. You see a big black man upside down in a pool you go straight to room 2634. She be guilty.” He wasn’t talking to anyone in particular, just laughing and joking with his wife, but his voice carried. Me and Billie were severely entertained.
“Will you be quiet,” his wife shushed him for the fourth time.
I burst out laughing.
“Please, don’t encourage him,” she joked and laid back on the raised platform at the edge of the pool.
“How do you float like that?” he asked his wife.
“You just lie back. It’s easy.”
“I can’t float. I’m too big to float.” He flopped backwards, unsuccessfully holding his body weight above water.
“If I was on the Titanic, I would’ve been the reason it sunk. I’m the iceberg.” He belly laughed.
The man reminded me of a heavyset Will Smith. He said, “y’know” at the end of every sentence, and his laugh was the most infectious noise I’d ever heard.
“You’re a grown ass man. You can float,” his wife said.
He paddled his way to the edge of the pool where a shallow ledge allowed him to lie back and simulate floating.
“Look at me, baby, I’m floating.” He moved his arms up and down like he was trying to take off flying.
“This feels like that time I got suspended from school and I went to the local pool to swim instead. Fun times,” he yelled.
The couple eventually made their way to our side of the pool and enquired about our cocktails. It was their first day. The guy introduced himself as Marlon and his wife as Monique. We spent the next hour listening to Marlon describe every single detail of their flight over and their airport experience in hilarious detail. It felt like we’d paid for a stand-up comedian; my jaw physically hurt from laughing. Marlon was exactly what I didn’t know I needed in that moment.
Julia’s parents chose their favourite cuisine—Japanese.
The traditional signature restaurant was the one fine dining experience we were yet to enjoy due to its popularity. The outdoor patio seating provided us with a table beside a large square fire pit. The black wooden chairs were close to the ground and topped with thickstraw cushions. The theme of the restaurant matched the rest of the hotel, black windows, beige fabrics, and wooden accessories. All of the décor worked as an extension of the grand reception area, but each space created its own unique experience.
The waiter recommended a set menu that included all of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, from Tempura Moriawase, to Chicken Karaage, to Kakuni Ramen. The dishes sounded incredible; the concoction of ingredients made my mouth water before the food even made its way to our table. Julia sat to the left of me this time on a circular table.
“You look beautiful,” she whispered.
“So do you.” I blushed.
She wore a grey vintage tee and a pair of Levi’s jeans. Her hair was poker straight and parted precisely in the middle. She tucked it behind her ears on both sides; her ears were so well-proportioned I took a moment to examine them. I felt comfortable having gone for a more casual look in my oversized white shirt and baggy jeans.
