Page 6 of Shameless
Taylor, Josie, and Amanda booked a flight from JFK to Cabo that arrived ten minutes before mine from Vegas. Once we met up at the baggage claim, we took the resort’s shuttle and then checked into our adjoining rooms.
“First order of business is getting drunk at the pool for happy hour,” Josie announced as we wheeled our luggage into our rooms.
“Totally,” I replied, and went to the connecting door to the room and opened it for Taylor and Amanda. They walked into our room.
“We are 100 percent all in for drinks by the pool,” Taylor stated.
“Then let’s change and enjoy what’s left of this sun,” I said.
“And then dinner?” Amanda asked. “I’m starving.”
“We could get appetizers at the pool,” Josie suggested. “I bet they have chips and salsa.”
“And guac.” I was ready to stuff myself with Mexican food and margaritas.
“And we need to find you a man.” Taylor winked.
I scoffed. “I just got divorced.”
“Yeah, but we’re here for your divorce trip and you need to get laid,” she argued.
All three of my friends were married, so it wasn’t as though any of them were looking to hook up with a stranger. Hell, I wasn’t either. That wasn’t what I wanted the trip to be about. I just wanted to have fun with my friends I hadn’t seen in forever and let loose, eat and drink.
“Yeah, okay.” I rolled my eyes and chuckled sarcastically. “We’ll see.”
We changed and then made our way to the pool closest to our room, finding four lounge chairs near each other. Off in the distance, I could see the ocean and it felt as though I was in heaven. The weather was a little on the humid side, but nothing a nice dip in the pool wouldn’t take care of. Although Vegas was dry and hot, humidity wasn’t anything new to me since I grew up thirty minutes west of San Antonio.
The four of us made ourselves comfortable, and a waiter came over to take our order. We each ordered margaritas and, to Amanda’s delight and mine, the server brought us chips, salsa, and guacamole.
“A girl could get used to this,” Josie admitted, her face tilted up to the evening sun. “No kids. No husband. Just cocktails and food by the pool.”
“We’ve been here like two hours and you already want to move here?” Taylor questioned.
“No, but I’m thinking I need to take more vacations,” Josie replied.
“Don’t we all?” I chuckled.
“Well, thank you to Trey and his slutty assistant.” Amanda raised her plastic cup.
We toasted by clinking our drinks together, and I scanned the pool area as more people arrived. I had heard August was considered off-season, but it still seemed a lot of people were vacationing. The sun was starting to set when we received our second round of drinks, and I continued to people-watch as the tequila made me more relaxed.
“See any cute guys?” Taylor asked.
I glanced over at her and rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses. “Not looking.”
“Oh, come on. We’re all living vicariously through you now.”
“Fine,” I huffed, and leaned forward to get a better look at the entire area.
“Oo, what about him?”
I followed where Josie was pointing toward the bar and my eyes widened. “Oh, wow. I think I know him.”
“Seriously?” Amanda asked.
“I mean, it’s been like ten years, but yeah, I think I do.” I stared at the man I thought was Blake Montgomery as he looked out over the pool. What were the odds the cocky guy who had spent a summer on my aunt’s apple farm could be at the same resort? I hadn’t been around much that summer because I had spent my time with my friends and boyfriend at the time, but as I gawked more, I was almost certain it was him. Even though I had tried not to be affected by Blake back then, I had been. He had been easy on the eyes with his dark brown finger-length hair, piercing chocolate eyes, and panty-dropping smile.
That summer, I’d had to restrain myself from kissing him one night when he had leaned in as we soaked in my aunt’s hot tub under the Texas stars. The only reason I had pulled back was because I’d had a boyfriend at the time. Arkin and I hadn’t lasted much longer, and I sometimes wondered how things would have turned out if I had indulged in a summer fling with Blake.
