Given that Kevin hasn’t stopped talking about Tracy since we left the pool area, I suppose I’m stuck with Daisy for the duration of the trip if I want to hang out with my best friend at all. But, if Daisy hooks up with some other guy, all bets are off. I’ll revert to my typical pattern and not sweat the small stuff. Barring that, we have ten days in this tropical paradise, then we’ll go our separate ways.
Spending that time with her while we’re on vacation wouldn’t be so bad. Ten glorious days of enjoying the Caribbean sun, lazing by the pool, and staring at her bikini-covered body from behind my mirrored shades is not a hardship. We’ll have late night strolls on the beach, being anything but lazy. We’ll take advantage of the resort’s island excursions to get away for a while, then attend the after-hours parties where adult libations flow like water. When this trip is over and we go our separate ways, we can avoid any awkward goodbye moment, unlike my other overnight guests.
This plan suits me to a T.
“Fine. I’ll wear the goody-two-shoes costume. What are you wearing?” I turn to Kevin with my full costume in place.
“Get a load of this shit.” Kevin disappears into the bathroom to change so he can hide his getup from me.
For the record, any time in the past when Kevin fully reverted to his full Southern accent and muttered the words, “get a load of this shit,” it has never ended well for either of us. It’s his equivalent of, “hold my beer and watch this.”
After I’m satisfied the helmet hides enough of my features to identify me, I glance over and find the bathroom door is still closed. “Kevin, what are you doing in there? Does your costume require you to remove all your body hair or what?”
The door swings open, and he steps in front of me in all his alter-ego glory. I’m literally stunned speechless for several moments before I burst out in laughter.
“What do you think? It’s perfect, right?” He extends his arms out in front of him, giving me a full view of his ensemble.
“Honestly, it is the best costume I’ve ever seen. You look exactly like Popeye, even down to your squinty eye and corncob pipe.”
“I’m a sailorman. Coming into port on a tropical island. Get it?” His smile splits his face in two. He’s so proud of his idea.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it, man. It’s great. You know I’d tell you if it wasn’t… because I wouldn’t let you wear it and embarrass me.”
“Man, I make Popeye look good. That suit fits you perfectly. We’ll have all the ladies eating out of our palms tonight.”
“There’s only one lady I’m interested in palming tonight.” I didn’t mean to let it slip out into the open like that.
“The great Rod Stone only wants one lady. Is the world ending? Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”
“Let it go, Kevin. I’ve given it some thought. It just makes sense to hook up with one person for the entire trip. Avoid the awkwardness of running into each other around the resort. Especially since you’re already attached to Tracy at the hip.”
“Uh-huh.” His smirk says it all. He’s not buying my reasoning one bit. But I don’t have time or the inclination to examine it any deeper than I already have. Thankfully, he drops it and accepts my word.
“Time to head up to the roof. The party is already in full swing, and we’re late.”
“Absolutely. Can’t let anyone else cut in on your territory, can we?”
With a playful shove, I move him out of our suite and toward the elevators. When we walk into the nightclub on the top floor of the hotel, the lights are low, the music is thumping, and the alcoholic drinks are flowing. Two by two, bodies on the dance floor become one darkened blur. I quickly scan the area, trying to spot Daisy in the throngs of people.
The damnedest thing is, I feel her before I see her.
It’s the same sensation I get during a lightning storm. The electrons in the air and the protons in the ground react inside my torso, warning of an impending strike. One million volts right to the chest, delivered by a gorgeous little lady with a disarming smile. I turn around and watch her walk through the door.
With my jaw on the floor and my tongue rolled out like a fucking red carpet. My eyes remain glued to her as she moves through the people loitering in the entryway. She’s dressed as Harley Quinn, complete with short shorts, tight shirt, four-inch heels, and a plastic baseball bat. She’s wearing her long blond hair in pigtails, one side colored blue and the other pink.
Before I can gather my wits enough to make my feet move, some fucker near me sets his sights on her and begins his beeline to intercept her.
Not tonight, buddy.
With swift steps, I move in sync with him and extend my foot to trip him. When he falls face first, I’m tempted to yell “timber,” but think better of it. Then I stop in front of Daisy, and I forget about everyone else in the room except her.
“Captain America, I didn’t know you’d be here tonight. Are you here to arrest me?” Her playful side is so much fun. Now to keep her in an excellent mood.
She’s not making it easy to behave. Now all I can picture is her in handcuffs. Fuck me, this will be a long night.
“Only if you’re a naughty girl. But to be on the safe side, I should probably buy you a drink and stick
