“Do you mean children?” One feature she liked best about this resort, other than the hot guys, was the “no children allowed” policy.
“Yes.” She shakes her entire body as if trying to ward off any curses at the mere mention of kids.
“Did someone just walk on your grave?” I can’t help but have a little fun at her expense.
“You know I love your Southernisms, but that one is just creepy. I don’t have a grave, and I don’t even want to think about dying yet. Are you planning to kill me or something?”
“That depends on what you signed us up for today, instead of the hiking and biking tour I wanted to do.” I fold my arms across my chest and wait to make my decision.
“We are joining a group of outgoing people at a private cabana owned by the resort. It’s built on top of the water and has a big water slide, a hot tub, a fully stocked bar. And–” She pauses for dramatic emphasis, “–It also comes with a chef, a butler, and a bartender. Get your bathing suit on, pack your beach bag, and let’s go.”
“Who are these outgoing people we’re spending the day with?”
“Just a bunch of people I met in the club last night when you ditched me at the costume party, so you could hug up to Captain America on the dance floor. Don’t worry, you’ll like them.”
“If you say so. And I didn’t ditch you. You looked content in Popeye’s arms. Give me a minute to change and get everything together.”
“That’s my girl.” Tracy turns to rifle through her drawers for her bikini, ignoring my return jab.
While changing, I can’t shake the feeling she’s up to something, and I’m being played. But I’m going along with her plan either way. If there’s one fact I’m sure of, it’s that she’d never do anything intentionally to hurt me. She and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. We graduated from the same college, then moved to the Atlanta metro area together five years ago.
From the outside, everyone thinks everything comes easily to Tracy. She is tall and beautiful, with perfectly coiffed black hair and pearly white teeth. She’s one of the smartest people I know, and her sense of humor matches mine to a T, sarcastic and witty. We’ve been inseparable since the first day we met. She pushes me out of my comfort zone and is the sole reason I had the courage to attempt most of the daring feats I’ve accomplished.
I see polar opposites when I look at pictures of us together.
She’s outgoing and boisterous. I’m quiet and reserved.
She’s tall and perfectly poised. I’m short and awkward as hell.
She’s a beautiful, strong black woman. I’m a timid blonde with longstanding self-esteem issues.
Her childhood was one tragedy after another, but she chose to rise from the ashes and make something of herself rather than let anyone drag her down to their level. Many people in our small town, including her parents, believed she should stick to her own “kind” instead of the blended and diversified friends she chose. When we were seniors in high school, she announced she was in love with a white guy and didn’t care what anyone thought about it. While she wasn’t bothered by their differences, her parents certainly were, and forbade her to date him. Tensions remained high in her family for weeks, then tipped over the boiling point when she brought him home for dinner one night, unannounced.
All I know for certain is a huge brawl quickly ensued, but both families were tight-lipped about the details and the aftermath. The black eyes, busted lips, and icy glares between her brother and her boyfriend in the school hallway were the only confirmation the rest of the school had that the fight happened. I was the one who tried to console her broken heart and endless tears every day when we got home.
A few months after we graduated, she walked away from what she called a toxic family atmosphere and has barely looked back since. She still refuses to visit her family for more than a few hours at a time, and she never has taken another date home to meet them. She’s as stubborn as she is strong. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I have just as much strength, only in different areas. I find it harder to believe in myself than she does. In fact, she has ample faith to support both of us.
I feel her eyes burning a hole through me. When I turn my attention to her, she narrows her eyes, reads my body language, and immediately knows what’s going on in my mind.
“Get those thoughts out of your head right now. You are more than good enough for anyone on this island. In fact, you’re too good for ninety-nine percent of these fuckers. If you end up with anyone, he’ll be lucky to have you. If you decide no one is worth your time, I’ll fully support you in that too. Deal?”
“Deal.” I pull my beach bag onto my shoulder, and we make our way down to the excursion departure area of the resort.
Her ability to decipher my thoughts and emotions at times goes beyond how well she knows me. At twenty-seven, I should be more comfortable in my own skin. But I’m not quite there yet. But she’s right, I need to let my guard down and attempt to have a pleasurable time. Demons from my past try to cripple me and keep me locked away in an invisible cell. I’ve literally only had blind dates Tracy coerced me into accepting over the last several years.
The man behind the mask I met in the club felt so different from all the other men I’ve ever known. Maybe the real charade is his knight in shining armor act. But his concern for my safety wasn’t
