‘Thanks.Let’s hope he agrees.’
Once I’d completed check-in, Sammie gave me the grand tour of the resort.It was so big that we did it on one of those golf cart buggies.
Apparently, the management had spent ages searching for the right plot of land.They wanted an amazing secluded beach location that was close to popular locations like Malibu and Los Angeles, but that’d give them the space they needed to create a dream resort which offered both privacy and luxury.
There were two large swimming pools, three restaurants, a huge spa and the beach had some of the softest-looking sand I’d ever seen.It was straight out of a high-end travel magazine.
Considering how plush the surroundings were, I shouldn’t have been shocked when I saw how incredible my huge room was.It had white solid oak furniture, a sea blue, grey and white colour scheme and a ginormous king-size bed with expensive-looking crisp white bed linen and gold-trimmed pillows.I couldn’t wait to sink into that mattress tonight.
Modern beach-inspired art adorned the walls.The bathroom had a massive rainfall walk-in shower.There was even a remote-controlled toilet.Wow.Even flushing the loo was fancy here.
And when I opened my grand balcony doors I was treated to stunning unobstructed ocean views.No wonder it cost so much to come here.
Once I’d showered, I started to get dressed.I was meeting my match at eight-thirty, which was in less than an hour.
Vanessa had asked me to call once I was ready.So after doing my hair and make-up, which took longer than expected, and sliding into a knee-length orange patterned summer dress to match my nails, I hit the video call button.
‘Hey!’ she said as she appeared on the screen.‘Loving the eye make-up and your hair is on fleek!’
‘Thanks, but you know no one sayson fleekany more, right?’
‘No?’ She frowned.‘What are the cool kids saying these days then?’
‘You’d have to ask one of them.I’m thirty-four, so I have no idea.’
‘You’re a baby!I’m forty-one and still consider myself young, so compared to me, you’re fresh out the womb!Anyway, you look amazing!How you feeling?What’s it like there?And when do you meet your Mr Right?’
‘My stomach’s churning so much it could turn milk into butter!As for this place, it’s off the scale.’
I described the surroundings to Vanessa and she oohed and aaahed before asking me to send her photos.
‘You know I don’t do the whole pictures thing.I prefer to be in the moment.’
‘Being in the moment is all well and good if you’ve got a photographic memory.But how are you going to remember what food you ate if you don’t take pictures?Or how beautiful the sunset was?’
Vanessa was one of those people that took a dozen photos of her dessert before she took a single mouthful.No judgement because once upon a time, before the shit hit the fan, I did too.But not any more.
‘Everyone’s become a slave to their phone.They’re obsessed with taking and posting photos without giving a second thought to the consequences…’ My stomach tightened as a painful memory shot into my head.
‘I hear you.Sorry.I’m just so used to taking photos that sometimes I forget about what you went through.’
‘It’s okay.I overreacted.I know you’re just curious to see what the hotel and food are like, so it’s not the same.Photos probably won’t come out well on my phone, but I’ll try and take a few.’
A couple of years ago I’d traded my phone in for the most basic mobile I could find which was the complete opposite to Vanessa’s which had all the bells and whistles.
‘Thanks.So when will you meet your mystery guy?’
‘In…’ I glanced at my watch.‘Shit.In seven minutes.I’d better go.’
‘I’m so excited for you, hon!Have fun and remember to take precautions.’
‘I’m not having sex on the first date!I’m not here for a fling!I’m here to find my forever guy.The whole point is to get to know him as a person over the next two weeks.We’ll have the rest of our lives to explore each other’s bodies.’
‘If you say so.From what I’ve heard, when you get matched it’s instant fireworks so if the mood strikes, don’t fight it.Please tell me that you’ve cleared out the weeds down there?’
‘The weeds?’
‘You haven’t had any action for years, so you don’t want the poor guy to waste valuable time trying to hack through a bush to reach your promised land.’
