Now that my body has regulated itself, I’m thinking that having something to eat doesn’t completely turn my stomach.
Kendall gathers up her bag and slides on her sandals. “We need to fuel up for all the sunbathing we’re going to do today.” She gives me a half grin.
I love breakfast food, so getting up to go and eat feels like the right thing to do. We leave the pool area and head to the dining room where the breakfast buffet is set up. The second I walk through the door, I’m hit by the smell of pancakes, bacon, and omelets. My mouth waters as I think about the sweetness of the maple syrup and the crispy bacon. I follow the smell to the pancake station while the others walk over to get omelets.
As I stand in line, the tightness in my neck and shoulders begin to ease. I raise my hand to the back of my neck and massage the muscles. Inhaling deeply, I hope to stave off that familiar throb of a tension headache. I distract myself by focusing on the conversations around me.
I’ve got this.
My turn comes quickly. There are so many toppings to choose from, but I like my pancakes topping free. I finish getting my syrup and then move to grab bacon and fruit. I look around the dining room for an empty table for four, and I spot one. It has a great view of the ocean waves crashing onto the beach—perfect. I head over and sit down.
I enjoy the view while I wait for my friends to join me. Yes, everything got turned upside down this morning, but I refuse to let it ruin the trip. This resort is too beautiful and caters to relaxation. I’m not going to waste the week worrying about Jude and his happily ever after. I glance up from my plate and see my friends heading over to the table.
After chewing the syrup drenched bite of the pancake that I shoved in my mouth, I swallow and say, “So, that was a fun way to start our first full day here.” I plaster on a smile.
The waiter comes over to get our drink order—a round of coffee. He brings them to the table quickly, and the warm liquid hits the spot. It’s just what I needed.
While we eat, the conversation naturally goes to the ATV excursion. The pictures look like it’ll be a lot of fun. It starts at a ranch location on the other side of the island. We’ll pick up our ATVs and then follow the guide up to the water caves. That seems like an experience we don’t want to miss while we’re on the island. Afterward, we’ll proceed to a beach where we’ll have some time to enjoy the ocean and eat lunch.
“That excursion looks amazing. I can’t wait for Tuesday,” I say.
Addison takes a bite of her omelet and taps her fingers on the table. “I’m looking forward to the water caves.”
I watch people stream into the dining area, their faces glowing as laughter consumes the space. I can’t help but smile as I admire the view of the beach and swaying palm trees. This place is a slice of paradise, and I promise myself I'll come back one day.
We finalize our plans for the day, envisioning ourselves stretched out on the white sand, sitting in comfortable lounge chairs under striped umbrellas. The idea of immersing myself in a good book while the ocean's waves hit the shore in the background is exactly how I imagine a relaxing day on the beach.That includes our well-deserved splurge—lunch served on the beach with our own waitstaff this afternoon.
Looking up from my coffee, I connect with those amber eyes…again.
SIX
FAITH
A guttural laugh escapes me as I see Jude beelining to our table. “Hi, Faith. And ladies, how’s breakfast?”
What a bold move on his part. He could have kept walking and completely ignored us. My eyes land on his fiancée, who is leisurely making her way over to the fruit—of course she goes for the fruit first. I quickly look down and roll my eyes.
Pull it together! He’s happy.
I nod and take another sip of my coffee, hoping this will be brief. We are all about relaxing, soaking up the sun, and spending time at the beach and pool—not seeing my ex-boyfriend from high school. Yet, here we are again!
“As good as it smells. Hi, I’m Kendall. And you are…?” I stifle a laugh. She knows exactly who he is, but she’s entertaining him.
“Jude Kent, nice to meet you. Faith and I went to the same high school.” He looks around the table. “And who are these lovely ladies?”
“Addison,” she says as she gives a small wave.
“Lane. Nice to meet you.” Lane holds her hand out to shake his.
Kendall jumps right back in and says, “Oh, you knew Fatih in high school, huh. Did you know her really well?” She gets right tothe point. No small talk for her. I look across the table at Addison with the look ofyou’ve got to be kidding me.
"Oh, um, we dated back then," he says, stumbling over his words as his voice carries a hint of nostalgia. "But then I moved to Utah, and life took us in different directions. I must admit, I'm surprised that our paths have crossed here, of all places." He runs his fingers through his hair, shaking his head.
“Are you here alone? You can grab a seat with us,” Kendall insists, her voice warm and inviting.
Has she completely lost her mind?
My fingers clench around the warm coffee cup, its heat seeping into my skin. What is she doing? I swear I’m going to kill her. Seriously, if I take any more sips of this coffee, I'll have to flag down a waiter for a refill to give me something to do while I watch this all unfold.
