“Don’t put any ideas in my head,” Lisa joked. “Because that midday rum and Coke suddenly sounds very appealing.”
Ebony’s loud laughter rang in her ear and Lisa laughed along with her. “Are you serious? Rum and Coke? That’s not something you’d normally drink.”
“It’s low-risk,” Lisa said. “The beer is watered-down, the wine is poison and so is anything else grape related. How are you apart from the shitty date?” She sank back on the lounger, enjoying the sun on her face.
“I’m okay. Starting my new job tomorrow, so I’m excited. I might come and visit you for a long weekend if they’ll allow me a day off.”
“Are you serious? I’d love that.” Lisa’s face lit up. Over the past months, she’d told people she’d missed them, but those words had just been words. She’d been withdrawn and almost comfortable in her own isolation but after last night she felt a little sparkle of her old self again, and with that came the need to see her best friend whom she’d neglected. Ebony had been laid off too, but unlike Lisa, she’d managed to find herself a new job.
“Dead serious. Is it pretty there?”
“No.” Lisa chuckled. “It’s kind of like a cross between a playground—except the loud creatures running around screaming are adults instead of toddlers—and a village clubhouse. Oh, and someone peed in the pool the other day. There’s this chemical they put in that turns urine green. My room is shocking to say the least and sometimes I sleep on the balcony because it’s too stuffy in there.”
“God, that sounds awful. It didn’t look that bad on the website.”
“True. I think they used pictures from twenty years ago. The hotel is basic at best, the food is terrible but there are nice places around here. One of the staff members showed me around and I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the area is.”
“So, you’re making friends?”
“No. Just someone who works here.”
Ebony chuckled. “I know you, Lisa. You never bother to mention people unless they intrigue you in some way.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You’re not exactly a social butterfly and you don’t throw yourself into new friendships. So, tell me about this ‘person who works there’,” Ebony continued in a mocking tone. “Is this person ashe?”
“Yes, it’s a woman but it’s not what you think. Nothing’s going on. I was just upset the other day because I kept getting rejection emails and calls, so she took me out for a coffee and I went to her house for dinner. She’s cheered me up and I needed that.”
“Still nothing on the job front then?” Ebony asked.
“No. And I’ve run out of marketing vacancies to apply for. I’m trying PR now, but I have even less hope for that as I don’t have much experience in the field.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you found something; I really mean that. You’re so good at what you do, and you were always my favourite colleague.”
“And you were mine. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get to work together again one day. I’ll certainly put in a good word for you if they’re looking to expand the team.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.” Lisa followed Stella with her eyes as she walked towards the lifeguard chair on the opposite side of the pool and climbed up. She hadn’t seen her sitting there before; she was usually in the chair by the other pool if she was on lifeguard duty. By now, she had a good idea of the staff’s shifts. A ginger haired man usually sat in the chair overlooking her spot. It was funny how she had her usual spot herself, but she’d gotten used to the lounger in the corner that was always free as it got the least sun.
“Well, I’ll let you know if I’ll be able to visit but getting a day off shouldn’t be a problem. We seriously need to get together; it’s been too long. And you have a double bed in your room, right?”
“The double bed is questionable but for two or three nights, I’m sure we’ll manage and I’m already looking forward to it,” Lisa said, noting that Stella was looking directly at her now. Stella quickly glanced away when Lisa’s eyes met hers and she shifted her attention to the pool, as if she’d been caught staring.
“Perfect. And then you can introduce me to ‘someone who works there,’” Ebony added in a teasing tone.
“Ha ha, very funny. I’ll speak to you soon and good luck tomorrow.” Lisa hung up with a smile and continued to apply suntan lotion, this time aware that she was sitting in Stella’s line of sight. She felt strangely excited, knowing she was being watched and when she finished, she pulled out her hairband and ruffled a hand through her locks, making sure she looked as good as she possibly could.
19
Although she’d promised herself that she wasn’t going to go there, Stella had done exactly what she’d been fighting for days. She’d texted Lisa. She knew it was a foolish thing to do. After all, she was going against her contract by having personal relations with a guest. But three days had passed since Lisa had been at her house and she’d thought about her non-stop. Texting was a big step; it meant a direct line of communication between them that was sure to blur the professional boundaries even more.
Stella was a sucker for blondes, but she couldn’t recall ever having it so bad. She’d even taken over a shift from her colleague this morning, so she’d have an unobstructed view of Lisa. That was wrong too, of course, and even bordering on creepy, but Lisa didn’t seem to mind being her eye candy. Now that she’d learned Lisa was into women, Stella was able to think of little else than seeing her again in private. It was a silly crush and not the first time she’d been charmed by a guest. But guests came and went, and Lisa wasn’t leaving by the end of the week. And that made it both exciting and dangerous.
Now, she was waiting in her car on a corner near the hotel where she’d told Lisa to meet her after her shift. She’d had a quick shower in the staff quarters, changed into white shorts and her favourite shirt, and she felt like she was about to go on a date. Was this a date? And if it was, did that mean she was underdressed? There was no time to ponder over it as she saw Lisa approach in the rear-view mirror, and suddenly nerves got the better of her. The woman looked stunning in a simple, white off the shoulder summer dress. She’d curled her hair a little and it fell in bouncy locks over her shoulders as she walked with a sway in her hips. “Fuck,” she muttered, staring at her.
“Hey!” Lisa bent down and smiled at her through the open passenger window before she opened the door and got in. She looked lighter, happier today, and as she took off her shades, Stella saw she had a twinkle in her eyes that made her even more attractive.
