Excess Baggage

by Laura Barnard

  ‘It’s fine,’ I chuckle, glad to still have his hand in mine.

  We arrange for the others to make their way back too. I try to guide Jack, but he drops my hand and quickly swings his arm around my shoulders. I try not to snuggle into him and ask what aftershave he’s wearing. That would look desperate.

  He’s so drunk he’s walking in zig-zags, dragging me all over the street, which is pretty dangerous in a place like this. Even at 2am the road is packed with drivers with no regard for safety. He’s like a sleepy toddler. Keeping him out of the way of cars is a mission in itself.

  ‘Why didn’t we work out, Erica? Huh? I always wondered.’

  Shit. Him bringing up this stuff to me when drunk is not the ideal scenario. It’s not like we can have a proper chat now. And even if we did, he’s bound to have forgotten everything by the morning.

  ‘The distance was probably a problem,’ I deadpan as I try to steer him out of the road and back onto the pavement.

  ‘But apart from that.’

  ‘I really don’t think now’s the time to discuss this.’

  Thankfully, we’re already almost back at our hotel. We head up in the lift and Charlie leads me towards their hotel room. It turns out it’s only down the corridor from ours. How convenient. Or worrying. Whichever way you look at it.

  Charlie opens the door. Together, we help to throw Jack onto his already messy, single bed. He’s asleep in an instant, a light snore falling from his lips. I look at his peaceful sleeping form. He’s so hot. Even as a sleepy drunk.

  ‘Apparently, our lot are meeting in the lobby for another drink,’ Charlie says while getting some money out of his drawer.

  ‘Okay. I’ll just be a minute.’

  I wait until Charlie’s heading for the door and then try to assess whether Jacks a danger to himself. I decide to loosen his belt. I heard something about drunk people not being restricted or something.

  He stirs slightly. ‘Oooh, cheeky!’ he giggles. I’ve never heard him giggle. It makes me ridiculously happy.

  I roll my eyes and begrudgingly leave him. I want nothing more than to snuggle up next to him in that bed. His eyes are closed but it doesn’t stop me from blowing a kiss when Charlie isn’t looking.

  ‘So, you fancy meeting back up with the rest of them?’ Charlie asks with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  ‘Yeah, why not,’ I shrug.

  Chapter Four

  Erica

  In truth, I just want to go to bed and replay the whole evening in my head, dissecting every stolen glance until I feel l know what’s going on. But I refuse to let myself do that. I came on this holiday to have fun and let loose, and damn it, that’s what I’m going to do.

  We go back into the lobby to find our friends squashed around one table, all looking slightly pissed. Alice is looking cosy with Nicholas, asking about all his tattoos. All the other tables and chairs have been packed away, only dim lights left on. I really need to catch up with them. I feel like I’ve sobered up too much. I take Brooke’s shot and down it.

  ‘What have I missed?’

  Molly giggles, pointing behind me. ‘Evelyn’s at the bar chatting up the barman.’

  Last time I looked at the barman he was an overweight local man. I look over and to my relief some hottie has come on shift. Thank the Lord I don’t have to commit her to the nearest mental hospital.

  ‘We were just about to play truth or dare,’ Brooke tells me, sitting on Tom’s lap. They got cosy pretty quickly. I knew those two would get on. I’d say they’re a perfect match, both total tarts.

  ‘Yeah, sit down, twiglet,’ Tom says with a cheeky smile. ‘I’ve got some questions for you.’

  Twiglet? I’m not that bloody skinny.

  ‘Uh-oh,’ I wince, reluctantly sitting down on the bamboo chair.

  Molly and Alice start giggling with Charlie over some joke he’s telling. Bless him, he might have put on weight but he’s still the loveliest guy in the world. Not that I reckon Alice fancies him. Charlie’s looking at Molly like a little lost puppy. Uh-oh. Someone needs to tell him she’s not into guys.

  ‘Ok,’ Tom says eyeing me suggestively. ‘Truth or dare?’

  Oh, for fucks sakes, I knew he’d pick on me immediately. I hate dares. I’d probably be dared to streak through the hotel naked and I am NOT down with that.

  I sigh. ‘Truth.’

  ‘Okay.’ His eyes grow devilish and dark. I gulp, re-arranging myself on my chair. ‘What really happened with you and Jack all those years ago?’

  My stomach churns, my pulse quickening. Shit. Charlie stops his joke and listens in.

  ‘What do you mean?’ I shrug, avoiding eye contact. Instead I pretend to inspect my thumb nail.

  ‘I mean what happened? Jack’s refusing to tell us, and he has Charlie sworn to secrecy. But I’m not blind. You guys were together, right?’

  ‘Err...’ I twist my hands in my lap. ‘Sort of.’

  ‘Come on,’ Nicholas nods, leaning in. ‘I wanna hear too.’

  ‘It’s...complicated.’ What the hell am I supposed to say anyway? Yeah, I was obsessed with him and then he broke my heart.

  ‘Yeah, leave her alone,’ Charlie chimes in. ‘It’s nobody’s business.’ I knew I liked him.

  Tom puts his palms up in defence. ‘Hey, that’s fine. But that means you have to do a dare.’

  Oh, Fuck.

  ‘Fine,’ I snap. ‘But I’m not running naked around the hotel.’ Best to cover myself.

  ‘You have to...’ I watch as his mind wanders off. What is this sadistic bastard going to suggest?

  ‘Get off with Tom,’ Nicholas interrupts.

  My stomach drops. Get off with Tom? Where the hell did that come from? Tom and Brooke both squirm uncomfortably, trying not to look at each other. Well hasn’t this fucked up their laughing little faces. Why on earth would Nicholas want us to kiss?

  ‘Well, I suppose a dare’s a dare,’ Tom smirks. ‘Come here, twiglet.’ He unwraps his arm from Brooke and holds both armsout to me dramatically.

  I can’t snog him. I have a boyfriend. Not that I can tell him that without it getting back to Jack. And God help me, I really don’t want that to happen. Jesus, I’m a terrible person.

  I look to Brooke. It’s pretty hard for her not to feel dejected right now and I need her permission that it’s okay. If she seriously likes this guy I don’t want to mess anything up for her. She discreetly nods. So discreetly no-one else would know it even existed.

  ‘Fine.’ I snap, standing up and walking over to him. I take a deep breath.

  This is beyond awkward. Brooke is still sitting on his lap for heaven’s sake.

  He takes my face in his hands and pulls me so close that I can smell the lager on his breath. Eww. My gaze travels up from his lips to his mesmerising, green eyes. He wiggles his eyebrows comically which makes me giggle. Then he pulls me in, crushing his plump lips onto mine. His tongue forces itself past my pursed lips and then he’s caressing my tongue with it. My jaw goes slack as I allow myself to enjoy it for a second.

  Then I smash back into reality. I don’t even like this guy. I pull back sharpish. Everyone’s staring at me. My cheeks are practically puce.

  I make my way back to my seat in an awkward silence.

  ‘Well, this is uncomfortable,’ Charlie chuckles, attempting and failing to break the atmosphere.

  ‘Right, my turn,’ I announce, locking my steely eyes with Tom. Payback time. ‘Truth or dare, Tom?’

  ‘Dare,’ he nods, leaning back in his chair. He pulls Brooke back firmly onto his lap, looking ever so confident. Arrogant arse.

  ‘Strip off and run around this whole hotel screaming I have crabs!’

  He snorts in disbelief. ‘I don’t think so. I’ll obviously change it to truth.’

  ‘Even better,’ I smile evilly. ‘If Brooke sleeps with you, will you be onto your next victim tomorrow?’

  Brooke glares at me. She hates when I ruin her fun. She flicks her hair behind her shoulde
rs and turns to face him, her lips quirked in amusement. ‘Well, answer the girl.’

  He stretches dramatically, pretending to check his watch. ‘Is that the time? I think I’m gonna go to bed.’

  ‘Fuck off,’ Nicholas laughs. ‘Tell the truth.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Brooke says, glaring at him in warning. ‘I’m a big girl.’

  He visibly squirms in his seat before turning to her. ‘Look babe, I’m just not a one-woman kind of guy.’

  She throws back her head cackling. ‘Luckily for you, I’m not a one-man kind of girl.’

  She plunges her tongue in his mouth and before you know it they’re making their excuses and heading off to bed together. I hope not to our room. I could do without a night of plugging my ears. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Jack

  I wake up to my phone beeping. I grab it, wiping the sleep out of my eyes, to see that it’s Tom.

  ‘Breakfast in ten minutes.’

  God, that bastard is always hungry.

  I’ve also got a missed call from Amber and a voicemail saying nothing is wrong, just checking you got there safely.

  Charlie is snoring away on the bed next to me. He really needs to see a doctor about that. It’s so loud I’m half expecting all the fish in the sea to beach themselves in protest.

  ‘Charlie.’ I lean over and punch him in the arm. ‘Charlie!’

  He snorts, waking up with a cough. ‘What’s wrong?’ he panics, looking round as if half expecting the hotel to be on fire.

  ‘Nothing. Just that we should get up for breakfast.’

  He rolls over, closing his eyes again. ‘I bet you’re starving after all you put away last night.’

  Last night? I try to trace my mind back. Then it comes shooting back to me, cringeworthy memories smacking me in the face. Getting shit-faced drunk. Oh, fuck, what an impression I must have made on Erica.

  I can remember her dancing with the girls and feeling insanely jealous and territorial when those other guys were checking her out. Those fuckers, only after one thing. I suppose I drank to control my rage or jealousy, if you want to put it that way.

  I try desperately to remember anything after that but it’s all a bit hazy. Shit, did Erica put me to bed?

  ‘Did I make a dick out of myself?’ I ask quietly, not really wanting to know the answer. I stare up at the ceiling, unable to watch his reaction.

  He chuckles. ‘You were all over Erica, telling her how beautiful she is.’

  I smack my hands over my eyes. ‘Fuck!’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ a voice tells me. I look to the end of my bed and find Nicholas, his hair in disarray. ‘As far as I could tell you didn’t confess your undying love for her.’

  I snort. ‘Well, that’s something I suppose.’ I rub my hand over my face, as if I can scrub away the embarrassment. ‘What the fuck are you doing in here anyway?’

  Nicholas rolls his eyes. ‘Tom decided to fuck Brooke all night. I tried to sleep in the hallway I was so knackered, but the sounds out of their mouths.’ He shudders. ‘It was some freaky shit.’

  I laugh, but look to Charlie, wanting him to tell me more about my behaviour last night.

  He smiles, as if reading my mind. ‘You were pretty annoying,’ he admits with a grimace. ‘She basically had to carry you home and help me put you to bed.’

  Carry me home? How bloody strong is she?

  ‘Great. So, the short answer is yes; I did make a dick out of myself.’

  What is it about that girl that brings out the worst in me?

  Chapter Five

  Erica

  Scrambled or fried? I look down at the breakfast buffet trying to work out what is supposed to be what. The scrambled look completely dried up and hard. Gross. The fried look like someone had started to make them scrambled and then remembered they were supposed to be fried. Maybe I should have cereal.

  ‘Alright, Eric?’

  I immediately flush at the sound of his voice and its proximity to my ear. I turn around to see him standing there in loose swimming shorts which hang from his lean hips and a white t-shirt. The t-shirt isn’t tight, but it still clings to just the right places, showing off his lean physique and biceps. It really should be illegal for anyone to be that good looking, especially at this time in the morning.

  Something splatters on the floor at my feet. I look down to see a still intact fried egg on the floor. Jesus, I must have picked it up. My hand’s got a spatula in it. What the fuck is happening where I can’t remember picking up eggs? My brain just doesn’t work properly around him.

  I stoop down to pick it up, glad that I can hide my flushing face from his. Only he stoops down to help at the same time. We both scramble (ha ha, get it) to pick it up, only it’s a slippery fucker. I wish he’d stop trying to help me. He’s just pushing it further away. I can feel myself sweating now. We’re drawing a small crowd, desperate to find out what the hell has happened.

  ‘Just let me get it,’ I snap, swatting the egg myself.

  I swat it too hard, the egg breaking open, yolk oozing everywhere. Well fuck a duck, I’ve screwed this right up!

  I look up to him in panic, my heart thumping so hard I’m sure it’s going to jump out of my chest and run away. He stares back aghast for a second, but it’s quickly replaced with a humour filled smile. Fuck, he’s beautiful.

  ‘Quick.’ He grabs my hand and pulls me up, dragging me out of the canteen area before I even have a chance to say “eggs over easy”.

  He stops when we’re at reception and turns to me, eyebrows furrowed.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he asks, trying to keep a straight face, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

  I can’t look at that mischievous face any longer. Hysterical laughter bubbles up inside me until I combust into loud cackles. He joins in and within seconds we’re both doubled over crying and clutching our stomachs.

  ‘Trust you,’ he sniggers with an affectionate smile. ‘That could seriously only happen to you.’

  ‘Shut up.’ I push him in a totally juvenile manner. It would appear I’m reverting to my teenage self around him.

  ‘Anyway,’ he tries to straighten himself up, his expression quickly turning sombre. ‘I wanted to apologise for last night. The boys said I was pretty shit-faced and I’m sure I made a dick out of myself.’ He scratches the back of his neck, as if worried about what he might have said.

  I smile knowingly, torturing him for a second.

  ‘You were fine really,’ I admit, hating seeing the worry on those beautiful features. I didn’t want to be the cause of unnecessary wrinkles.

  He frowns, chewing his bottom lip. ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Yeah,’ I nod, trying not to get distracted by the lip biting. Why the hell does he insist on teasing me? I shake my head, to try to gather my thoughts. ‘Why? What were you worried you’d said?’

  Does he have some idea? Does he actually remember calling me beautiful, but not want to admit it?

  ‘Oh...nothing. Nothing at all. Anyway, let’s go to the pool.’

  I’ve just about calmed down by the time we’re settled around the pool. Not that the sudden smacking of heat has done anything to calm my flushed self down. Fuck, it’s hot. You feel it more after leaving the air conditioned lobby.

  All the loungers were taken by some crazy bastards that clearly got up at the crack of dawn, so instead of being on one of the luxury loungers, we’ve taken up residence on the grass. Our towels are spread out and we even wedged a huge umbrella into the grass for some shade. It’s not so bad.

  ‘Here,’ Jack says, handing me a cereal bar. ‘I figured after that fiasco you’d still be hungry.’

  Sweet baby Jesus, he’s perfect. Give me a man who feeds me and I’ll fall in love quickly.

  ‘Thanks,’ I all but swoon. Jeez, pull yourself together Erica. It’s a cereal bar, not an engagement ring.

  Jack takes his t-shirt off so I get to see that torso. Fuck me, has it improved. He must be one of those boring gym bas
tards at home because he is built perfectly. Not like a gladiator though, gross veins protruding. Just perfect lean muscles going down to his V line.

  ‘Right,’ Jack says, clapping his hands together and pulling me from my perving. ‘Who’s up for a swim?’

  He looks bloody gorgeous in those black swimming shorts. He now has a short sleeve tattoo on the top of his left arm. They’re all kinds of images meshed together, but the only thing I can make out properly is a vintage looking clock. I don’t want to be caught staring at his arm.

  ‘Me!’ Brooke sings back, springing up to standing and re-tying her bikini top. She told me this morning in great detail how she slept with Tom last night. Apparently he has the stamina of a horse and did three rounds with our acrobatic and equally energetic Brooke. Poor Nicholas apparently was so horrified he bunked in with Jack and Charlie.

  It doesn’t seem to have fazed her at all. When she saw Tom she just blew him a cheeky kiss and then carried on as normal, as if they didn’t exchange bodily fluids just a few hours before.

  ‘Yeah, me too,’ Molly adds. Trust her. She’s always so bloody cheery. She looks doubly adorable today in her cherry print bikini.

  ‘Great,’ he cheers.

  ‘I’m in too,’ Alice says begrudgingly. ‘It’s too bloody hot here.’ I don’t even know why she agreed to come. She wears factor 50 so she can keep her skin as milky as possible. Apparently, it works for her rockabilly look. I often wonder what she’d look like with boring coloured hair and no tattoos. Probably completely unrecognisable.

  ‘What about you Eric?’ he asks leaning over me so I’m shadowed from the sun. Shit, he’s sexy. The urge to stick my tongue out and lick his leg is strong.

  I remember how we used to splash around in the pool together, normally ending with him trying to dunk me under the water. Short of him kicking me in the vagina, I’m guessing it was his way of telling me he fancied me. I just wish every time I came back up I didn’t have smudged mascara and bogies hanging out of my nose.

  ‘Nah. I think I’m gonna read my book.’ And fantasize about having sex with you.