The Parking Space

by Angela Archer

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “I’m sorry for inviting him.”

  “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”

  “Rick . . . Miss Wright, I’d like you to meet Flora.” As Logan motioned toward the girl, he placed his hand on her waist, letting his fingers slid down and then up underneath her shorts until he grabbed a handful of her derrière. She giggled as he tickled her and her fingers traced his bare chest. “I met her last night at one of the bars on the island.”

  “Of course you did.” I snorted a laugh, but as soon as the words left my lips, I cringed.

  Logan rolled his eyes and Flora gaped at me.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers into my temples. “I didn’t mean to be so rude.”

  Rick cleared his throat as Flora and Logan walked away from us and sat in the front of the boat—their whispered conversation obviously about me. The thought of spending any amount of time on this small vessel with the likes of Logan Hunter nearly drove me to the brink.

  “You know, perhaps, today isn’t the best day for me to go snorkeling.” I bent down to fetch the mask and flippers from the bag.

  “No, don’t leave.” Rick grabbed my hand. “Please come. Just ignore them and come have some fun with me. You don’t even have to talk to them again.”

  “I think that will be a bit hard.”

  “Nah, I ignore Logan all the time. It’s easy once you get the hang of it.” Rick’s eyes begged and I lost my thoughts in the deep greenish color. “Please, just come with me. I mean, you really aren’t going to leave me alone with them, are you?”

  “Fine. I’ll go.”

  “Thank you. I promise I’ll keep him out of your way.”

  “So is everyone here?” The boat driver jumped down inside the hull, rocking the boat with his weight.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Great. Well, I’m Hal and I’ll be your captain for the morning. Is everyone ready and do you have everything you need?”

  Rick glanced at Logan who waved his hand toward his friend as though he couldn’t be bothered with stupid questions. He slipped on his sunglasses and draped his arm over Flora’s shoulder as he laid his head back against the seat to bask in the sun.

  “I believe we are all ready to go.”

  “Well, have a seat and I’ll fire up the engine. We’re going to head over to the lagoon with about a ten-minute boat ride and you guys can swim around as much as you wish. I have you scheduled to return about noon.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Rick and I returned to our seats as the boat rumbled to life, its pace like that of a snail as we pulled away from the dock.

  As soon as we cleared the harbor and hit open waters, Hal shoved on the gas, opening up the motor to what felt like full speed. Wind whipped through my hair and my sunglasses shifted a bit on my face as I gathered as much of the strands as possible and held it tight with my fingers.

  “The color of the water is amazing,” Rick shouted over the roar of the engine. “It never looks like this in San Francisco.”

  “I know. It’s beautiful.”

  The boat bounced along the waves, speeding across the ocean as though gliding on a sheet of glass. Warm sprays of water flecked my arms. The droplets cooled with the wind.

  As the mountain drew closer, Hal slowed the boat and the wind around us died down. The high-pitched roar of the engine calmed into a throaty rumble until finally, Hal shut off the motor, reached for the anchor at his feet, and threw it overboard.

  “Have you guys been snorkeling before?” he asked, sauntering toward the back of the hull with his hands on his hips.

  “We both have.” Logan fetched a bottle of sun block from his bag. Squeezing a big drop into the palm, he began rubbing it all over Flora’s shoulders and back before moving to her front.

  Her tiny bikini left nothing to the imagination as the top pieces the size of crackers barely covered her nipples and the thong bottom barely covered anything in the front. Knowing the shaving habits of another woman twisted in my stomach, along with watching them engage in heavy foreplay in front of everyone on the boat.

  Rick cleared his throat and tapped Hal on the shoulder. The wide-eyed skipper shook off the distraction of the exhibitionist couple, turning his attention toward us once more.

  “I’ve been snorkeling before, but she hasn’t,” Rick said.

  “Ah, a beginner, then? Well, get your gear on while I go over some tips.”

  Rick handed me my mask, snorkel tube, and fins before he grabbed the bottom of his cotton t-shirt and yanked it up over his head.

  Oh, for the love of all that is holy . . .

  The sight of his naked, chiseled chest and defined abs caught my breath and I dropped the gear. Each piece plummeted to the ground, and the mask hit my toe, pinching my foot. I bent down, grabbing the throbbing limb as I kept myself from shouting an array of obscenities.

  Seriously? Can anything else happen to me?

  “You okay, Miss?” Hal asked.

  I ducked my chin as I nodded—forcing myself to stare at the ground so that neither man noticed me gawking at Rick’s body. Obviously, his clothes had hinted toward his muscular build, however, the imagined image I’d had in my head hadn’t done the real thing justice.

  At all.

  Hal picked up the mask and handed it to me with a smirk that caused my cheeks to flush and he chuckled under his breath as though he knew the truth behind my sudden clumsiness.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

  “Never better.” I closed my eyes for a second and waved my hand to emphasize my forthcoming excuse. “The sun just . . . it’s so bright out here, even with my sunglasses.”

  “Yeah, we hear that a lot.” His tone reeked of perception, like when the parent of a teenager knew when the defiant youth lied to them.

  I ripped the mask from his hand, giving him a slight glare as I tossed it on the seat behind me. With a few movements, I shimmied out of my shorts and t-shirt. Although cute, my purple bikini suddenly felt plain, void of any frills like that of the itty-bitty material swatches and shoestrings that clung to Flora’s curves.

  For a moment, I wished I’d purchased the expensive hot pink and teal patterned one that caught my eye instead, not that I wanted to spend that kind of money on a bikini, but I had loved the beading on the halter-top.

  “So Miss Wright has a body after all.” Logan whistled. “Who would have thought that since she covers it up twenty-four seven.” He slipped on his flippers and grabbed Flora’s hand before they both jumped off the front of the boat into the water.

  I attempted to shoot a glare in his direction, but was too late as I scooped up the mask and flipped it over in my hand.

  “Do you need help?” Rick asked, trying to pretend nothing had happened.

  “Um, yeah, I guess I do.”

  He grasped the plastic from my hand and tucked it under his arm as he reached toward me. I held my breath as his fingers brushed through my hair, gently sweeping all the strands away from my face.

  “If your hair gets caught in the mask, it will leak.”

  “Oh.” The word that left my lips sounded more like an exhaled breath.

  He pressed the mask against my face and slipped the strap over the back of my head. It slipped down my nose when he released it.

  “Okay . . . well, that won’t work.” Before I could blink, he yanked them off and adjusted the strap, trying once again. “Let’s try this length.”

  I helped tug the mask in place. It squished my nose, forcing me to breathe through my mouth.

  “There, I think that should do it. Is it too tight?” he asked. I shook my head as he attached the tube and tucked it under my chin. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

  “No.”

  “Well, if it leaks at all when we get in the water, let me know.”

  “Okay.”

  He stepped back and fetched his own mask, slipping it over his
head after adjusting the straps. As he slid it up and rested it on his forehead, he grabbed my flippers and handed them to me. While he slipped his own on, I jammed my soles into the blue rubber water feet that squeaked as they inched over my skin.

  Hal helped me stagger over the back seat of the boat onto the small, deck-like flat stern. The extra inches stuck to my limbs made walking awkward and I nearly fell several times.

  “We don’t allow boats in this part of the lagoon, so you two don’t need to worry about that. This is also a calm spot with lots of coral and fish. However, you need to be aware of your surroundings. We still have jellyfish, some small sharks, and eels that hide in the rocks and coral around the lagoon.”

  He motioned for me to sit down and dangle my feet in the water.

  “Since this is your first time,” he continued, “try not to venture away from the boat too far in case you get tired and if you get water in your tube, don’t panic. Either blow it out or drain it above water by removing it from your mouth.”

  “Any other tips before we go in?” Rick asked, stepping onto the small deck behind me.

  “Don’t touch any of the fish.”

  “Yes, sir.” Rick gave Hal a slight nod and a broad smile before he drew the mask down over his face and dove into the water. The boat rocked from his movement as droplets splashed against my arms and legs.

  Within seconds, he popped up out of the water and swam over to where I was sitting on the back of the boat. “You ready?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, then, let’s go. I’ve got you.”

  He held out his hands, wrapping them around my waist as I scooted toward the edge of the stern. In between his strong arms, my body plunged into the warm water. The feeling of weightlessness overwhelmed me.

  “I haven’t been swimming in forever,” I laughed.

  “Yeah, it’s been a while for me, too. Are you ready?”

  I pushed the mouthpiece between my lips and nodded.

  Rick mimicked my movement and grabbed my hand, jerking his head as he motioned me to follow him.

  Our bodies floated as we pressed our faces in the water and kicked our feet. My heart pounded. I held my breath for a moment—having never breathed through a tube, the concept unnerved me.

  Rick glanced over at me, pointed to his own tube, and gave me a thumbs up. The elation in his eyes shined through the plastic mask.

  Breath after breath, as the minutes ticked on, I slowly relaxed and began to take in the whole other world below the waves.

  Clown fish darted through the fluttering tentacles of several sea anemone—one of my favorite fish, with their orange and white stripes. Along with them, black, yellow, and white butterfly fish swam from side to side, chasing each other as they danced around under the sea.

  The coral rock spread out from the base of the mountain like long fingers. It was full of deep crevices that nearby green and yellow parrotfish scurried around, picking at pieces of food either floating around them or stuck to the rocks.

  My flippers glided through the water with every kick, propelling me forward. I released Rick’s hand and kicked my legs, putting a few feet in between us as I watched a giant sea turtle swim away from us.

  Bubbles exploded to my left, catching my attention as Rick waved his arms frantically and pointed toward me. Confusion pulsed through my veins as panic set in. Images of huge sharks circling around me rushed in my mind. I glanced over both shoulders several times, searching for the sea creature obviously heading toward me.

  Pain seared through the shin of my left leg. I spit out my mouthpiece and screamed under water. Rick grabbed me, kicking his legs as he dashed to the surface, pushing me above the water.

  “OUCH!” I bellowed. “What the heck was that?”

  “You just got stung by a jellyfish.”

  “A jellyfish?”

  “Come on, we need to get you back to the boat.”

  He turned me around, laying me on his chest as he swam. Waves fought against his movement, splashing on my face as I struggled to breathe. I tried to kick, but with each stroke, my leg felt like fire licked at my skin.

  “It hurts.”

  “I know it does. Just hold on.”

  “What happened?” Hal shouted as he scurried to meet us on the back the stern.

  “She got stung by a jellyfish.”

  Without saying another word, Hal grabbed my arm underneath my armpit and hoisted me on the boat while Rick climbed onboard after me.

  I glanced down at my leg. The blistered skin burned a bright shade of red. A scream hissed through my teeth, and I closed my eyes as I lay back against the stern.

  “Holy cow, this hurts.”

  “Do you have any vinegar?” Rick asked Hal.

  “I did, but I ran out and forgot to restock it.”

  Rick’s fingers clutched my ankle while his other hand grabbed my knee. “Helen, how bad does it hurt?”

  “Bad. It stings and burns.”

  “Okay, Helen, we don’t have any vinegar to pour on it, but I can still help you. There is one thing I can do, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

  I opened my eyes, locking them on his.

  Not too long ago, on a restless late night, I’d caught the middle of a show on an animal discovery channel. I knew the words that sat on the tip of his tongue.

  Oh, Lord. Please. Please, no. Are you kidding me? Of all the things that could go wrong today it has to be this?

  A lump caught in my throat. “I know what you’re going to say.”

  My body began trembling as I sat on the stern.

  “Helen, you’re going into a bit of a state of shock.” He glanced up at Hal. “See if you can find Logan and Flora. We need to get her back to the hotel as soon as possible.” He glanced back at me. “While we wait, I need to help with this pain.”

  “I’m not going to lay here while you pee on me.”

  He frowned. “You could have a serious reaction any moment from this.”

  “I’m not going to lay here while you pee on me.”

  “Fine.” He scooped my shoulders in one arm and my legs in the other to carry me to the seat.

  Pain shot up my leg into my hip and down through the tips of my toes. “Ouch,” I howled. “I can’t. I can’t move. Don’t move me. Set me down. I can’t. It’s too painful.”

  “I’ve got to get you in the back of the boat so we can leave.”

  “Okay. Okay. Move me.”

  He wrapped both arms around me again, but before he could even lift me more than a few inches, I screamed in pain again.

  Oh for the love of all that is holy. Why? Why? Why?

  “Okay, fine, fine. Make the pain go away.” I cringed with my words and covered my face with both of my hands. My whole body flushed fire hot, the embarrassment burned through every pore of my skin.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes!” I shouted. “Yes, I’m sure, just hurry up, and do it.”

  Thousands of miles and thousands of dollars got me to this—a man I felt completely attracted to and wished to explore a possible relationship with now stood over me as he geared up to pee on me all because of some stupid jellyfish.

  Cosmic karma was out of her ever-lovin’ mind.

  “Now, no peeking, okay?” he mocked.

  “Oh, you can be assured I’m not going to peek.”

  A slight chuckle vibrated through his chest. “I’m so sorry.”

  I closed my eyes. My hands were still firmly covering my entire face. Mortification trickled through the deepest parts of my mind.

  How could I ever face this man again?

  ELEVEN

  I LAID MY head on the hotel pillow while Rick sat next to the medic table. We were the only two people in the small medical clinic located behind the hotel lobby.

  “How are you feeling?” Rick leaned against the back of his chair and propped one ankle on his other knee.

  “I’m okay, I guess.” My teeth still chattered and I drew the blanket
closer to my chin.

  “I’m sorry I had to do that.”

  I dropped my gaze from his. An itch I couldn’t scratch crawled through my skin. “Yeah, I’m sorry you had to do that, too.”

  “At least Logan didn’t see it.” He laughed at his own joke. “Also, if it’s any consolation, I have to say, that’s not the first time I’ve had to do it. A jellyfish stung a friend of mine in Cabo a few years back.”

  “I’m not really sure that’s any consolation.”

  “Ah, come on, it’s not that bad. So I had to step in and . . . it could have been worse.”

  No, I’m pretty much thinking it couldn’t.

  “Hal could have been the one to do it or Logan.”

  Okay, well, maybe that would have been worse, but still.

  “How do you know Logan?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “High school. We played football together, hung out in the same crowd. I lost touch with him when I moved to Texas for college, but then saw him out one night after I’d moved back. He’s . . . well, he’s just in his own world.”

  “Yeah, a delusional one.”

  “He can be rough around the edges, but he’s got a side to him people tend to not see much.”

  “The only side I see is the pompous one.” I rolled my eyes and shifted my weight on the bed.

  “He grew up without a mother and I think it warped his sense of how to deal with women. I don’t think he’d intentionally hurt someone, he just . . . he’s just not the type to ever settle down and get married.”

  “Yeah, I figured. He’s always hosting some party at his place. It drives me insane when I can hear everything through the floor of my apartment.”

  Rick’s eyes narrowed and twitched a couple of times as though a sudden thought popped into his head. “I forgot he said you lived in his building. It’s funny that I’ve been so many times before, and didn’t even think about the other tenants.”

  “I’m right above him. It’s just one of the many reasons I can’t wait to buy a house and get out of that complex.”

  Rick opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, the hotel nurse strode through the door. With a couple of towels in her hand, she glanced at me and smiled.