If Love Were By Design

by Lacy Kinsley

  “No, you make me sound like I’m cooler than I am. Around midnight, Kimmy and I went downstairs, found the master suite and were tired we thought we’d nap until the yacht docked. Humiliating, really.” She wished he hadn’t brought it up. He handed her a few beers.

  William and Travis wandered downstairs as they stacked beers in their arms. “We’re going to start fishing.” Travis said to Brice. “Are you coming?”

  “I’m coming.” Brice said. “Are you coming?”

  “Um,” Veronica looked at the beer. She intended to carry them upstairs, but she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to fish. “Sure.” She said sounding as unenthused as she felt. “I want to tell Kimmy what we’re doing. She might want to come up when she’s feeling better.”

  “Where is she?” William asked.

  “She’s seasick and lying down.” Brice said.

  Veronica put the beer on the counter saying she would meet everyone upstairs. Brice quickly picked up the beer. “I’ll be up in a second. I’ll wait for her to get back, and show her where we fish.” Brice said.

  “I’m not in a hurry.” William said.

  Veronica quickly left, and went downstairs. She knocked on Kimmy’s door, and entered telling Kimmy they were about to fish. Kimmy groaned a reply saying she would find her in another ten or twenty minutes. “Please do. I’m not having fun without you and I’m uncomfortable—Brice hitting on me only makes it worse. So, feel better!” Veronica said which got a small laugh from Kimmy. A minute later she left the room.

  She found William, Brice, and Travis waiting for her at the stairs. They all made their way to the stern of the yacht. She followed them down to a platform where there were four poles, bait, and fishing supplies. “So, have you fished before?” William asked her when they got to the platform.

  “A little and a very long time ago.” She said. “But there are only four chairs, so I’ll wait until everyone has gone first.”

  Connor was the first to seize a pole, and begin to fish. Frank was second, but was the closest to Veronica so she watched him set up his line and cast it. William and Travis took the last two poles.

  “Did you say you haven’t gone fishing in a long time?” Brice asked her a few minutes later, once all the lines were cast. Travis and William were deep into a conversation about a trip they took the year before to Vegas, and Connor kept adding his input about similar stories of visiting Ireland.

  “Yeah, it’s been a while.” Veronica said. She looked behind her as if it would bring Kimmy back upstairs and healthy again. She hated being aware that she was exposing so much skin. She leaned up against the wall behind her, and folded her arms. Brice put his hand on the wall, and leaned against it and smiled while she talked. She looked toward the water. “I think I was twelve. I didn’t catch anything.”

  “Have you been to the aquarium downtown?” Brice asked.

  “Yeah, several times when I was a kid.” She said.

  “They have a new dolphin exhibit that recently opened.” Brice said.

  “Where are you going?” Travis asked William when he stood from his chair.

  “Nowhere.” William said taking off his shirt. He dropped it to the floor. Veronica stared. He was in insane shape. She had never seen an eight pack except on television. His pecs were defined as well. In fact, from what she could see, his entire body was rock hard. It wasn’t until he grasped the spray on suntan lotion that she finally tore her eyes off him, because she didn’t want to be caught looking.

  “Did you hear me?” Brice asked.

  “What?” She asked stupidly. She wondered if Brice had noticed where she had been gawking. To hide her smile she bit her bottom lip.

  “Do you want to go to the dolphin exhibit?” Brice asked.

  At that moment, William walked over to them. “I’ll go on that date with you, Brice. And if you buy me dinner, I’ll put out.” He said with a smile. William tried grabbing him for a moment, as if he was going to kiss him. Brice kept him at an arm’s distance, and laughed as he pushed William away. William grinned, and then came up to Veronica. “Will you put this suntan lotion on my back? You don’t have to touch me, or anything. Just spray it on. I can get the rest.” She flushed pink trying not to look at him. She laughed at her own nerves, tucked her hair behind her ear, and then took the spray bottle from him. He smiled and turned around. For a moment she stood looking at all the muscles on his back. Wishing the lotion wasn’t spray but a rub on, she quickly applied it. The moment he turned around she handed it back to him. Then with great personal self–control she looked away to keep from staring. “Are you ready to fish? You can use my pole.”

  She thought for a moment, and wondered if she should wait for Kimmy. “All I have to do is hold it, right? I don’t claim to be a great fisher. I’m still a bit weary.”

  “Oh, you didn’t need any, did you?” He asked while gently shaking the bottle.

  “We applied it earlier.” She said.

  “Okay.” She flushed pink when she glanced at his chest. She shifted uncomfortably. “Come on. You can fish.”

  He had her sit in his chair, and told her to strap herself in. She began to buckle herself into the chair but it hugged the shirt to her body until everything was exposed. She decided not to. He handed her the pole. “Hold on tight, just in case.”

  “Okay.” She said, but she had figured as much. “Oh, wait! Where are you going? Now what do I do?” She asked almost in a panic as he left to talk to Frank and Connor who were vowing to get a motorcycle by the end of the summer.

  “Hold on tight, and tell me if you feel anything.” William said. “I’ll be right back.” He smiled at her and then walked away.

  Veronica turned in her seat and grinned when she saw Kimmy coming down the stairs. “Kimmy!” She yelled with enthusiasm as if she hadn’t seen her in years. Her excitement was exaggerated, because it was such a relief to see her. “You’re feeling better?”

  “Yeah, I had to wait for it to kick in.” Kimmy said and smiled. She walked over to her, “How long have you been fishing?”

  “I just started.” Veronica said.

  “You can have mine, Kim.” Travis said. “Nothing is biting, anyway.” He got up, and held out the fishing pole for her. Kimmy went over to the empty seat, pulled off her wrap, buckled herself in, and then took the pole.

  “It’s hot out!” Kimmy said when all the guys were over on the other side of the boat still talking about motorcycles and cars. It was high noon, and getting hotter than ever. Veronica had to squint to see because the glare on the water. “It’s probably in the high nineties. I’m sweating like a pig. How can you keep wearing that shirt, Veronica? You’re the only one dressed.”

  “I know it’s hot. Tell me about it!” Veronica said.

  Kimmy knew a lost cause when she saw one and said nothing more of Veronica’s clothes. “Has anyone caught anything?” Kimmy asked, changing the subject.

  “No.” It was as if Veronica’s words had jinxed her. She suddenly looked at her pole with wide eyes. She felt a tug, and then another. “Oh, no!” She gasped.

  “What? Do you have something?” Kimmy asked, excitedly. She said it loud enough that it caught everyone’s attention.

  “Somebody, take it!” Veronica begged, but that moment it jerked her hard enough that she was yanked out of the chair and slammed into the wall in front of her. She screamed.

  “Veronica!” William yelled and jumped forward. He seized her by the arm, and then held onto the pole.

  “Take it!” She pleaded, nearly panicking again.

  “I’ll help you.” He said calmly. She didn’t have time to relax, because a second later the line started to unravel.

  “Seriously, please take it! I don’t think I like this—at all! I don’t know what to do!” She implored.

  “Start reeling it in. I’ll help you.” William said.

  “Veronica, you have a fish!” Kimmy said excitedly.

  Veronica started to reel it in as he talked her thro
ugh it, but the second she did, it jerked both of them forward hard enough that William cursed. “Seriously! I don’t want to reel it in. I don’t like this!” Veronica insisted. “I’ll fall in!” There was another tug on the line, and they both were slammed into the wall. When they hit, the line snapped. They bounced backward and fell to the floor; only his arm cushioned Veronica’s fall.

  “Whatever that was, it was pretty big.” He sat up, and then helped her to a sitting position “Are you okay?” He couldn’t stifle his laugh.

  “I don’t think I like fishing!” She grumped.

  “It’s easier if you strap yourself in a chair.” He winked at her, and then apologized before standing up and saying, “But next time if you feel you’ll fall in, you can let go of the pole. I’d rather lose the pole than you.” He helped her to her feet.

  “I’ll stick with tanning.” She said.

  “That’s perfectly fine, too.” He smiled.

  He reeled in the line and replaced the hook while everyone talked about what had happened. After that, they caught a fish about every fifteen minutes, but nothing as dramatic. It was Connor who brought in the first, and because of it, he celebrated with a beer and fished no more. It was around three when they all stopped and decided to go up to the bow. The guys started drinking beer, as their conversations grew louder and slightly more relaxed. Veronica sprayed a healthy amount of suntan lotion on Kimmy so she could once again tan.

  “How can you wear that? It’s so hot?” Kimmy asked again, and tugged on her white, see–though long shirt. “It’s not like it’s hiding anything. Take it off. I’ll put more lotion on you.”

  Veronica made sure they were alone before she took it off. Kimmy quickly sprayed on a heavy layer, and then they lay on their stomachs and soaked in the sun. “This beats fishing!” Veronica confessed right away.

  Kimmy laughed. “I smell weird and I didn’t even touch a fish!”

  “We smell like a mix between sea water, fish, and coconut. It’s not yummy anymore.” Veronica laughed. They turned when they heard the guys yelling. They had huge water guns strapped to them and were running around the deck pelting each other. “Boys.” Veronica said.

  “I know, they’re big kids and never grow up.” Kimmy complained, “I’m getting hungry.”

  “Me, too.” Veronica said. “Let’s flip over for ten minutes, and then we’ll go downstairs and pillage his kitchen.”

  “I like that idea.” Kimmy said, smiling.

  They flipped over, and Veronica held her hand over her eyes for shade so she could look at Kimmy and say, “I could get used to boating.” She closed her eyes and relaxed without saying anything for a few minutes. That was until Veronica thought of renting a boat. “We should rent one; I could take a boating class and we could start inner tubing on weekends.” Veronica said.

  “Hey.” William said, walking over to them. He was dripping wet and his shadow crossed over them; however, he stood back enough to not get them wet. “We’re all heading downstairs to change. We’re going back, too. But I’m hungry and wanted to know if you wanted something to eat. I have sandwiches in the fridge downstairs if you are.”

  “I’m so hungry.” Kimmy said.

  “I could eat!” Veronica agreed.

  “I told you to go ahead and keep those swimsuits, right? You can take them with you.” William said. When Veronica started to get up, he held out a hand and helped her to her feet. She thanked him. “Unless you want to come out with me again on purpose.”

  “Of course, she wants to. She was telling me she could get used to this not a minute ago. And that she should take a boating class so we could rent one and go tubing.” Kimmy said.

  “Oh, really? Don’t do that, ask me and we’ll take this beast out. I have a tube and a parasail. You can go now if you want. It’s not the best tubing ride of your life, but . . .” William said.

  “No, it’s okay. I’m fine.” Veronica said. “I’m starving!”

  “Alright. Well, I’m going to go change.” William said. “You can dig around the kitchen.” He was about to leave but then turned back around. “I have some shorts and shirts, too. They’re where you got the swimsuits.”

  “Okay.” Both Kimmy and Veronica said and they ended up following William down to the cabins.

  Kimmy and Veronica got out matching white baggy shorts which looked like they once belonged to a basketball player, and white v–neck t–shirts. They changed, and once again Kimmy complained about the clothes. They were baggier on Kimmy’s thin body, and the white shirt was tight across Veronica’s chest. “It’s not a good look for either of us.” Kimmy said. Veronica wasn’t going to argue. They quickly packed their purses to make sure they wouldn’t forget anything, and then went upstairs. Brice and Connor were in the kitchen, Frank was eating a sandwich at the table, and William wasn’t upstairs yet.

  “I’m going to barbeque hotdogs.” Travis announced taking a package with him as he went above deck. “Who wants one?” He asked as he stood on the steps and quickly counted the hands.

  “I want one.” Kimmy said. “I’ll go up there with you.”

  Veronica looked in the fridge as Brice cooked macaroni and cheese on the stove, and Connor dished up potato salad. William entered the kitchen and got himself a soda from the fridge as Veronica kept the door open. “Can I take whatever?” She asked him.

  “Have whatever you want Veronica, as long as you don’t ask me to cook. Are you having fun? I mean besides fishing.” William said.

  “Yeah.” She smiled. “Thanks.”

  “I haven’t spent much time with you. I’m probably being rude. But if I’m being honest I was purposely ignoring you.” He confessed. She looked at him curiously. “In case you weren’t thrilled about being in a swimsuit.”

  “That’s not rude.” She said. “On the contrary, it was thoughtful.” She smiled. “Besides, you didn’t exactly invite me, so you don’t have to entertain me.” She pulled out two apples and a jar of peanut butter. She sliced the apples, and William leaned against the counter and watched her while he ate a sandwich.

  “What are you making?” He asked her.

  “Apple with peanut butter on it.” She said.

  “That sounds disgusting!” He said with a laugh.

  “No, it’s not! It’s good. I rarely eat fruits or vegetables, but this is actually good.” She assured him.

  “Will you make me one?” He asked.

  “Sure. Here.” She cut a slice of apple in a thin sliver and then put peanut butter on it before handing it to him.

  He ate it, and instantly gave her a look of mild surprise. “You’re right! It’s actually good!” He smiled. “I thought you were one of those weird people who eat french fries with mayonnaise.”

  “Gross!” She laughed. “I would never eat that.”

  “Can I have another one?” He asked and before long he got out his own apple and started cutting it up. “So, did you have fun last night? You disappeared on me.”

  “Last night? Yeah. I’m not used to partying until dawn. I’m boring. I’m usually home no later than a half past twelve and three or four in the morning was looking pretty impossible to stay awake for.” She said.

  “I remember you saying something like that on the plane.” He said. “But you’re not boring.” He added, “I was wondering if you got sick of me.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I would have left if I was.” She quickly corrected herself, “No, I mean . . .”

  He laughed. “Would you be sick of me if you came over to my house next weekend for a barbeque slash pool party?”

  “I think I’ve humiliated myself around you enough for a life–time. First I broke your nose, and now I’ve crashed your fishing party. I don’t think I’m brave enough to find out what would happen at your barbeque. So, I’ll pass. But thank you, though.” She said.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Veronica was still shaking from her meeting with Andrea Thomas. She was pretty intense. Andrea asked her to start s
ketching shoes that she hoped to make for a store. And she told her she would have to quit her job if she wanted to enter into this business venture. If she was genuinely serious, she had to give Andrea an answer in two weeks. While thinking about all this, she had to come up with at least one shoe a day. “A shoe a day, a shoe a day.” Andrea kept telling her. When Andrea left, Veronica didn’t feel like she could even get up from her seat. But she did so she could say goodbye.

  Veronica exhaled and fell into her chair when Andrea was out of sight. She fidgeted with her napkin, as she waited for her nerves to calm down. When the waiter came over she ordered a glass of wine. “Oh, Veronica!” She heard a voice say, and she jumped at the sight of her boss.

  It was the one thing that could have made an anxious moment worse. “I’m here with my wife. We are having lunch. What are you doing? Are you waiting for someone?”

  “No. I was leaving.” She said, but the waiter came by and filled her wine glass. “After I drink this.” She added miserably. “Hello, Tiffany.” She turned to Marcus’s wife. Tiffany was an overweight woman who had too much plastic surgery, and resembled a cat that had the skin of its face pulled back tightly. At times she was almost scary to look at, and that was not “stretching” the truth.

  “Have you eaten?” Tiffany asked. She looked at the table, and thankfully the salad dishes were still littering it. “Oh, you have. Pity, I’d hoped you would join us.”

  “Yes, I have, but thank you.” Veronica drank heavily from her wine glass, talked with Marcus and Tiffany for a few minutes longer, and then she left in a hurry. She walked almost a half block to her car before she realized she shouldn’t have had that last drink. She was buzzing, and decided to hail a taxi. It was when she put her hand up into the air that she noticed she left her purse because she was so frazzled. She went back into the restaurant and found her it sitting at the table. Standing next to the table was William. He was dressed in a pinstriped, black suit, a purple shirt and tie when he came up to her. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw him.