Sunlounger - the Ultimate Beach Read (Sunlounger Stories Book 1)

by Belinda Jones

  ‘Does it matter?’ he countered with a playful gleam in his eye.

  ‘Uh, n-no,’ I stammered, trying to backpedal. ‘I was just curious. You know, making conversation.’ I refused to look at him because I knew he was enjoying watching me squirm.

  There was an awkward silence for what seemed like forever, but I knew it wasn’t that long because time was passing excruciatingly slowly since the elevator had stopped.

  ‘Guy,’ Scott finally said. ‘James is a guy. We’ve been buddies since we were kids. He’s like a brother to me. He’s here with his wife and toddler. She babysat while we had drinks, then I went to visit my nephew, but he was already asleep. There you go. The whole story.’

  ‘Oh,’ I responded, trying to act cool when I really wanted to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I didn’t know why I was so elated. It wasn’t like I was ever going to see him again. Eventually, someone would find us, we’d get out, and go about our separate lives.

  ‘I’m not dating anyone,’ he added, ‘since that’s what you were actually asking.’ He was good.

  I blushed, then changed the subject. ‘My phone,’ I said, fishing through my giant handbag. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t think to call for help.’

  ‘I checked mine while you were screaming at the poor, innocent buttons. No service.’

  My cheeks went hot again. I couldn’t believe I acted like that and cried. This was turning out to be the most humiliating night of my life. And sure enough, when I found my cell phone, it was out of battery. I always forgot to charge it until it was on its last legs. This time, it was too late. Even if it did have service, it was no help to us, anyway. Typical.

  ‘And the ancient phone in here is broken,’ he continued, pointing to the panel on the wall that housed the emergency phone. ‘Historic hotel with an old elevator means we’re screwed. Looks like it’s going to be a long night. Wrigley probably rode in this thing.’

  ‘Isn’t that breaking some sort of law? This place isn’t up to code.’ I paused for a second. ‘Who?’

  ‘Tell that to the manager. Oh, wait. You can’t. Phone doesn’t work.’ He shrugged like he really wasn’t that bothered by our predicament. ‘Do you chew gum?’

  ‘No, thanks,’ I refused, putting my hand up.

  ‘I’m not offering you a piece of gum. You asked about Wrigley. There’s a man behind that name on the wrapper. And he basically owned this island years ago.’

  ‘Thanks for the history lesson.’ I shook my head, still irritated. ‘Whoever manages this hotel is going to get a strongly worded letter when I finally see the outside world again.’ I scowled at Scott. ‘And you should definitely complain, too. Why aren’t you as angry as I am?’

  ‘Because there’s no point in causing a ruckus now. Someone will find us eventually.’ He paused, noticing that I kept staring him down. ‘But you’re right. I’ll definitely give the manager a piece of my mind.’

  ‘“Causing a ruckus”? Who says that?’

  ‘I just did,’ he shot back. ‘And who writes letters anymore?’

  I needed a distraction to calm my growing frustration and quell my feelings of helplessness. Time to find out his age. He appeared to be close to mine, but I wanted to know for sure. I wasn’t going to go down the same direct, yet indirect road as I did with the girlfriend thing.

  ‘So, how long have you and your best friend been friends?’

  Scott glanced up like he was considering the question. ‘Since we were eight years old, I think.’

  ‘What TV shows were popular when you were that age?’ Totally subtle, right?

  He laughed, shaking his head. ‘I’m thirty-one, Ellie.’

  Damn it.

  ‘Okay,’ I said, shrugging. ‘Whatever.’

  ‘Your turn.’ He leaned in closer.

  ‘My age?’

  ‘It’s only fair.’

  I sighed. ‘I’m twenty-seven.’

  ‘What do you do for a living?’

  ‘Hey, Oprah, enough with the third degree.’ I met his eyes, and his expectant stare made it clear that he wasn’t backing down. ‘Fine. I’m an elementary school librarian.’

  Scott’s mouth broke into a smile. ‘So, you spend your days reading Dr. Seuss to little kids and your nights dressed as a retro bombshell? I find this very intriguing.’

  I rolled my eyes. ‘I’m only wearing this for a special occasion. Usually at night, I’m curled up at home with an adult book.’ As soon as it came out of my mouth, I realized that it sounded like I had an affliction for porn. ‘No!’ I blurted out. ‘I don’t read erotica or anything like that. I just meant a book for adults. I don’t read kids’ books when I’m alone. Well, unless I’m working from home or something…’ I needed to stop. I shifted my focus away from his eyes to my freshly manicured toes, even though I could still feel him watching me. A book every night? Could I sound any more pathetic?

  In my peripheral vision I saw his adorable, flirty grin. Then, he reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

  ‘Still nothing.’ He breathed a disappointed sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly.

  Was he eager to get rid of me? As much as I wanted to get out, I kind of liked his company.

  I reached into my purse and pulled something out that always cheered my niece up. ‘Goldfish?’ I asked, holding up a small package of fish-shaped cheddar crackers in assorted bright colors.

  He gave me a half-smile along with a curious expression. ‘Do you always carry those around with you?’

  ‘Well, yeah,’ I responded, laughing. ‘My niece, Olive, loves them. She’s four.’

  Scott held out his hand. ‘I’m glad we won’t starve. Remind me to thank Olive.’

  I opened the package and poured some into Scott’s hand, and then into my own. He put all of his into his mouth at once, but I took my time, eating them one by one. The green ones first, then pink, then purple, then orange. Very methodical eating habits. The goldfish left my fingers a bit greasy, causing the package to slip from my grasp and land on the floor.

  ‘No littering. I might have to report you to the manager,’ he said, stretching his legs out in front of him. ‘In a strongly worded letter.’

  ‘Funny.’ I snatched the wrapper, folded it, and put it in my purse to throw away later.

  Scott laughed. ‘I thought so.’ He leaned back. ‘Best vacation you’ve ever been on. Go.’

  ‘Definitely not this one.’ I sighed.

  ‘You’re breaking my heart.’

  I glanced at him and smiled. ‘Let’s see. Well, my mom was a flight attendant. When I was born, she settled down for a bit to take care of me, but she’s always had the travel bug. We’ve been everywhere.’

  ‘What about your dad?’ Scott asked.

  I studied my nails, lamenting the chipped yellow lacquer on my right index finger. ‘I don’t have a dad.’

  ‘Everyone has a dad.’

  ‘Right before a flight, my mom found out that her best friend was marrying my mom’s high-school sweetheart. She was upset and met someone on the plane. They had a one-night stand when they landed in Miami. My dad could be anyone, anywhere. She never even got his last name.’ I shifted my weight because my leg was falling asleep, and I accidentally kicked Scott’s foot. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ he assured me.

  I wasn’t sure if he meant the kick or my lack of a second parent, but I decided not to ask. ‘What about you? What’s your family like?’

  ‘I manage the family business. Helicopter tours of the island, charters, and flying lessons. My dad owns it, but his eyesight isn’t great anymore, so he can’t fly.’ Scott glanced down for a second, a sad expression across his face briefly, then he looked into my eyes again. ‘Born and raised here. Only child.’

  ‘And your mom?’

  ‘She lives in Beverly Hills. She’s a psychologist. When I was a kid, she used to commute back and forth, but then her visits became more and more infrequent. The last time she came here was when I was thirteen.’<
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  ‘So, your parents are divorced?’ I asked the obvious question anyway.

  ‘Actually, no. They never got a divorce. My mom is a marriage and family therapist, so I guess she was too embarrassed to go through with it. My dad calls it a permanent separation. Neither of them has wanted to re-marry, so it works out, I guess.’

  ‘I think every family is dysfunctional in some way.’

  ‘Nobody’s perfect.’

  ‘My mom adopted my sister when we were both ten because she thought I needed a playmate for our many adventures around the world.’ I laughed. ‘Her reasoning was a bit off, but I couldn’t be luckier. My sister, Deidre, and I have been partners in crime since the day she came to live with us.’

  Scott smiled. ‘That’s awesome. I really wanted a sibling. I was so stoked when James moved in down the street. We were always up to something.’ He paused for a second, a nostalgic look on his face. ‘Funny childhood memory. Go.’

  ‘That’s easy. My mom took me and Deidre to France when we were twelve, and we went to a nude beach.’

  He perked up, his eyes wide. ‘So, it was an educational trip?’

  ‘You could say that,’ I giggled. ‘I still remember Deidre’s face when we saw a naked man for the first time.’

  ‘Was it as big of a deal as you imagined?’

  ‘Definitely not.’

  We shared a laugh.

  ‘Your turn,’ I said.

  ‘When we got our driver’s licenses, James and I used to take turns driving my dad’s old pickup truck while the passenger mooned tourists.”

  I snickered. “That gives new meaning to the guidebook’s promise of an “island view.”’

  “What can I say? I aim to please. And everyone loves to gaze at a full moon.” He grinned with a naughty glint in his eyes, and I did the same.

  Then, we went quiet for a few moments.

  ‘I wonder what time it is,’ I thought aloud.

  Scott checked his phone again. ‘Still no service, but it says ten o’clock.’

  ‘It’s only been a half an hour?’

  ‘Hey, it hasn’t been that bad, has it?’

  I tilted my head, trying to hide my smile and taking longer than I should to consider his question. ‘No, I guess not.’

  ‘Thanks a lot,’ he said with a sarcastic grin. ‘Unfortunately for you, it’s about to get worse. Do you have anything to drink in that massive purse of yours?’

  I pulled out my silver Starbucks tumbler. ‘Not really. Just a bit of my coffee from this morning.’

  ‘That’ll have to do. Take the top off,’ he instructed me.

  I stared at him, bewildered. ‘Why? You’re afraid of catching something? Hate to break it to you, but I’m sure some backwash is in here and has been festering all day.’

  ‘No. I’m not afraid of germs. But I don’t think you should drink from it again after I’m done with it.’

  I made a disgusted face, and immediately remembered that we touched when we were trying to get the buttons to work. I needed my hand sanitizer pronto. ‘Are you sick or something?’ I squeaked out while in pursuit of my antiseptic gel.

  ‘What are you searching for?’

  ‘Nothing,’ I replied, zipping and unzipping all the pockets in my handbag.

  ‘Look, I don’t have a contagious disease. I’m going to pee in your coffee.’

  I stopped abruptly and gaped at him. He didn’t appear to be kidding. ‘You’re going to what?’

  ‘I’m sorry, but that thermos is my only choice. Hand it over,’ he pleaded. ‘I really have to go.’

  ‘Well, you can go in your underwear for all I care. You are wearing underwear, right?’ I didn’t know why I needed that confirmed.

  ‘Yeah, I am. Boxer-briefs. I don’t like to hang loose,’ he overshared.

  I raised my hand to stop him. ‘I don’t want to know.’

  ‘But you asked.’

  ‘Whatever.’

  ‘Ellie,’ he started in an overly sweet tone, ‘please give it to me.’

  I didn’t see a way out of this, so I reluctantly handed it over, and he stood up.

  ‘I’m turning around,’ I announced, then faced the opposite wall.

  He chuckled. ‘Suit yourself.’

  ‘I’m glad this amuses you. Not only am I trapped in an elevator, but now I’m a captive in your makeshift bathroom, too. This is just wrong. Even if we were dating, I wouldn’t want to be with you when you’re taking a leak.’

  ‘You’ve thought about us dating?’ he asked, just as the noise from his stream took over.

  It was so loud and way too close that I couldn’t even think straight. ‘I’m not listening to you,’ I shouted, desperately covering my ears.

  It seemed like forever, but eventually, the sound of the liquid meeting the stainless steel dissipated, and I slowly removed my hands from the sides of my head. ‘Is it over?’

  ‘Yeah. All done. It’s safe for you to turn around. But you were never in the line of fire to begin with,’ he teased. ‘Here.’ He tried to give the tumbler full of his urine back to me, but I screamed in response.

  ‘Get that away from me! Put it in the corner.’

  He set it down in the area furthest from me. ‘Happy now?’

  ‘Yes,’ I responded, but not quite satisfied just yet. I finally found my sanitizer, so I jumped up. ‘Hands out.’

  ‘So, that’s what you were looking for before,’ he said with an amused expression.

  ‘Hands out!’ I repeated, and he complied. I squirted a big glob of it in each of his palms and watched as he rubbed it in. ‘That’s better.’

  ‘Whatever you say.’ He waved his hands around to dry them. ‘Hey, thanks. I know this isn’t exactly a pleasant experience for you.’

  ‘Well, I don’t really have a choice,’ I snapped, but then I saw the sincerity in his eyes, and I softened. ‘It could be worse, I guess.’ I gave him a tiny smile and sat back down.

  He did the same. ‘Do you hear that?’

  We glanced at each other and listened carefully.

  ‘Yeah, it sounds like muffled voices.’ At the realization of civilization, I sprang into action, banging on the doors and screaming, ‘Help!’ over and over.

  Scott joined me, and then we heard Jane’s cousin Amy’s unmistakable high-pitched squeal.

  ‘Ellie! Are you in there?’ she shouted.

  ‘Yes!’ I hollered. ‘Get help! Hurry!’

  We waited in anticipation until the elevator finally jolted twice. I stumbled backward into Scott’s arms.

  I turned to face him. ‘Thanks,’ I whispered, our faces mere inches apart. My heart was pounding as I stared into his bright azure eyes. I didn’t know if it was from the excitement of being rescued or something else entirely. I barely noticed that we were moving again.

  The elevator doors popped open at the second floor where all of Jane’s friends were camped out in the hallway. The sea of pin-up girl look-a-likes erupted into applause when they saw me. I broke away from Scott.

  Jane ran to me and gave me a hug. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay! We were so worried!’

  ‘I’m so happy you came looking for me!’

  ‘And who’s this?’ Amy screeched from behind Jane, pointing to Scott.

  I introduced him and explained that we were stuck together.

  ‘Lucky girl,’ Jane said with a mischievous grin. ‘You weren’t as bad off as we thought. Maybe we shouldn’t have showed up.’ All her friends giggled.

  ‘I have to go back to my room to get my shoes,’ I told everyone, purposely not responding to Jane’s comments about being trapped with Scott since he was still standing behind me. ‘I’m taking the stairs this time though.’ More laughter from the group.

  ‘I’ll walk you there, if that’s okay?’ Scott offered.

  ‘Sure,’ I agreed, and there were some whistles from the girls. I widened my eyes at them to shut up. ‘I’ll meet you all in the lobby.’

  Scott and I headed for the stairway, and he
opened the door for me when we got there. The stairs were hard, cold and dirty on my bare feet, but I stayed quiet.

  When we reached the fourth floor, he scooped me up in his arms and carried me. He must have sensed something was wrong. Did he know what I was thinking already?

  My face burned, but I couldn’t control my laughter, despite the awkwardness. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Do you really need to ask that?’ He was laughing, too. He kept it up all the way to room 630, then put me down so I could fish the key out of my purse.

  ‘I think that bag is heavier than you are,’ he joked.

  ‘Got it,’ I announced, holding the key up. ‘Umm…’ I started, not quite sure how to say goodbye to him, ‘it was nice meeting you.’ That sounded so dumb given all we had been through together.

  ‘Likewise.’ He smiled, then glanced at the floor. ‘A part of me will always be in that elevator.’

  Wow. I was surprised by such a heartfelt confession. ‘That’s so sweet. I actually had fun, too.’

  ‘No. You don’t understand. A part of me is still in the elevator.’

  I stared at him, confused. ‘Huh?’

  ‘I forgot my pee!’

  I tossed my head back and guffawed, and he did the same. Our laughter echoed through the hallway.

  I stopped for a second and shushed him. ‘We might wake people up.’

  Then we continued howling with laughter, anyway.

  ‘Hey,’ Scott said eventually. ‘Do you want to go on a helicopter ride with me tomorrow morning? I can take you around the island.’

  Was he asking me out? Like on a date? I decided not to overthink it and just say yes. ‘Sure. I’d love to.’

  His mouth broke into an excited smile. ‘Great. How’s ten o’clock for you?’

  I bit my lip, then beamed. ‘Sounds good.’ I knew Jane had more than enough company and wouldn’t mind my absence at breakfast.

  ‘And who knows… maybe we’ll find Scotty while we’re in the sky.’ He smacked his lips together to keep from laughing.

  ‘That was low.’ I refused to laugh, even though his reference to my bird was funny. ‘I might not show up tomorrow.’