by Jala Summers
Chapter Fourteen
The sun greeted Liana the next morning and she opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light that shone through the curtains. Aww, hell.
She pushed her body up, and rested on an elbow as she strained to look at the clock on the nightstand on the other side of the bed. It was seven thirty in the morning. How did I let myself fall asleep? I was supposed to go back to the room last night.
Liana slowly removed Kyle’s arm from her shoulder, and listened for the steady rhythm of his breathing as she crept out of the bed. He was sound asleep and she was grateful for that.
Liana slipped on her clothes and shoes without making a sound. She tiptoed toward the door, and couldn’t help but feel like she was in her early twenties again. Too damn old to be doing the walk of shame, I know that much, she told herself.
But she hadn’t intended to stay with Kyle overnight. They weren’t even close to being in a serious relationship, and she didn’t want to fool herself into thinking that this was anything more than what it was--a casual and fun cruise fling that she’d planned to leave in her past the moment she walked off of that cruise ship and returned to her regular life.
Liana sped walked back to her cabin. She slipped the door key in and pushed the door open, slowly, careful not to make a sound so she wouldn’t wake Alyssa. That’s if Alyssa’s even here tonight, she told herself. Knowing her, she’s shacked up with Lloyd somewhere anyway.
But as she fully entered the room she noticed a form underneath the sheets on Alyssa’s bed.
Liana held the door to make sure that when it closed the click was as quiet as possible. When Liana walked forward, passing the wall which blocked her full view of the room, she saw that her efforts to keep from disturbing Alyssa’s sleep were wasted, because Alyssa was wide awake.
Alyssa sat, propped up on her elbow, a knowing, devilish grin on her face as she eyed Liana. She gave her friend the once-over, looking her up and down. “Hmmph, so what was it that you said about not being here to shack up with some dude?”
Liana laughed. “Shut up, ‘Lyssa.”
Alyssa pointed an accusatory finger at her, “See now, you’re worse than me. And I don’t want to ever hear you nagging me again about what I do. ‘Cause you don’t have a leg to stand on anymore, ma’am.”
“Oh hush,” Liana told her. But she couldn’t say much because she knew she was only getting back what she had dished out to Alyssa for years.
“Okay…” Alyssa prompted, her eyebrows raised.
Liana frowned, confused by the expectant look on Alyssa’s face. “Okay...what?”
“Okay, tell me everything. What happened? When? How?”
“What are we…sixteen? Oh no, I’m not going into details.”
“Cooome oooon,” Alyssa whined.
“No,” she said and paused a beat, while Alyssa pushed her lips out in a mock pout. “But I’ll say this. It was sweet, and sensual. And...nice.”
“That’s it, just nice?”
“Well, no, it was more than just nice, but…”
“Yeah…?”
Liana shook her head, clearing her mind of the images she saw of them making love the night before. “It’s just been a long time, I guess.”
Alyssa squealed, and clapped her hands, reminding Liana even more of an excited teenager. “Liana, that’s so exciting. Looks like you and me both might be leaving the Single, Grown Cruise, not quite so single anymore.”
Liana raised a hand to stop her before she continued with her fantasy. “Now you’re getting ridiculous. I don’t know what you’ve got going on with Lloyd, but this is just us having a good time. That’s all.”
Alyssa gave her a disbelieving look, and Liana felt the need to defend herself. “It is, really. I mean, I’m not interested in starting up anything on this trip, especially when we won’t even see each other after it’s over. He lives all the way in Atlanta. I’m not going to pretend this something that it’s not.”
“Uh-huh,” Alyssa replied, though still not convinced.
The knock on the door saved Liana from the uncomfortable silence as Alyssa stared at Liana, sizing up the truthfulness of her words.
Liana jumped up, eager to get away from Alyssa’s scrutinizing glare and ran to look through the door’s peephole. Kyle.
She held in a breath when she saw him standing there, his round, broad shoulders hugged by the fitted muscle shirt he wore. Memories of their lovemaking session slammed into her, and she somehow forced herself to remain steady as she pulled the door open.
“Kyle, good morning.”
“Morning. It would have been better if I’d woken to you in my bed.”
His steamy words lit her afire and she drew in a deep, steadying breath. “Well, I...I just thought it best that I come back here, you know.”
Liana turned when she heard Alyssa get out of the bed and walk behind her into the bathroom. She held a finger up as she tiptoed into the bathroom, attempting to give them privacy. “Don’t mind me,” she said and closed the door behind her.
“Were you headed down to breakfast anytime soon?” he asked
“Uh...yeah. I just need a quick shower, and I’ll be there.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting for you in the dining hall.”
***
Liana entered the dining room to find Kyle seated at their assigned table alone. Alyssa had opted to skip breakfast in order to go on a river rafting excursion with Lloyd in Jamaica, their latest port of call destination.
When he noticed her, he rose to grab a plate of food with her. She was impressed that he’d waited for her to eat. Always the gentleman, she thought. But this could just be the representative that he’s presenting for my benefit. Who knows what he’s really like when he’s home, in his element.
She quickly chastised herself for succumbing to her usual negative thoughts. Sometimes she felt as if her mind was on automatic. Kyle had done nothing to make her think that he was being anything other than genuine and honest.
They sat down to enjoy breakfast but Kyle didn’t have much of an appetite. He kept thinking about how he’d rolled over that morning to feel the coolness of the bed sheets in the empty spot next to him.
“So, you never told me. Why did you leave this morning?”
She nearly choked on the eggs she was eating, and dropped her fork to take a sip of orange juice to wash it down. She was surprised he’d even asked. She had been sure that he would have been grateful that she hadn’t lingered the next morning, and that she hadn’t become presumptuous about the nature of their relationship. Most men would have appreciated that, she thought.
“I thought it would was best,” she shrugged. “I mean, we both know what this is, right? A chance to enjoy our vacation, and each other,” her eyes sparkled and she gave him a playful look as she emphasized ‘each other’.
Kyle smiled back at her, but couldn’t stop his mind from racing. Why am I so wrapped up in this woman, already? He couldn’t deny that he was a bit hurt that she hadn’t wanted to stay with him, and even more bothered by the fact that she seemed so nonchalant about their night together.
Kyle realized then and there that he wasn’t cut out for this sort of thing. The dating, the night life and the flings all seemed like a waste of his time. And when he had finally found someone who’d piqued his interest, she was ready to treat it like a casual affair. If that’s what she wants, then I’ll give that to her, he thought. But as long as they were on this vacation together, he resolved to have a good time with her, no matter what would happen when it was over.
“I’ve been thinking…” he started.
“Um-hmm,” she muttered, as she chewed. But her stomach turned flips as she grew nervous anticipating what he could possibly be thinking about.
“I for one, won’t have much time for cruises and exotic trips to Jamaica anytime soon, and from what you’ve told me about your busy life and your busy schedule, it’s likely you won’t either.”
He was right,
and she nodded her agreement.
“How about we find something exciting, and different to do today. Let’s live it up while we’re here.”
Liana hesitated. A daredevil, she was not, and whatever he had in mind sounded like it might be something she would never normally even consider if it were left up to her.
“Um...like what?”
“I have a few things in mind, but let’s just go out, explore Jamaica, and see where the day takes us.”
She grinned. “Why not?’
Chapter Fifteen
That afternoon on the beach, Liana and Kyle had enjoyed the clear, blue Jamaican waters as they swam and frolicked, while the hot sun beamed down and licked at their faces and shoulders.
They had spent the day taking in all of the activities that the day would allow, and now lay on the beach sand, enjoying the sun’s rays.
Kyle’s first adventure of the day had involved a swim with dolphins, and Liana nearly bolted when she saw one dolphin jump right out of the water toward them as they stood watching from the shore.
Kyle had taken her hand and eased her toward the water, waiting until she was fully ready to take on the challenge. Though skittish at first, Liana let go of her fear long enough to work up the nerve to reach out and touch the smooth, rubbery skin of the dolphin that had floated toward her. She beamed up at Kyle, her smile wide, and he felt his heart do a somersault as he watched her marvel at the new experience.
Kyle rolled over on his side on the oversized beach towel underneath them. “I’m getting hungry, what about you?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
***
Liana and Kyle exited the tour bus that had made the long trek up the steep cliff, and Liana looked up to see the sign that read, Rick’s Cafe. She’d heard about the amazing sunsets and the cliff diving that tourists participated in at the popular restaurant.
They took their seats in a location that offered a perfect view of the impending sunset. Liana and Kyle enjoyed a satisfying dinner and amused themselves with the antics of the people as they dived from the cliff. Some did wild and crazy flips and stunts, while others, seemed truly terrified the entire time. She wondered who had talked the latter group of divers up there in the first place.
As the first purple and orange rays spread across the sky, Kyle turned to her, his eyes, twinkling. “You ready to jump?”
Liana’s eyes grew wide as saucers and she shook her head vehemently. “Nooo way. I agreed to be exciting and have fun, but now you’re pushing it, Kyle.”
“You’re a great diver. I watched you at the pool the other day.”
“Yea, but that wasn’t from a thirty foot cliff, either. I give in. Call me a coward, a wuss, a punk, whatever you like, but I can’t do it.”
He took her hands in his. “I’ll go with you, Lia. You’ll be fine. Trust me.”
She looked into his eyes, and then over at the beautiful Jamaican sunset. I’ll never be back here again, to see that sunset view, stand on these cliffs and be with him like this again. She stood up. “Let’s go, before I lose my nerve,” she said, pulling him by his hand toward the pathway that led to the highest platform.
She slowed her steps as she approached the platform, her courage waning. Kyle felt her unease and squeezed her hand. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, “You’ll be alright. I’m here. You have to take a chance sometimes.” She looked up at his face, and wondered if his statement had a deeper meaning.
She stepped forward and the attendant, who stood at the top of the platform, monitoring guests as they jumped, greeted her with a friendly smile. “Evening lovely lady,” he said his voice laden with a thick Jamaican accent. “You ready to jump?”
She shook her head, “Not really.”
He laughed. “You will be fine. It’s easier than it looks. You just have to learn to let go.”
The attendant’s words struck a chord somewhere deep within her. Letting go. That’s the hard part.
Liana’s feet felt like they were made of lead, and it took all of the strength she could muster to walk forward to look down into the clear blue waters at the bottom of the steep cliff below. She saw the jagged edges that jutted out from the cliff and felt herself growing weak.
“Just give in and let go, Lia,” she heard Kyle say behind her in a reassuring, soothing voice.
If I’m doing this, I have to do it now, she said as she took quick steps to the edge, closed her eyes and leaped off of the platform.
When she felt the windy breeze that rushed over her face and whizzed past her ears, she opened her eyes to see the view below.
She felt as if her chest and lungs were wide open, taking in the air around her. The feeling was exhilarating. It was similar to the way she felt after a long, hard workout, only several times more intense.
As she dropped quickly, moving closer to the water’s surface below, she realized that she liked this feeling--the feeling of letting go. Losing control was scary, but the reward of letting go made the fear worth it.
The force of her collision with the water stung her face and body as she sunk into the crystal depths. Liana opened her eyes to see the splendid, colorful life and nature in the water below and marveled at the sight she would have missed if she hadn’t listened to Kyle and just let go.
When she resurfaced, she could hear a distant shouting from the cliff above. It was Kyle cheering her on next to the attendant. He cupped his mouth with his hands and shouted her name, congratulating her on her jump. She grinned, waved up at him and waded over to the shore, to exit the water.
Just as she’d climbed the rocky side onto land, she heard a loud splash behind her. She turned to see the waves that rippled out where Kyle had just dived. He shot up to the surface and wiped the water from his face.
Kyle swam over to the side and hopped out to join her. He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into him. “You did it. I knew you could.” He leaned down to reward her with a kiss. As she gave in to the feeling of his lips on hers, she allowed her mind to wander to daydreams of letting go completely and even giving into her growing feelings for Kyle.
Chapter Sixteen
The lounge was filled with raucous laughter as the last comedian of that night’s show blew the crowd away with his amazing routine. Liana leaned into Kyle, and loved the way he bellowed out in pure delight at the comic’s hilarious stand-up. Her hand was placed on his leg, and he’d placed his hand over hers. It felt good next to him, natural. And she didn’t want the night to end.
Alyssa and Lloyd were also seated at their table, and Liana could’ve sworn that if Alyssa just moved in a couple of more inches, she’d be in his lap. That’s probably what she’d prefer, anyway.
She chuckled at her inside joke, and turned her attention to Duane, who sat on the other side of Kyle. He had been jittery all night, and every joke that the comic delivered seemed to fall flat with him as his eyes darted around the crowded lounge room.
Half an hour later, the comedian delivered his final joke, said goodnight to the crowd and left the stage. Kyle leaned back in his chair and looked over at Duane. “Alright Duane, what’s your problem? It’s already enough of a surprise that you showed up to sit here with us, after we haven’t seen you this whole trip. Why are you so high strung over there?”
Duane did another quick survey of the room before answering. “If you see Vanessa, let me know.”
“Who’s Vanessa?” Lloyd leaned over to ask when he’d caught wind of the conversation.
“You know, that red-headed broad I was with the first couple of nights of the cruise.”
They all stared at him blankly. The description didn’t ring a bell, since they had long ago stopped tallying the number of women they’d seen him with on the trip.
He grew frustrated when they didn’t seem to understand. “Look, never mind. Just, if you see a tall, red-headed, light skinned chick with green eyes, let me know.”
“So, why are we warning you about Vanessa again?” Alyssa asked.
“Cause she’s crazy as hell. Somehow she got it into her head that we’re an item, and she’s been hounding me and stalking me ever since. When I tried to tell her it was nothing but a fling, she went ballistic, y’all. She was throwing alarm clocks, lamps. Even came at me with a knife, last night.”
Kyle caught the last part of what he’d said. “Last night? You were in your cabin with a woman you know is crazy, when you told her this? Don’t tell me you slept with her before you told her, too.”