by Megan Brooks
Megan couldn’t argue with her there. She slid over to the window, giving Angelina plenty of room
Angelina sat down beside her. “So, how long have you been here?” she asked, launching straight into conversation.
Talking didn’t bother Megan. Sitting there in silence would have been way more awkward. “I just got here last night.”
Angelina grinned at that. “Oh, you just got here! How exciting.”
‘Exciting’ wasn’t really a word Megan had thought of this as, but she supposed it was. It certainly wasn’t something she did on a regular basis. Angelina’s grin was infectious. She nodded. “I guess so. I’m surprised I’m not spending my first day holed up in my hotel room.”
That got a laugh from Angelina. “It’s good that you’re making yourself get out and experience things. Vacations shouldn’t be all about relaxing. Adventure is important too.” Angelina’s eyes darted up and down, giving Megan a quick once over. “Did you come here with anyone?”
“No,” Megan shook her head. “It’s just me. I…” She trailed off, deciding that the details were probably better left out. “I needed some time just for me. This was sort of impulsive, to be honest.”
Angelina gave Megan an understanding nod, as if she could guess something of a personal nature had driven her here. “That’s good. Travel is good for clearing your head.”
The driver raised her voice and pointed out a cathedral on their left. Everyone turned their gazes to it. Cameras started going off everywhere. Megan looked at the landmark. Sure, it was pretty. Just now, she found herself more interested in Angelina, though. “Do you live here?”
Angelina nodded. “I’ve got a little apartment I rent near the beach.”
“That must be a gorgeous place to live.” Megan wondered if living here would take some of the magic out of the place. Would spending every day in paradise get old? “I always wanted to live on the beach.”
“It’s great,” Angelina agreed. “I’ve lived here for a few years now. I always wanted to travel the world and live in many different countries, but… As far as places to live go, I can’t complain.”
Angelina proceeded to tell Megan about some of the places she should visit while she was here. There were a couple of really nice beaches tourists tended to miss out on. There were a couple of affordable and easily overlooked restaurants she highly recommended. There was a nice museum not far from where she was staying that she should check out before she left.
Megan made a mental note of everything. Suddenly, she wished very much that she was staying for longer than a week. Angelina made the island seem so appealing, she found herself wanting very much to see it all.
The bus parked in a large, empty stretch of parking lot. The entrance to the cave system was just a short distance from there. Angelina talked them through some safety procedures as they walked. The tourists mostly ignored her, too busy snapping pictures of nature to listen. Angelina didn’t seem too worried, though.
There was a trail that led down into the cave. Everything was pretty well lit and marked off. Angelina took the lead as they marched down into the earth.
It was absolutely breathtaking. The high ceilings, the water running in streams and underground waterfalls. Angelina told them all about it, explaining the place’s history and the rock formations with practiced ease.
There were a couple of places where the walking got harder. Some narrow squeezes gave a couple of the tourists some trouble. Angelina demonstrated the patience of a saint in helping them get through. Megan waited at the back of the group and, once everyone else had gotten through, Angelina came back for her.
“Keep up,” Angelina teased, reaching out and offering a hand to Megan through the gap.
Megan laughed and took it. Angelina’s skin felt surprisingly soft against her own.
The whole day was great. Lunch was soggy and underwhelming, but exploring the cave system was amazing. There wasn’t much daylight left as they drove back. Some of the group seemed annoyed to have spent a whole day out wandering in caves, but Megan was pleased with her choices. If nothing else, she had met Angelina.
“Thanks,” said Megan, once the bus was back at the tourist office. “You really know your stuff. The day was a lot of fun.”
Angelina smiled at her. “Thanks. I try. Most days, I love my job.”
Megan got off the bus and started the short walk back to her hotel. A little whistle made her stop. She turned to see Angelina jogging to catch up with her.
“Do you want to come back to my place?” asked Angelina. “To the beach, I mean,” she added, quickly. “It’s the best stretch of beach, in my opinion. I love to see peoples faces when I show it to them for the first time.”
Megan raised her eyebrows at that. Was this normal? Were people in Spain so friendly that they invited random strangers - or customers, even - back to their homes? She doubted it. “Really? Are you sure?” Despite her better judgment, Megan really wanted to go. God, she hoped Angelina wasn’t some sort of serial killer.
“You seem cool.” Angelina gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder. “I’m good at reading people, and you seem like my kind of people. That’s the best part of working in tourism, honestly! You always get to meet new folks.”
Megan agreed to go. She waited a few minutes for Angelina to finish up some work related things inside. Then, they were off. Angelina caught a ride home with the gal who drove the bus - not that she lived far. Her apartment turned out to be a cozy little shack right on the beach.
Angelina was right, of course. The beach really was the nicest one Megan had ever seen. Megan wasn’t sure how the other beaches on the island compared, but this one was simply breathtaking. It was especially gorgeous at this particular time of the day, all lit up in orange and red from the sunset.
Angelina disappeared inside for a moment to grab them a couple of wine coolers before they walked out toward the water. It was a nice, warm night. Angelina spread a towel out on the sand.
For a while they talked about nothing in particular. Angelina talked about the tourist trade. Megan talked about working in the library. Eventually, they finished their wine coolers and a comfortable silence set in. They were sitting close to one another on the towel, so close their knees touched. It was fine, though. Megan liked being around Angelina, she really did. She felt like she could trust her.
“I caught my husband cheating on me with the postwoman,” said Megan. Maybe that was too much.
To Angelina’s credit, she didn’t give Megan a shocked look or raise an eyebrow. “I thought it might be something like that,” she said instead, like she had somehow guessed. “Sorry. When a pretty woman like you shows up all alone, usually it’s because of infidelity.”
“Seriously?” Megan couldn’t suppress a laugh. She also couldn’t help but notice that Angelina had called her pretty.
“Oh, yeah.” Angelina wrapped her arms around her knees. “They come here to think it over or because their spouse cheated on them on their wedding night and they’re going on their honeymoon alone. You should divorce him by the way.”
That got another laugh from Megan. “Really? That’s harsh. You don’t even know him.”
“I know he’s a cheater. And you’re smart, gorgeous, and funny - so he’s a crazy cheater.” Angelina looked Megan up and down in an appraising sort of way. “You can do way better. I’m zero tolerance on this kind of stuff. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”
Megan looked down at the wedding ring on her finger. Richard had fished it out of the toilet for her before she left. Maybe Angelina was right. She shoved the ring in her pocket. She hadn’t decided anything, but she was leaning toward the divorce now more than ever.
“I had a girlfriend who cheated on me once,” Angelina offered.
Megan glanced over at her. She knew Angelina was trying to sympathize with her, but all she could focus on was that Angelina was into women. Megan had never thought there was anything wrong with that. She just hadn’t expecte
d it. The revelation made her mind wander.
“It wasn’t that long ago,” said Angelina. “And she was really pretty. She had this long, long hair that was gorgeous. I loved it. I loved her.”
“What happened?” asked Megan.
“I caught her sending naked selfies to the landlord.” Angelina motioned to the beach. “So, I had to move. And I have a great place now! See, things worked out for me. They’ll work out for you, too.”
Megan laughed again. “I hope so.” She offered Angelina what she hoped was a warm smile. “I appreciate you doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Taking me out here. Talking.”
“No, no.” Angelina reached out and gave Megan a playful shove. “I invited you out here because you seemed interesting. I don’t do charity cases.” Something seemed to occur to Angelina then. “I should show you around this week!”
Megan wasn’t quite sure how she should respond to that. It was a generous offer, unless… “I can’t really pay for a private guide.”
Angelina gave her another shove. “Seriously? That’s not how I meant it. I meant, like, as friends.” Angelina looked away, fixing her gaze out on the ocean. “I get lonely,” she admitted. “Believe it or not, not many people stick around in touristy areas. It’s hard to find friends, let alone ones that last. I’m used to temporary friends. Week long friends.”
This still felt odd but… Why not? Megan nodded. “Sounds good.”
Angelina drove Megan home that night. It turned out she owned a motorcycle. It was a small, sleek black one. Megan found that thrilling. Angelina loaned her a spare helmet and Megan rode on the back, clinging to her waist like she was the damsel in an action movie.
They made plans to meet up the next morning. Angelina was going to take her to some of the more exciting cave systems. She had some extra gear and promised to keep her safe. “You’ll love it. I promise.”
Back in her hotel room, Megan checked her phone. She had a couple of missed calls from Richard. With a sigh, she decided that the best course of action was probably to call him back.
“How’s Spain?” Richard answered, sounding entirely too enthusiastic - like this wasn’t a trip she was taking to decide whether or not she divorced him.
“It’s gorgeous,” Megan admitted. “I just got back to my hotel room. I’m about to take a shower and go to bed, I guess. Busy day planned tomorrow.”
“Sounds fun,” said Richard, sounding surprised. She was never a terribly outgoing person back at home, so it probably was a bit of a surprise that she would already have a full calendar for herself after just one day. “Meet any colorful people? Strike up any friendships?”
Megan noted that there was some jealousy in Richard’s tone. He sounded afraid, she realized. He thought she might have come out here looking for revenge. He thought she might sleep with someone else, and he absolutely hated it. What a hypocrite. “I did,” said Megan, not elaborating too much. Angelina was just a friend, of course, but he didn’t need to know that. “We stayed out all night drinking and talking on the beach. Tomorrow, we’re going caving.”
There was an awkward and lengthy silence on the other end of the line. “Sounds like fun,” Richard said, finally, forcing the words. “You be careful. There are some real psychopaths out there.”
“I’m fine,” Megan assured him, shutting down any false concern. “I’ll call you later, okay? Bye.” She hung up before he could try his hand at any ‘I love yous’. Megan still wasn’t sure how she felt about him, though she was certainly considering what Angelina had said. Granted, Angelina could have said just about anything, and she might have found it compelling.
Chapter Four
Angelina showed up right on time. They got a bite at the bakery before climbing onto her motorcycle and driving off towards adventure.
The site Angelina took Megan to was near the beach. This cave was a bit more intimidating. Angelina had brought climbing gear and harnesses. She helped Megan put hers on, taking ample time to make sure it was secured around her thighs and waist. She talked her through the basics of propelling and belaying.
“Don’t worry,” Angelina assured her. “I haven’t dropped anyone yet.”
The cave the day before had been relaxing and beautiful. Today was full of adrenaline and actual excitement. Megan took to it quickly. She loved the feeling of the chalk on her hands. She loved sitting back in her harness, trusting Angelina to catch her.
True to her word, Angelina was an excellent guide. She showed her amazing sights and took her off the beaten trail during it. Megan almost didn’t want to break for lunch at midday.
“You’re a natural,” said Angelina, tossing Megan an apple. She fished a sandwich and canteen from her bag and brought those over to her as well.
Megan felt her face grow warm. She wasn’t sure about all that. The only things she had done had been relatively simple. “You’re a great teacher.”
“So I’ve been told,” Angelina said, not wasting any time with false modesty. Megan liked that about her.
For a while, they ate in companionable silence. Angelina was easy to be around. That was a nice quality to have in a friend - especially one she had only just met. Already, Megan knew she would be sad to leave her behind and head back home.
“What are you thinking about doing for the rest of the day?” asked Angelina.
Megan was surprised Angelina was even asking her. “You’re the one who knows this place,” she pointed out. “I’m not even sure what my options are.”
Angelina bit into the flesh of her apple. She seemed to consider that for a moment. “Well, we can keep doing this. I imagine you’re getting pretty tired, though. I know I am.” She thought a few moments longer. “There’s a really great beach not far from here,” she said all of a sudden, her eyes widening as if it had only now occurred to her.
“I didn’t wear a bathing suit,” Megan said with a laugh. She had packed one, but she hadn’t thought to bring it today. She was sort of regretting it, honestly. A swim sounded really nice.
A mischievous grin spread across Angelina’s face. She raised an eyebrow at Megan.
Megan stared back at her, not sure of what she was getting at for a few moments there. “What?” she asked. Then, it hit her. “No!” She laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “I’m not going swimming without a bathing suit! Is that even legal?”
“No,” Angelina admitted. “But no one ever goes to the beach we’d be heading to. You have to climb there. It’s a secret.”
“A secret beach, huh?” Megan had a feeling Angelina was just pulling her leg. “Lead the way.”
Once they had finished eating, Angelina did lead the way. It was quite the hike there. Megan wouldn’t have been surprised if the place really was some sort of well kept secret. You needed climbing gear just to get to it. It was nestled between some large outcroppings of rocks. Docking there would be impossible, and swimming to it would be unsafe.
The beach was empty and pristine. The white sand looked warm and inviting. Megan pulled her climbing shoes off and spread her toes in it. “This is gorgeous.”
“Told you,” said Angelina. She was already pulling off her top. Megan was more than a bit startled to glance over and realize that. Angelina seemed to notice. “We’re both women here, right?” Angelina asked, wiggling out of her pants. “You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.”
Megan didn’t point out that Angelina also liked women romantically. This seemed a bit different than a couple of friends in a changing room together. Not to mention, Angelina had an absolutely gorgeous body. Megan was attractive, sure, but it was more in the soft, useless way a famous actress was attractive. Angelina’s body was hard, shaped by action and a lot of activity. Megan looked like a pretty librarian.
Still, Megan undressed. “I probably need to put on more sunscreen,” she said with a sigh, noting how pale she was right next to Angelina. “Give me a second.” She rooted through her own bag.
&nb
sp; Angelina finished getting undressed while she did. She was stunning and more than a little distracting. She had the kind of breasts that women typically paid for. It took Megan a little longer than anticipated just to find her suntan lotion. More that once, she had to pry her eyes away from Angelina.
“Let me help,” said Angelina, when Megan finally had the sun tan lotion in hand.
Megan didn’t argue with her. She let Angelina help her get her back. Angelina’s hands were soft on her back, rubbing slow and deliberate circles. She was so lost in thought that Angelina had to repeat herself. “Huh?” asked Megan, realizing that Angelina had been saying something.
“I said you were tense,” said Angelina. “Then I asked if you had given things with your husband any more thought.”
Megan had thought about her issues with her husband less than she probably should have. Maybe that was telling. Her marriage was in danger of falling apart, and it wasn’t even weighing that heavily on her mind. The only thing Megan had found herself worrying about lately was the prospect of going back home. She was having such fun here; she didn’t really want it to end.
“You’re probably right,” Megan admitted. “I’m not sure I can really trust him again after all of this, you know? Our friends never really thought we were the best match.”
“Why did you marry him?” asked Angelina, taking a step back from Megan. She put the sun tan lotion in Megan’s bag again. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Megan couldn’t imagine why she would mind. No question could be more awkward than standing here in front of Angelina, naked. “I guess it just felt right at the time?” she guessed with a shrug. “He helped me through college. Saying no would have felt wrong.”
“You married him because you felt obligated to,” Angelina summarized. “That’s no good. Has there ever been anyone you were in love with?”
“Other than my husband?” Megan asked, hoping Angelina wasn’t implying that she had never been in love with her husband.