“And….?”
“And….that's it.”
Danny shakes his head and rolls his eyes at me, like I'm a stupid idiot.
“Danny, what am I supposed to do? I just feel all this pressure, like I have to do this, not like I want to. It's like I'm being told what to do. And you know when someone tells me what to do, it usually makes me do the exact opposite. You of all people should understand that.”
“I do understand, but it kind of seems like you're looking for excuses.” He studies me closely. “You're not letting what happened between us affect you on this? Are you?”
“Oh, you mean the it would ruin us part? Um, yeah. That's the part that scares me the most.”
He is still shaking his head at me, so I say, “You don't think if I go out with Phillip, it will ruin our friendship?”
“No, I don't. I think it will enhance your friendship. Surely you understand what different people Phillip and I are. Hmm, I guess maybe now might be a good time to confess.”
“Confess what?”
He runs his hand through his hair and sighs, “I was so afraid of you on Prom night, I literally drank myself sick.”
“You were afraid of me?”
“Well, I was afraid of what I, we, might do. I mean I really wanted you, Jay, and I have to admit there have been many times that I've kicked myself for not going for it.” He tilts his head and looks at me, “But I didn't want to take advantage of you. I mean you'd been through so much in such a short time. Jake. Your parents. Combine that with the fact that it would've been your first time. I don't know. It just didn't seem like the right thing to do. I was afraid you would regret it and hate me. I just couldn't live with that.”
“Did you know that I wanted you to take advantage of me?”
“Yeah, I kinda did. Why do you think I was scared shitless? You can be very persuasive, Jay. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to say no.”
“Why didn't you just tell me?” I shake my head, trying to comprehend this. “Wait, that's not right. That night, you wanted it too. I saw the condom by the bed!”
“Yeah, well at that point I was drunk and not thinking with my head. Thank God, I passed out because I think it would have ruined us. At that point in your life, you needed stability, not fun. You and I both know the times in college when we hooked up a little, it was always just for fun.”
“That and your win record,” I tease him. “So what makes you think it will work with Phillip? I'm serious, Danny, I really need to know this.”
“Well, there's something else I should probably tell you.” He leans across the table and says softly, “Prom night, when we all slept together, I woke up before you did. Guess what I saw?”
“I don't know. Did I look gross? Was I drooling?”
“No, silly, you're adorable when you sleep. What I saw, was you all snuggled up with Phillip. He had his arm wrapped around you. Your head was on his chest. And that's when it hit me. I think even when we were little, I knew you two had a special bond, something I wasn't part of. I'll even admit that it was kind of a blow to my ego, but it worked out okay. It made it easier for me to tell you what I did. I mean, I knew we'd never last romantically, we're too much alike, but I also knew you'd be fine.” He looks at me pointedly, “Because of Phillip.”
He leans back in his chair and continues, “Christ, you two are perfect for each other. You're already like an old married couple anyway. You just don't get any of the fun benefits…..And I know you like the fun benefits.” He raises his eye brows up and down at me on the word know.
I shake my head at him. “You'd better be there to pick up the pieces if this all blows up in my face.”
“You know I will,” he says, and I believe him.
“Jay, is there anything you've ever really gone for in your life that you haven't gotten?”
“Um,” I say, not knowing quite how to answer.
“Go for it,” he demands. “Visualize your target.”
“Oh shut up, Danny.”
Danny gives up on the conversation, and we go through the breakfast buffet. We are eating and chatting about what we're going to do today, when Lori shows up.
She kisses Danny then takes a seat, “So what are you two conspiring about?”
“Oh, I'm just trying to talk Danny into marrying me instead,” I tease.
“Now there's a match made in heaven,” Danny says, teasing Lori too.
“A marriage made in hell is more like it,” Lori fires back.
“Hey, I lived with him for three years, and we got along just fine,” I put my hand to my chest, pretending I'm insulted.
“Yeah, only because Phillip was there to play referee,” Lori counters.
Jeez, she's just full of piss and vinegar this morning. Obviously, the run wasn't long enough.
“Did I hear my name being taken in vain?” Phillip says, sneaking up behind me and kissing my neck. He whispers softly in my ear, “Morning, Princess.”
I close my eyes for a second to drink in his words, the sound of his voice, his musky smell. I block out everything in the world but him. I have to admit, I love having him so close to me.
He sits across from me and claps his hands together, “So what's going on this morning?”
Lori answers his question, by saying with a laugh, “Jade is trying to talk Danny into marrying her instead of me.”
Phillip rolls his eyes.
“Fine,” I say, trying to redeem myself. I don't understand why Lori and Phillip think this is so hilarious. “If I can't marry him, then I will be his bachelor party,” I smirk and smile seductively at Danny.
“Whatever,” Lori says and shakes her head at us.
Danny winks at me.
“So what's on tap for today, Miss Cruise Director?” Phillip asks Lori, ignoring me and changing the subject.
“Well, I'm going to have a long day of lying on the beach doing nothing but watching the ocean, while Manuel brings me a whole bunch of drinks with little umbrellas,” she answers dreamily.
“Sounds perfect,” Phillip replies, in an equally dreamy voice.
Danny and I glance at each other, worried. Because sitting still all day may damn near kill us, or at a bare minimum, drive us insane.
Lori rolls her eyes and says, “Here you two. Don't look so dejected. There are lots of activities.”
She slides Danny and I each an itinerary across the table.
“I took the liberty of booking a few things to keep you two out of trouble.”
“It won't work,” Phillip says.
Like Danny and I ever get into trouble.
Okay, maybe sometimes our plans don't come to fruition exactly like we planned, but hey, we always manage to have fun.
Danny gave me a cute magnet for Christmas last year. It said, The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun. Which pretty much sums up our relationship.
I grab the list off the table and read it.
9:00 - 10:00: Sailing
10:00 - 12:00: Volleyball Tournament
12:00 - 2:00: Trip to Private Island and Lunch
2:00 - 5:00: Nap time
5:00 - 7:00: Happy hour at the beach bar, then rehearsal
7:00 - 9:00: Dinner with family
“Lori,” I say, “you have to do something while you're here.”
“Jade, believe it or not, lying on the beach counts as something. Besides, were going to lunch together. It'll be fun. We're riding wave runners out to the resort's private island.”
“Yeah, and I hear the island is clothing optional,” Phillip tells us and leers at me.
Great. Now I have something else to worry about for the next three hours.
Danny and I try out sailing. It was okay, but not as thrilling as I expected because there wasn't much wind. Next we head to the 2-on-2-volleyball tournament. This was a very fun activity because Danny and I kicked butt and won the whole thing.