Page 37 of Something Blue

Chase and Piper were waiting for them.

“We saw you out there,” Chase said, grabbing the back of her arm as she headed to her chair. “How’d it feel?”

Andy clenched his jaw, and she took a step away, making Chase’s arm drop to his side. There was no need to make Andy upset again if she could help it.

“It was awesome,” she said, moving to sit in her chair. “It wore me out, but I’m glad I went.” She glanced at Andy and winked. “Maybe I just needed the right person to go with me.”

After a long break in the shade, Sadie’s stomach growled so loud Andy chuckled. The bagel and juice were long digested.

“Should we head in and eat an early dinner?” Andy asked. “I want to try out the seafood grill we saw across the street.”

“Sure.” She grabbed for her bag and carefully stood. Her legs ached, but she was grateful for the chance to get away from the two stiff figures in front of her. What had she ever seen in Chase? Andy was a heck of a lot hotter!

Piper and Chase stood back as they packed their things away and headed toward the resort. Sadie sighed as she heard their whispering as they followed behind them.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Piper said.

Andy took Sadie’s hand, stopping her. Both of them were smiling as Piper turned around.

“Most of the wedding party is going to the Big Kahuna tonight. We want you two to come too. It won’t be the same without you all there.”

“Waterslides?” Sadie asked. “Putt-putt? What are you planning to do there?”

Piper’s smile widened. “Rides. You know, the big scary ones. Since you parasailed today, I figured this would be the next step to your adventurous side.” When Sadie had no words to protest, Piper continued. “It’s okay if you’re not up to it. You’ve already done a ton. You can come and support the brave ones.”

“We’ll be there.” Sadie tightened her grip on Andy’s hand and pulled him toward the resort.

Halfway up the ramp she stopped as panic built in her throat. “Why did I tell them we’d go? I don’t know if I’m up to it. Parasailing is one thing, but spinning around while I’m high in the air is a completely different matter. I can handle poking and needles, blood, and bowel movements. But spinning rides? I’ll blow chunks for sure.”

He nodded. “We’ll make an appearance, but we don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

After a quick rinse-off shower, she glanced at herself in the full-length mirror and groaned. Along with body aches, angry red splotches showed up in a few places she’d missed while applying sunscreen.

“Your turn, Andy,” she called through the swinging door, then escaped to her room to change. She froze in the room, already bathed in sunlight. A plate rested on her bed with a few slices of cheese, strawberries, and grapes. A little sticky note was stuck to the water bottle wedged next to it.

Thought you’d be as hungry as me. Eat this so we don’t empty the food supply at the restaurant.

She laughed and picked up a piece of cheese. It tasted so good. After a day of play at the beach, food always tasted better.

As she took another bite, Carrie called, and she sat on the bed to catch her friend up on the week’s events.

“Seems things are progressing well,” her friend said.

“I guess. I can’t be sure with him though. Sometimes he’s closed off and short with me, and other times I think he’s fallen for me.”

Carrie sighed. “You always think the worst of people. Give him a chance. What if he actually does like you, and you miss your chance because you have your walls up?”

“I guess you’re right. Okay, I’ll try.” She heard Andy turn off the shower and whispered into the phone. “I’ll call you later. Wish me luck. Tonight, I’m going on a big carnival ride.”

Carrie cheered on the other line. “Whoo-hoo. Go get ‘em, girl. This guy is bringing out the fun in you.”

After she’d said goodbye and hung up the phone, she chewed on those thoughts as she finished what was on the plate. Giving Andy a real chance seemed as reckless as a carnival ride. But she could let her walls down a bit.

After setting the plate aside, she dressed with the night’s events in mind. A skirt or dress would not be the best if she were flying two hundred feet in the air. Her heart thumped as she thought of losing her food all over Andy. The snack that had once given her happiness now swam in her stomach, and she didn’t feel like adding to it.

Finally, she chose a pair of blue jean shorts with scalloped edges and a black blouse, then added a touch of lip gloss and eye shadow. When she joined Andy in the front room, he was in the process of slipping a salmon-colored shirt over his head. She turned away as heat rushed to her cheeks. When she turned around again, he was staring at her with a wide grin.

“You make casual look good.”

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