Page 3 of OneTime Lovers
Cassie giggles. “You and your group hugs, Jas. I swear you will be dragging us into group hugs when we’re all old and gray.”
I laugh along with her as a funny image pops into my head. “I think I’m having a flash forward to us trying to group hug in our eighties with our walkers all getting tangled up. Maybe we’ll have to add a new rule to our girl code. No group hugs after the age of seventy.”
“Deal,” Cassie and Lily respond in unison.
Lily, the sensible organizer of our group, claps her hands together. “Come on, finish unpacking. I want to take a look around while we have this little piece of paradise all to ourselves.”
“Bikini time, girls! Because we are definitely having a swim in those beautiful blue waters we spotted from the air.”
The arrival on the island by private helicopter from Nassau Airport was a real treat. We zipped down low over the ocean before spotting our tiny island destination. A lush green speck surrounded by clear turquoise reef waters, the ocean turning a darker blue as it deepened further out from the sandy shoreline.
The pilot did a short fly over of the island before coming into land, giving us a bird’s eye view of the whole resort area. About thirty separate bungalows are dotted amongst the tropical gardens with gravel paths crisscrossing the inhabited section of the island, linking each of the bungalows to the main resort buildings. At the far end a wooden deep-water jetty jutted out into the blue.
At the center of the main buildings is a large resort-style pool, shining like a precious sapphire jewel from the air. I remember from the website the pool has an infinity edge overlooking a small strip of white sandy beach. The perfect place for our planned sunset cocktails.
This island is an imagined paradise come to life.
Quickly we change into our new bikinis and shorts, grab a yellow striped beach towel, sun lotion, hats, and sunglasses, filling our beach totes with the essentials.
The sun is hot already but with the soft breeze cooling down the temperature we decide to explore on foot first.
Under a shady palm tree, we drop our bags in the soft white sand. I kick off my shorts and start applying sun lotion. My pale complexion needs protection from the blistering mid-morning sun, especially if I don’t want to look like a lobster in the wedding photos.
Cassie looks over at me after swiping lotion up and down her arms. “Girl, you own that new bikini; the color really suits you. It makes your eyes even greener.”
I smile at her compliment. I do love my new emerald-green skimpy bikini. It’s my favorite color.
Glancing sideways, I see Cassie tug her shorts down her long slender legs. I notice she’s wearing her new little white bikini which matches perfectly with her quintessential beach babe vibe of long blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Thanks, Cass, but you know of course you’re smoking hot in yourvirginalwhite bikini.”
Cassie laughs. “Hardly virginal, but I’ll take the smoking hot part.”
“Good point. How about bridal white bikini then? Either way, Luke is going to have a heart attack when he sees you in that bikini.” She really does look stunning.
Lily, not to be outdone, is wearing an equally cute red bikini which with her curves is bordering on indecent. How is this girl without a man? Although I suspect there may be a certain gym instructor who has caught her eye. I’m still trying to get the details out of her around what is going on with the steamy gym guy.
No time like the present. “Gee, Lil, if only your gym instructor could see you now. He wouldn’t know where to look.”
Lily’s brow furrows as she tries to stretch the scrap of red fabric across her ample chest. “Is it too revealing? Maybe I should change into my black swimsuit.”
“Don’t you dare,” Cassie pleads.
“Lil, you are a gorgeous woman with fantastic boobs which do not deserve to be hidden. I wish you could see how beautiful you are.” I can’t believe I have to say this to Lily again.
For years, Cassie and I have been trying to get her to see how beautiful she is inside and out. Somebody really did a number on her self-confidence when she was growing up.
It’s crazy because when it comes to her amazing financial mind, she has no problems striding into boardrooms full of suited corporate types and taking control. But socially with guys, she hides in the background.
“Time for some exploring,” Cassie suggests, deliberately trying to stop Lily from rushing back to the room to change.
I take hold of Lily’s arm to add my encouragement. “Yes, come on, Lil, we have to do what the Bridezilla wants if we’re going to be the best bridesmaids ever.”
Cassie starts walking down the beach to the water, saying back over her shoulder, “Stop with the Bridezilla jokes. It’s not funny.”
“Uhm mm yes, it is,” I say, as Lily allows me to walk her down the beach to join Cassie at the water’s edge.
We set off in the direction of a rocky outcrop as we talk about the upcoming wedding. Not surprising really as it’s been the main focus of our conversations since Cassie’s engagement. We’ve covered guestlists, venues, dresses, then more recently the planned wedding events, our new outfits and which one we will wear to each island dinner.
