He dives into the pool, and although part of me appreciates him looking out for me, the other part of me is formulating a plan in my mind because I need a way to get Hayleigh alone.
Then it hits me when I see a spare pair of beach shorts draped over one of the sun loungers. It was a prank I planned on doing towards the end of the trip, but needs must. I need a way to get Archie back to our room.
Hayleigh saunters over, looking like a goddess with her brunette hair piled on top of her head and dark shades covering her eyes. Today, she wears a hot pink bikini with a sheer white lace cover dress type thing over the top. She dips into her bag and pulls out a bottle of water, and like some creep, I sit there and watch her take a drink. As she puts the lid back on the bottle, her eyes narrow. “What are you gawping at?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
Then she takes out a chocolate bar, and if this were a cartoon, you can bet a giant light bulb just went off over my head.
Hayleigh takes a bite, then rolls her eyes before folding over the wrapper and chucking it to me. “You’re like a begging dog, Nate.”
Time to play dirty. Sorry Arch.
It’s boiling outside, and in no time, the chocolate is melting. I smear some on his towel and fold it over slightly. “Arch! Come here a sec.”
He hops out of the pool and walks over to where I am, and right before he sits down, I move the towel slightly. “What’s up?”
I look him dead in the eye. “How far would you have gotten if I hadn’t shouted at you?”
“You’re a dick.” He stands back up and walks off towards the pool.
“Arch, wait! You’ve got a brown stain on your shorts.” He looks behind him and makes a garbled sound. “I’ve got some spare shorts in the room, they’re under the towels on the chair.” Now I can sit back and wait.
I can’t help the giggle that is building when he walks back outside with the bright yellow shorts on. He makes a beeline for me, rubbing his hands together. “Thanks for the shorts, Nate. They’re pretty comfortable. You coming to the pool?” He waggles his brows, and I shake my head. He dives in, and I kind of almost feel bad.
Almost.
I wave Hayleigh over to where I’m sitting and gather up Archie’s towel and things before putting them in her hands. “Take these and hide them over there behind the palm tree.”
She immediately drops them and turns to the pool, but Archie isn’t looking, then she rounds on me. “Oh no. Nate Peterson, I amnotgetting involved in a prank war between you two idiots. Do your own dirty work.” She stands there all high and mighty with her hands on her hips.
I narrow my eyes. “I happen to know you’re partial to a prank or two, so don’t give me that Judgy McJudgerson look.” I try another angle. “Can you honestly say that you’re looking forward to a night of constant talking from Archie,ordo you want to sneak out of here and visit the strip, maybe get a bite to eat and relax?”
She looks back at Archie swimming in the pool, then back at me, biting back a smile, and rolls her eyes. “Fine. Tell me the plan.”
“Okay.” I look at the pool, and any minute now we have to run. “We have about thirty seconds, if that, go then meet me over there by the door.” She hurries off and half hides his things behind the palm tree.
She meets me at the door, a giddy look in her eyes. “Now what?”
“Watch.” I spin her around to look at the pool.
Archie stops swimming and instead treads water so he can stand.
He looks wildly around the pool, but no one has noticed yet.
Then he catches my eye, and he shakes his head and mouths. “Get over here now.”
I hold my hand to my ear. “Sorry, Arch, didn’t quite catch that?” I snigger at his face getting redder by the minute.
“Nate! Mystuffisn’t where it should be. In fact, mystuffis floating freely.” He raises his brows as if to hammer home the point he’s making.
Hayleigh whacks a hand against my chest. “Tell me you didn’t, Nate.”
I mask my face into total innocence. “I have no idea what you mean. I in no way bought Archie some disappearing shorts that break apart in water.”
Hayleigh tries and fails to hold in her laughter.
Then I hear it.
