AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Anna and Jamie mouth words across the table, but in the low light I can’t tell what they’re saying. Music swells over the sound system, and the noise of the crowd dies down.
“Fine, Jamie, you can take me on some adventures at the ports,” Anna whispers loudly. “I’m already sick of this ship, anyway.” On stage, the ladies sway in time to the music.
“Sebastian, you in?” Colin whispers. Taking a deep breath, I nod. Whateverthismay turn out to be, I’m here for it. Like it or not, making friends with Anna’s boys is the easiest way to find out what she’s up to on her shameless straycation.
CHAPTERSIX
ZOEY
“Ready, Zoey?”Jamie says. He hoists me onto his back, with Anna’s - erm, my - pink straw beach bag slung over his shoulder, and steps out of the elevator. The pool deck is absolute mayhem. Music blares while partiers who look six margaritas deep wobble in and out of the water. Almost every lounge chair is full. But it’s bright and beautiful, and if I’m honest, I’m not hating this like I thought I would. I can’t say Ilikethe way it’s so Spring Break nineteen-ninety-nine, or the way I can’t tell we’re in the middle of the ocean, but it’s still tropical sunshine after a month in rainy swampland.
Oscar stands to wave at us, and Jamie weaves through the crowds towards him. His friends have snagged several loungers by the pool. Jamie sets me on the ground and gives Oscar a peck on each cheek.
Are we Sebastian free? But no, he’s already in the water, pushing towards the steps at the shallow end. As we near, he starts up the stairs, running a hand through his wet, dark hair to shove it off his face while water drips down his somehow already bronzed chest. He’s strong and lean, but not over-defined, and he has a trickle of hair leading down his abs and into his swim trunks. Okay, shut it down, Lizard Brain. Even if he wasn’t so rude, nor here to take advantage of innocent singles, this week I’m a married lady.
I look around for an extra lounge chair, but Aniston taps me on the butt cheek. I turn. “So sorry, Anna, we saved as many free chairs as we could find, but you and Jamie will have to share.”
“No worries.” I shrug. When I pivot back towards the pool to scout for my own seat, I turn right into a set of firm, rosy-brown nipples layered with coarse hair. My eyes rush up to the angular face I’m all too aware will be above them. Sebastian’s green eyes burn into mine, like he knows, I know, I looked too close. I leap backwards, landing hard on my ankle and yelp, collapsing onto Aniston’s chair. With cat-like reflexes, Aniston catches me before I fall further.
“You two are getting cozy.” Sebastian sneers like we’ve done something perverse. What the hell is that supposed to mean, anyway? Off to my right, about five chairs over, I see a singular open lounger beside a pretty blonde woman around my age who’s reading. Perfect.
“I’ll be over there if anyone needs me.” I point at the empty chair, ready to escape the testosterone and get a minute to myself to rest my ankle in peace. I pick up my beach bag from Jamie’s chair and limp away, stepping around Sebastian and all his exposed skin, which is so close and still dripping and… still belonging to the worst man on this ship. Why did Colin pick him to crush on?
The blonde woman watches me limp towards the open chair.
“Let me help you with that.” She takes my beach bag. “Want me to spread that for you?” She gestures to the beach towel tucked into the top of my tote.
“Oh my god, you’re amazing.” She grins, and I let myself down onto the lounger with a sigh. “You have no idea how nice it is to make a female acquaintance. I’m here with my friend Jamie, and he’s got a crush on that guy right there,” I point at Oscar, who’s dancing around between the loungers at the center of his friends. “Now I’m doing nothing but hanging out with a bunch of dudes, while Jamie makes his move.”
“That can’t be all bad. That guy is kinda pretty.” She points at Sebastian. “Is he gay too?”
“I don’t think so.” Although truth be told, I’m not sure. The way he looks at me is so curious, and a little hungry, and… I swallow. “I don’t care if heisstraight. He’s grumpy as hell.” The woman laughs.
“That can be hot. I’m Adrienne from LA, by the way.” She holds out her hand to shake.
“Z—" I start. “I’m Anna.” I correct myself. “Also from LA.”
“Really?” Adrienne grins. “What do you do there?”
“I’m Meghan Marconi’s, um, double,” I say. In a way, it’s true for both me and Anna, and I don’t want to lie to this nice girl.
“Wait, Meghan Marconi, the actress? No way!” She puts a hand on her chest. “I’m an actress myself. I mean, I want to be. I’m no Meghan Marconi. I audition a lot, and I got a part in a few commercials and a small part in aLaw and Orderepisode which I was really excited about.” But Adrienne’s shoulders fall. “Like I said, definitely not Meghan Marconi level yet.”
“Acting is a hard business, but you’ve got the right look. I’m sure you’ll catch a break.”
“I probably need to be a little thinner, but then I’d have to skip the pizza and tacos, and I’m not quite there yet.” She laughs, the freckles on her nose dancing. I like her already.
“You’re plenty thin. But being skinny isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, anyway.” I shake my head. “Contacts matter way more. I’d be happy to introduce you to a few people back in LA.”
“You’re too sweet,” she says.
“Anything for the girl who set up my lounge chair.” We both laugh. “What’s your number? When our vacation is over, we can get coffee and strategize.” I pull out my phone, and when I look up, I see Sebastian standing near us in the pool, listening in on our conversation. His mouth is hanging open like he saw a UFO. When I catch his gaze and glare, he pops his mouth shut, licks his not-at-all interesting lips, and turns away.
* * *
SEBASTIAN
Anna Anderson is… helping someone. A person she just met. And she’s giving me the stink eye. I sink under water and swim to the other side of the pool. How can such a despicable human do something like offer her Hollywood connections to a stranger? Throughout all my job searching this past year, not a single person offered something like that. It’s rare and kind. And infuriating.
