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“No, you’re on my ear,” she clarifies. I hear the creak of another door.
“I’m in my room,” she says and then she makes the world’s loudest yawn. “I’m tired.”
“You do realize it’s probably only nine o’clock over there,” I chuckle.
“I have to be up for my hike before dawn,” she whispers, her voice raspy and tired.
“Are you in bed?” I ask. I need to know she is safe.
“Yes, you know you’re very overbearing. What kind of friend knows every little detail about the other person?” she mutters.
I silently chuckle to myself. “I thought you were half asleep.”
“I am,” she confirms, sounding irritated. She yawns again. “Night.”
“Good night, Patty, sweet dreams.”
I wait for a reply, but it doesn’t come so I figure she’s out like a light.
I laugh to myself again and shake my head. I don’t realize Matt has left the water and is only a few feet away from me because I was looking down at my phone.
“What’s so funny?” he asks.
“Nothing. Wrong number,” I reply.
His face scrunches up. “You weren’t talking to that Evie girl, were you? Is she trying to get back into your good graces? Because there is no coming back from what she did.”
For crying out loud, I had forgotten about Evie and the incident and felt warm and fuzzy inside thinking of my new friend and her travel shenanigans.
“You know, I keep forgetting about Evie and then one of you assholes reminds me of her,” I scold, and Matt has the decency to wince.
“Sorry, bud,” Matt says sympathetically. “The guys told me to watch out for you.”
I exhale and deflate. “I appreciate it but, honestly, I’m fine.”
“So, are you going to come clubbing with us tonight?” he asks.
I grab my shirt and stand from the lounge chair. “I don’t think so. I feel like I have a bad case of the runs coming on.”
I can’t believe my own words.Why did I just take Patty’s advice? Because you’re not up for a club.I want to chill and maybe wake up at the ass crack of dawn and go for a run on the beach. Then I want to shower and wait to check in with Patty. Talking to her makes me feel good and that’s all I want right now.
Matt’s face scrunches. “Sorry, dude. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, bro. Catch you later,” I say, and I walk off.
CHAPTERFIVE
Patty
My eyes fly open as an annoying alarm blares by my bed. I don’t even remember turning the damn thing on. I fidget with the knob on the clock, assuming I need to press it or turn it, but the damn thing won’t turn off. A quick look at the time tells me it’s four in the freaking morning.
Shut up, you stupid thing.
I try everything with my eyes half shut to no avail. I whip the covers off me, feeling too hot anyway, and slowly get up. That beer I drank last night hit me a lot harder than I thought it would. I’m guessing it had a higher alcohol content than what I’m used to back home. My body feels tired and achy and my stomach grumbles. I’m in the mood for a greasy breakfast of fried eggs, home fries, and sausage but I don’t think I’m getting something like that here.
I look down to see I crashed in last night’s clothes.
That’s when I remember Evan. Holy shit. We spoke for a long time after texting forever. He’s determined to be friends, which I guess isn’t a bad thing. He seems like a nice guy. Even though I kind of worried for a second when he asked me to share my location with him, but I appreciate he was looking out for me.
