I sighed as I walked through the revolving door leading into the lobby of the grossly overpriced resort where I was staying. The trip was originally an anniversary gift to Ann, my girlfriend of almost three years, but we didn't make it that far. She found her "soulmate" while we were still together and dumped me two months before the trip.
My trying to save money bit me in the butt when I couldn't get a refund on the trip, so there I was on the trip alone. Surprisingly, I could have brought Ann along, she ended it with the love of her life when he took five grand from her savings and left for parts unknown, but I wasn't going to be dumped again when she found her next soulmate.
"Hi, Foster Allen checking in," I told the sweaty, balding, portly gentleman at the front desk. It had to be sixty-five degrees in that lobby, but he seemed impervious to air-conditioning. Maybe, it was his superpower?
"Yes, Mr. Allen," he smiled, his cheeks red with whatever. "We have you in room 317 overlooking the beautiful pool and cabana deck. You should be very happy with the view."
He winked as if it were some sort of lewd secret between us. After getting the directions to the elevator, I made sure the bellman was there with my bags and wandered away.
It was a beautiful island, and the hotel's opulence fit its location well. Everything was appointed in tropical tones and smelled like coconuts. I wondered if they infused a scent through the air-conditioning.
While waiting for the elevator, a group of young women brushed past us, and it seemed as if they were each trying to hit my shoulder no matter how far back I stepped away.
"Sorry I was in your way, Ladies," I groaned rubbing my shoulder.
The last woman turned, and I was knocked two steps back by her beauty. She was tall and thin, wistfully lanky--in a good way, and her red curls bounced when she strode towards me.
She poked my chest and I shivered at the electricity in her touch. "I don't care where you're from, Asshole--but where we come from, a gentleman steps aside for a lady."
I was taken aback by the anger in her voice and the ugliness on her face.
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "When you see one, let me know."
Her friends broke out in laughter, then she weakly slapped me, and that wiped the smirk off of my face. So much for my witty retort.
She looked me up and down, smirked, and said, "See you around, Asshole."
I shook my head and said to the bellman, "Let's wait for the next elevator."
He was a weathered old man and that was probably the most excitement he'd seen for months. He laughed and said, "My wife would say she liked you, Sir."
I snorted, "If that was her liking me, I'd hate to see what she does when she loves someone."
We made it to my room, and he opened the door for me.
I looked around the large room and thanked the man for helping with the bags. He happily accepted my twenty, although the resort said no tips were necessary, and left me to rest.
I had to admit, it was a nice view of the pool area and my shorts tightened at the sight of some beautiful women with hardbodies glistening in the sunlight. I saw it was almost four and I was getting hungry, so I figured I'd take a shower and head down for a lonely dinner.
Thoughts of my ex permeated my mind. I didn't know what went wrong with Ann. I worked in a machine shop until three, so even if I worked two hours of overtime, I was home by 5:30 every day. She couldn't say she never saw me; I was always home before she walked in the door.
I did all of the little things. I gave her flowers for no reason, never forgot an important date, heck, I even got along with her friends. Her only explanation was she felt a spark when they met. I wondered what she felt when she saw her bank account was empty and he moved out.
I wasn't going to drive myself crazy over it. I was going to try to enjoy my vacation.
*****
I sat at a table in the middle of the room and ordered a steak and a beer. I looked around and almost left when I saw the group of women from earlier walk up and sit at the table next to mine. Worst of all, the hot redhead was sitting on my side at a kitty corner angle across from me. Every time I looked up; she was in my peripheral vision. It would've ruined my appetite if she weren't so beautiful and wearing a short skirt.
She was subtly made up, with nothing detracting from her natural look. Her green eyes were captivating, and I found myself wondering if they were contacts. Her eyes simply sparkled.
Her soft green dress paired perfectly with her titian curls, and I was pleasantly surprised to see her wearing nude stockings. Topping off the elegantly sexy look were a pair of high, but not too high heels. She was by far the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen up close. It was too bad she was such a bitch.
I tried to ignore them as I ate my meal, but I was struck by their conversation. They were talking about cheating on boyfriends and husbands as if it were nothing. I was disgusted by every comment each made about whatever shortcoming they didn't like about their partner. I noticed that the bitch didn't say much. She seemed to be lost in thought as they had to snap her out of it a couple times.
I made eye contact with her once and she sneered at me. I simply shook my head and drank a gulp of beer.
The steak was good, the beer was cold enough, and I was ready to go when the waiter carrying the dessert tray to me tripped on her foot sticking out from under the table. The tray landed on my table sending my beer and the various pastries and slices of pie onto my lap. I always thought those show desserts were made of wax. Not at that restaurant.
All I could do was sigh. I waved off his apologies and went to the bathroom to clean up the best I could. When I returned, the ladies laughed hysterically at my plight. I shook my head and asked the waiter for my bill.
"I've taken care of the bill, Sir. I'm terribly sorry. I..."
"It wasn't your fault," I said. "The bitch at the table next to me had her foot sticking out and tripped you. There was nothing you could do."
She stopped laughing when I called her a bitch. She didn't look angry as much as sad. I gave him a fifty and said, "Everything was great, up until dessert, I couldn't taste a thing."
He smiled and nodded at my poor attempt at humor. I walked out and breathed in the humid air. "What a disaster," I sighed to myself and walked back to my room ignoring the stares at my dirty clothes.
It was still early, so I changed and set my clothes in the laundry bag to be cleaned. The hotel was kind enough to do it gratis.
*****
I decided to walk along the path around the resort. There were some carts spread around with locals selling their wares and I stopped at each to compare how badly they were ripping tourists off with their cheap baubles. It wasn't as bad as I thought.
One woman had a sign on her cart that read, "Under The Rose." She only sold roses and trinkets that featured roses. I didn't have much need for roses, but I looked anyway and was struck by a charm necklace. It was silver and the charm was half of a rose with no stem.
"You like? It's very special," the woman smiled.
"Special how?" I asked, unable to pull my eyes from it.
"There's magic in the charm. If you wear that necklace, the first woman you touch will fall in love with you."
I laughed and said, "Oh, yeah? Whether she wants to or not, huh?"
She nodded and smirked, "As long as you're wearing it, she'll be yours."
I was amused, yet I couldn't take my eyes off of the cheap piece of jewelry.
"How much is it?"
"One-hundred American dollars," she said as if it were a nickel.
I can't explain what happened next, I was about to tell her I didn't believe in that sort of thing, but the next thing I knew, I was handing her the cash and it was around my neck.
"Remember, the first woman you touch will fall madly in love with you. Be careful."
She cackled and I walked away in a daze.
I don't know how I got back, I don't remember the walk at all, but I found myself standing in front of the elevator. I heard voices behind me and as I began to turn, I was bumped into by, of all people, the bitch.
"Excuse me," I said as I lifted my arm and touched her shoulder.
She swatted my hand away and spat, "Get out of my way."
She froze when we made eye contact and I swear her eyes sparkled.
She snaped out of it when one of her friends pulled her onto the elevator. Then I got the sneer again.
"Oh, shit!" I said as the doors closed.
The old lady's voice rang in my head. "The first woman you touch will fall madly in love with you." Of course, her cackling followed it.
I shook my head as if I were shaking off cobwebs and walked through the elevator doors. I figured the necklace didn't really have any powers, so there was nothing to worry about. I didn't believe in magic; I didn't believe in anything supernatural. I was in the clear, or so I thought.
*****
I was at the breakfast buffet taking a second helping of melon when I heard a voice behind me.
"You seem to keep popping up everywhere I go."
I turned and as I feared, it was the bitch.
"Look, lady, if you'd been paying attention, everywhere I 'pop up,' as you say, I was there first. Every. Single. Time. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to finish my breakfast before l lose my appetite or you trip someone carrying hot coffee this time."
I walked away and left her standing with her mouth agape. Who the hell did she think she was?
I sat at a table as far away from the buffet as possible and hoped it would be far enough away from her to allow me to eat in peace. No one was sitting within five tables of me, and I felt a calmness wave over me. A waiter walked by with a tray of mimosas, and I accepted the citrusy goodness. I thought what I needed was a morning buzz and figured I'd get started.
I saw her sit a few tables in front of me and I groaned. As gorgeous as she was, I didn't feel like ogling her when she was in my direct line of sight. I chugged down the drink and walked away from the uneaten plate of melon.
I tried to walk past her, but she touched my arm and said, "Please don't leave on my account. Finish your breakfast. I won't disturb you."
"Too late," I grumbled and walked on.
I couldn't believe the gall of her. I did nothing to deserve her attitude, yet she continued to bother me. I began to think it was a mistake to go on the trip.
I walked past one of the lounges and saw that it was open and empty. I walked in, sat at the bar, and ordered a bloody mary.
It was almost noon in the central time zone, so I asked the bartender, "Is there any place I can go to watch American football games?"
He said, "Sure, we'll have a game on the big screen in that room over there. If you'd like to make a bet, the gentleman in the white hat will take your action."
"Thanks," I said as he walked away.
"I checked earlier, and they will have the Bears and Vikings game on."
I shook my head, stood without looking at her and walked towards the room with the TV.
"Please don't go," she begged.
I stopped but refused to turn towards her. "Why?" I asked.
"I meant to apologize this morning, but I guess I was so bad yesterday you won't even let me."
"Apology accepted," I said and started walking away.
"Please, stop. Let me buy you a drink."
I turned around and closed the distance between us, "No, thank you."
"Look, I know I didn't make the greatest of first impressions yesterday. I promise you, I'm not usually like that."
I didn't respond, I looked at her and let everything hang in an uncomfortable silence for her.
She sighed, "Can we sit? I'll tell you my story."
