31 - Joanna

31

Joanna

After dinner, we went down to the pool to watch the third period of the hockey game. A bunch of other people were sitting at the poolside bar watching it. At this point, the Blackhawks were losing, 3-1. About fifty feet away, Austin was sitting on the edge of the pool with his feet in the water. He looked exhausted.

I almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

"Bradyn wants to get in the pool, so I'm going to go change," Landon told me. "So please don't barge into the room for the next ten minutes."

"Don't walk into the room while you're masturbating to the memory of Florence's strong fingers," I said. "Got it."

He glared at me, then went off.

The bar had Red Stripe on tap, so I ordered a glass and sipped on it while watching the game. Austin emerged from the pool and limped over to me.

"I'll have whatever she's drinking," he said in that smooth Texas accent.

The bartender nodded, then reached below the bar to retrieve a can of beer that was not Red Stripe. He poured it into a glass, gave me a subtle nod, then handed it to Austin. Somehow, I stopped myself from grinning like a fool.

"Mmm, that's good," Austin said after a long pull. "I just wanted to let you know we are most certainly not even, Joanna."

"What ever do you mean?" I asked innocently.

He raised his glass and said, "Enjoy the game. Hope the Blackhawks lose."

I stuck out my tongue at him as he left.

Theo appeared next to me a moment later. "I'll take a glass of what the lady is drinking, and a shot of rum. Dealer's choice."

Unlike Austin, the bartender pulled Landon's drink from the tap.

"It's torture being around you all while you're shirtless," I whispered. "Several times today I wanted to pinch your sexy little butt."

Theo grinned at me. "It can't be that bad. You and Landon have seemed awfully chummy."

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just saying, you two look real convincing. Maybe instead of DefTec, you should get a job as an actress."

"Why, Theodore Angelina Manafort. Are you jealous?"

"My middle name is Isaac."

"You didn't answer my question," I pointed out.

He turned around so that his back was to the bar, resting his elbows on the surface while gazing at the pool. "All right. I'm a little jealous."

"I knew it!"

"But only because I don't like having to pretend like I don't want to jump your bones every time I see you walking around in that red bikini. You're killing me, girl."

"It's possible that I had you in mind when I wore that today."

"Careful. If you keep teasing, I won't be able to keep my hands off you in front of everyone. It'll ruin the entire trip."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a key. "In that case, maybe I'll make a surprise visit to room 3302."

"It's not a surprise if you tell me about it ahead of time."

"No," I admitted. "The surprise is what I plan on doing with you once I'm there."

He twisted his face to look at me. "You now have the full, undivided attention of my penis."

Giggling, I saw Bradyn and Landon walking in our direction. "Be cool. If you do blow our cover, then you'll never find out what the surprise is."

"I've never been more motivated in my life." He raised a hand in greeting to the others. "There's the man of the week. Ready to get your ass whooped in the pool?"

"Ready to watch you get your ass handed to you," Bradyn replied. "What are we playing?"

Without looking at me, Theo clinked his glass to mine and followed them over to the pool. "Your choice. I'd hate to embarrass you in front of your new wife."

The three of them procured a water polo ball from somewhere and then jumped into the pool. There was a net stretched across one side of the pool, and the three of them tried playing some version of volleyball for a while, hitting the ball back and forth. Danicka, Marisa, and a few of the other girls sat at a table near the pool to watch and chat. I gave them a friendly wave, but stayed at the bar so I could watch the hockey game.

"I need a partner," Bradyn complained. "Two on one isn't fair."

"Get your better half!" Theo said.

"No thank you!" Marisa called back. "I don't want to mess up my hair!"

"Mrs. Cozart?" Theo tried next. "I saw you in a bikini today. You've been working out. Come show us how it's done."

Danicka giggled and said, "Oh Teddy, stop it. I'm having fun just watching."

I waited for them to invite me next, and was already thinking of an excuse why I couldn't play. But then Landon said, "Austin! Get in here!"

"I might slow y'all down," Austin replied. "My feet are blistered like you wouldn't believe."

"I'll take all the help I can get," Bradyn insisted.

Austin pulled off his shirt, then shimmied out of his jeans. The girls hooted encouragingly. I got an eyeful from my spot by the bar; I watched as he stripped down to his boxers.

"You don't want to change into a bathing suit?" Bradyn asked.

"I spent the day hiking in the jungle," Austin replied. "I'm fresh out of fucks to give."

"Why the hell did you do that?" Bradyn asked.

Austin glanced in my direction. "Still wondering that myself." Then he jumped into the pool with a big splash.

Their game of water volleyball was a lot more competitive now that it was two-on-two. And it was quite the show. Bradyn wasn't much to look at, but the other three—Landon, Theo, and Austin —were impressive specimens with their shirts off and covered with water.

I found myself watching them more than the hockey game, even after the Blackhawks scored two goals to tie it up.

"You'd better step it up," Theo said at one point. "Your wife is watching, dude."

"I've been holding back," Bradyn replied. "I don't want you to look bad in front of all the other women at the resort. You're the only one not getting laid here."

"Oh damn," Landon said with a laugh.

Theo glared at him playfully. "I bet you eat Snickers bars upside-down so you can feel the chocolate vein against your tongue."

The four of them erupted with laughter. Even I giggled to myself at the bar.

"How'd the Blackhawks tie it?" a guy next to me asked. "When I went to dinner, they were down two goals."

"Bedard took over at the start of the period," I replied. The guy was in his forties, and had a wedding ring on his finger, so I didn't feel like he was hitting on me. "We gotta win tonight and send the series back to Chicago."

"From your lips to the Hockey Gods' ears." He gestured at my fresh beer. "What do they have on tap?"

"Red Stripe, and Red Stripe Lite."

"I'll have the same," he told the bartender. Then, to me again: "I like all the frozen drinks, but I'm sick of everything being sweet."

"Gotta have a beer while watching the game," I agreed.

"A woman with taste." He glanced at his watch. "If you're a Blackhawks fan, then where in Chicagoland are you from?"

"Elmwood Park."

"Ah. Milwaukee, here."

"If you tell me you're a Packers fan," I warned, "I'm going to have to dump my beer on you."

He grimaced. "I'll just keep my mouth shut, then." He looked over his shoulder. "My wife and I are here on our twenty-year anniversary, and we're looking to try something new. This may be, uh, forward, but if you wanted to join us in our hotel room tonight…"

It took me a few seconds to realize what he was suggesting. "That's… uh… wow," I said. "I'm flattered, but I'm good. Thanks."

I turned my chair away from him. Was he really inviting me to have a threesome with him and his wife? The guy was now having a conversation with the bartender, obviously trying to cover up his embarrassment at what he had just proposed to me. I didn't care, as long as he didn't talk to me again.

This is going to be an amazing story to tell later . Landon would love it, and so would Theo. Hell, I could tell the story at dinner tomorrow night and let the entire family have a laugh!

I watched the guys play water polo for a little bit. They were getting competitive—there was less trash talk and more focus on the game. Theo kept flashing smiles in my direction. I tried not to smile back.

I ordered another beer and kept my body turned so that I could watch the pool and the hockey game at the same time. Austin jumped up high above the net, spiking the ball down on the other side. He thrust his hands in the air victoriously, then shared a high-five with such enthusiasm that the smacking sound carried across the pool area.

Austin glanced in my direction, then froze. He was staring directly at me. What was his deal? I gave him a little wave.

He waved back, but his motion held more urgency. He started shouting something. Theo whipped his head in my direction too. Were they arguing about the point?

"Blackhawks scored!" the guy next to me said. "Hell yes."

I turned to see the replay of the goal. The bartender was facing away from us too, watching the TV screen. Bedard had stolen the puck from an opposing player and quickly scored before the defense could recover. The Blackhawks were now winning with just two minutes remaining. I took a long celebratory drink.

Suddenly, I realized the guys at the pool were still shouting. Austin was climbing out of the pool, splashing water everywhere as he ran in this direction. He was pointing.

When I glanced over my shoulder, the weird guy was no longer there; he was walking away from the bar, his half-drunk beer still on the counter. Then Austin went running past me, bare feet slapping wetly on the concrete, and tackled the man in mid-stride. Both of them went falling to the ground.

"What the hell?" I said.

Landon was by my side a second later. His hand struck out and knocked the beer out of my hand before I could take another sip. The glass shattered on the ground.

"That guy put something in your drink," he told me. "That's what Austin said, at least."

I looked at where Austin was pinning the man to the ground, then down to my shattered beer glass. The gold liquid was running into a nearby drain, mixed with the pool water that had splashed.

And there, next to a large sliver of glass, was a half-dissolved tablet.

He tried to drug me?

"Ouch," Uncle Robert said while sipping on a drink a few feet away. "Now that's going to leave a mark!"