32 - Theo

32

Theo

It all happened so fast.

Austin was shouting about Joanna's drink. He hurried to the edge of the pool and started climbing out. I thought it was some sick joke, until the man at the bar saw Austin coming and abruptly tried to make an escape.

By the time Landon and I got there, Austin already had him pinned to the ground.

"This," Landon said, holding up a round tablet that hadn't fully dissolved yet. "He put this in your drink."

Joanna's eyes were the size of ping pong balls. "Oh my God. He hit on me a few minutes ago."

I was a relatively calm guy. Even back in my crazy college days, I never got into fights. I was a lover, not a fighter, and I usually did everything I could to avoid confrontation. That's why everyone liked me; I was good at defusing situations and making sure everyone was happy.

But now I saw red. The entire world narrowed until the only thing I cared about was Joanna and the asshole who slipped something in her drink.

A security guard had rushed over and was taking over from Austin. I calmly strode over to them, knelt down, and twisted the man's face around until he could see me.

"Did you drug my friend? Huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied. "That bitch is lying."

I reached my fist back, but Austin pulled me away before I could give this guy what he deserved. I tried fighting through his grasp, but Landon was also there, helping keep me away.

"Let go of me!" I shouted. "This piece of shit needs to be taught a lesson."

"Easy, buddy," Landon told me. "We got him. He's in custody and the cops are on their way."

"I don't give a fuck!" I tried fighting, but the two of them combined were stronger than I was.

"Relax, friend," Austin whispered to me. "You're causing a scene, if you catch my drift."

All the girls were watching this from their poolside table. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. Landon let go of me and was leaning close to Joanna, asking her what happened.

I realized what Austin was trying to say: I was more outraged by what happened than Landon was, and he was supposed to be Joanna's actual boyfriend. Danicka and the girls were walking over, so I quickly thought of something to say.

"I've never seen you like this, Teddy," Danicka said.

I pointed at the guy pinned to the ground by the security guard. "Fuckers like that make me sick. It's bullshit that a woman can't have a fucking beer by the pool without worrying about men like him."

Austin gave me a private little nod.

Landon was comforting Joanna. I made myself stay a few feet away. Apparently she had drank half her beer before Landon knocked it to the ground, and half the tablet was dissolved.

The police arrived surprisingly quickly; it seemed like they took these matters seriously since the country relied so heavily on tourism. Joanna told them what happened while the rest of us stood around.

"Dude, you're bleeding," Landon suddenly told Austin. "Did you step on the glass?"

Austin grimaced but raised one of his feet. "Nah. Blisters from the hike broke open when I ran across the pool area. I've had worse."

After the police were gone, Landon took Joanna up to the room. She was really shaken up, and claimed she felt queasy. Bradyn and Marisa left too, and then Danicka and the others did the same. Nobody was in a partying mood, it seemed.

I ordered a daiquiri from the bartender and walked down to the beach. It was calm at night, with the peaceful sound of the waves and trees rustling in the wind. After a few minutes, Austin joined me with two beers. One of his feet was wrapped in a bandage.

"Got my own," I said, showing him my drink.

"More for me, then." He gulped down half a beer. "I switched to beer because I think they water down their liquor drinks. I haven't even gotten buzzed since we got here."

"Weird," I replied. If anything, the drinks I'd had all seemed stronger than usual. "Thanks for what you did."

"Aw, hell," he said while stretching out in the chair next to me. "I would've done that for any girl. And if we were down at my uncle's ranch outside of Fort Worth, we'd find our own justice without getting the police involved, if you catch my drift."

"I meant how you told me to calm down," I replied.

Austin shrugged. "I didn't want to see you overplay your hand."

"Awfully nice of you, considering you were threatening to reveal our affair a few days ago," I pointed out.

"Hell, I was never going to out anyone," Austin said. "I can be an asshole sometimes, but I ain't that kind of asshole."

"I got so angry when I realized what had happened." I shook my head. "I've never felt that way before. It was like my blood was boiling inside my body, and the only way to make it stop was to pound that guy's face into the pavement."

"Then you'd be in jail, too," Austin pointed out. "Not saying that guy didn't deserve it, but it would've been bad for you. And it might've raised some questions among the family you're not prepared to answer."

"Like I said: thanks."

Austin chugged the rest of the first beer, put the glass down in the sand, then settled in to enjoy the second drink. "You really care about her."

"Is that a question?"

"Consider it an observation from a mostly-neutral party."

I stared out at the ocean. Moonlight was playing off the surface, emphasizing the shadows behind the waves. I did care about Joanna. I mean obviously I liked her, considering the date we'd had and a few delightful sexual encounters. But when I thought she was in danger? When I stared at the man who had put her in danger? I had never felt that protective before in my life. Not even with the few serious girlfriends I'd had over the years.

What did that mean?

"Must be hard," Austin went on casually. "Watchin' a beautiful girl like her pretend to be Landon's girlfriend."

"Landon's a good guy," I said. "And they're only pretending."

"Are they?" Austin asked innocently. "They seem awfully convincing. You two are a cute couple, though."

I frowned over at Austin. "You haven't seen us together at all."

"I saw y'all together at the bar at the rehearsal dinner," he replied. "And on more than one other tender occasion."

What the hell did he mean by that?

"Here's some advice from a guy who knows what it's like to miss out on something special," he continued. "If you find that person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself, don't let them go. No matter what's on the line. Because before you know it, they might find someone who makes them feel the same way."

The two of us quietly stared out at the ocean.