Off Season

by B. Allison Miller

  “Not at all,” I replied as I regarded the three men accompanying Crater. The three men were all built like Crater—tall and muscular. One of the men was bald, one had his dark hair tied in a man bun, and the third was a redhead with short-cropped hair. “If you brought bathing suits with you, you are welcome to use the pool. The pool is out in the back, just beyond the spa. The water is heated. Also, there is a gym on the lower level.”

  The three men nodded, and the one with the man bun said, “Thanks, darling,’” as he patted my shoulder and he and the other men walked away from Crater and me.

  I don’t know exactly what came over me, but I looked at Crater and said, “Mr. McMurphy, it’s come to my attention that there have been some problems in the past when you’ve stayed at resorts such as The Chalet. I hope that what I heard was wrong.”

  “You’ve heard that have you?” asked Crater, his face looked amused, and finally, he released the hold on my arms.

  “I have, and I hope the rumors aren’t true.” I tried to maintain an impartial look. After all, the reports I’d heard about Crater’s bad behavior had happened years ago. I needed to keep an open mind. Maybe Crater had changed.

  Crater shrugged. “If you’re referring to the hotel incidents, that was a long time ago, sweetheart. I don’t anticipate any trouble while I’m staying here. I’ve got to be going, Mandy, I have that massage appointment, but maybe I’ll see you later. The boys and I are having a campout tonight, for old time’s sake, followed by rock climbing tomorrow. Should be a laugh. We wouldn’t mind another camper if you’re free.” He winked at me. Maybe he hasn’t changed at all. I stifled a shiver that threatened to run down my spine. I started to understand the anxiousness that Annie must have felt all of those years ago when she felt trapped with Crater and his crew. It was hard to tell if Crater was a harmless flirt or a predator.

  “I’m busy tonight,” I replied happy to have my GNO as an excuse. I felt my stomach clench at Crater’s invitation. Did Crater really think that I would be comfortable as a lone woman with five male camping companions—four of which I didn’t know—or was he merely kidding when he invited me? I didn’t know, but I knew I was uncomfortable. “I hope you enjoy yourselves.”

  “No worries there. We always get up to something good,” said Crater with another wink, and then he left. Quickly, I grabbed my cellphone and texted a warning to Annie.

  Mandy: Crater is on his way.

  Around noon, I stopped by Slopes to pick up a cola and a plate of nachos to eat in my office. While I waited for my order, I stepped behind the counter and walked to the little office that Tate has just beyond the bar. Tate was busy at his computer, but he looked up when I tapped the doorframe to get his attention.

  “Mandy,” Tate said, he looked surprised to see me. “How are things?”

  “Great, Tate,” I replied as usual. “I just wanted to let you know that I saw Crater and his entourage this morning.”

  “Entourage?” asked Tate he spun his chair around 90 degrees to face me.

  “He had three guys with him. Swap out the hairstyles, and they all looked remarkably like Crater Murphy.”

  “Oh, yeah, those were probably the guys who I’ll be camping with tonight.”

  “That’s what I guessed.”

  “You haven’t had any run-ins with Jonah, have you?” asked Tate, suspiciously, using Crater’s real name.

  “No.” I decided that Crater’s camping invitation wasn’t worth mentioning. I convinced myself that Crater’s invite was a poor attempt at a joke. “I did have a brief conversation with him. I spoke to corporate after you talked to me yesterday, and they told me that I had their permission to address Crater about how he comports himself during his stay.”

  “And what did Jonah have to say for himself?” asked Tate.

  “He took it well. Crater didn’t deny his former bad-boy behavior, and he said that he didn’t anticipate causing any trouble during his stay with us.”

  Tate’s eyebrows raised and lowered quickly. “I hope he keeps his word. I doubt I have to tell you this, but some guys like Jonah can get a bit out of control—especially when they are trying to impress their friends.”

  “I understand that Tate, but what I don’t understand is why you agreed to go camping with them if you don’t like Crater’s behavior,” I said. I understood that there wasn’t any love lost between the two of them. Why would Tate even consider hanging out with the man?

  “I guess you could say we have some unfinished business that I would like to address,” Tate replied, mysteriously. I noticed that his arms were crossed over his chest and his blue eyes were focused fully on me. Tate adopted a defensive stance—it was hard to miss.

  “Should I be worried about what might happen tonight?”

  “No, it will be fine,” said Tate. He unfolded his arms, smiled, and abruptly changed the topic. “Are we still on for Sunday?”

  “Yes. Noon at the burger place and skateboarding after.” I nodded towards the doorway, “My lunch is probably ready; I better get going. Have a good time tonight,” I said before I turned and walked out of Tate’s office. I hoped that the good time wasn’t going to lead to anything regrettable.

  I LOOKED FORWARD TO meeting my friends that night. I finished my shift at the Chalet at seven and drove home. I had plenty of time to shower, shave my legs, etc., dress, and do my hair and makeup before catching an Uber to Anne Marie’s house. The two of us were riding to Rascal’s together, and meeting our mutual friend, Vanessa, at the club. It would just be the three of us that night.

  Since I rarely get to dress up, I took the opportunity to shop at the back of my closet for something nice to wear. I fished out a mid-thigh-length, sleeveless, little black dress and a pair of high-heeled ankle boots. I bought the dress back when I competed, but thankfully, it still fit. I wore my long, red hair in loose waves, and pulled it over my left shoulder. I grabbed a pretty beaded black purse that my mom had given me years ago. I never actually used the bag before that night. The purse was designer, tiny, and not very practical. My smartphone, credit card, and driver’s license were about all that could fit in it.

  I ordered an Uber and we went to Annie’s house to pick her up. When the rideshare pulled up in front of Anne Marie’s house, I noticed she’d gone all out getting ready too. She had her hair in a complicated updo, and she wore a red mini-dress and zebra-striped heels. “Whoa girl,” I called out to my friend as I opened the door for her, “you look smoking tonight.”

  Anne Marie beamed, “So do you! We clean up good, don’t we?”

  Our rideshare driver smiled at me in the rearview mirror. Attention men: We ladies dress up for our friends.

  I slid across the seat so that Annie could get into the backseat of the car with me.

  “You know Vanessa will be dressed to the nines,” Anne Marie commented.

  “She always is.”

  We happily chatted as our driver took us out of the village, and deposited us just outside the doors of Rascal’s. The sun had set, the twinkle lights that adorn the nightclub were lit, and we could hear the sounds of rock ‘n roll music pumping. The place was already in full swing, and a line formed at the door. I paid our driver, gave him a five-star rating, and Anne Marie and I stepped toward the door to the club. I saw Vanessa just inside waiting for us, and when the bouncer spotted Anne Marie and me, he waved us in.

  One advantage of being a former local sports celebrity is that it is easy to get into clubs. There. I said it. I admit that I use my semi-celebrity status to get into busy clubs, though, in all honesty, with gorgeous friends like Anne Marie and Vanessa, I could probably get into Rascal’s without my minor celebrity status.

  Vanessa hugged Anne Marie and me, giving us air kisses. “Woo girls, we are going to have a good time tonight.” Vanessa sported a blue Western-style mini-dress and a pair of sexy black cowgirl boots. She wore her mid-length blonde hair loose. Vanessa is an interior designer who works with a lot of elite customers—think ‘Hol
lywood celebs with a second home in the mountains,’ and you know what her typical clients are like.

  “I reserved us a table at the back,” Vanessa called out over the booming music as she led us through the crowded nightclub.

  “I didn’t know that Rascal’s reserved tables,” I called back.

  “They don’t, usually. They made an exception for me. I just helped with the owner’s home remodel. Southwestern chic.”

  We arrived at our table—a half-moon-shaped booth—and we slid in. Vanessa sat in the center with Anne Marie and me on her sides.

  “I’m thinking a pitcher of mojitos sounds good,” Anne Marie, said, “what are you two having?”

  We all laughed. We ended up ordering a pitcher of mojitos, and a few appetizers.

  “So, how are things at the Chalet?” Vanessa asked. I originally met Vanessa a year before when we hired her to complete the redesign of the Chalet’s lobby area. She is also a part-time yoga instructor and avid road runner. I don’t know where she finds all of her energy.

  “Things are going well,” I said, taking a sip of my mojito. “It’s hectic because of the holiday weekend.”

  “Ugh. I don’t know how the two of you do it. All of that customer service,” Vanessa shook her head and popped a ‘dinosaur egg’ in her mouth.

  Anne Marie laughed. “I would imagine you do a fair amount of customer service yourself, Vanessa. You have to cater to the needs of your clients too.”

  “Ugh, it’s true. Last week, I met with some potential clients. I don’t want to drop any names but think A-list blockbuster film couple. Anyway, they wanted a stripper pole AND a swing in their master bedroom. I mean, great, have your fun, but maybe hire me to do the redesign first, and then get a discreet handyman to set up your playground later... I can’t take photos of that for my portfolio.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. We occasionally host celebrities at the Chalet, but their requests are usually pretty tame. Thinking about celebrities at the Chalet made me think of Crater McMurphy. I felt relieved that he planned to camp out that night. I didn’t have to worry about him causing trouble at the resort that night.

  We were getting ready to order our second pitcher of mojitos when I saw the crowd on the dance floor part like the Red Sea which completely grabbed my attention. I wondered what happening. That’s when I saw Crater McMurphy cross the room, and head straight toward our table. He wore nice dark jeans and a jacket over a skintight black t-shirt.

  “Oh crap!” I exclaimed. What was he doing here?

  “What?” Vanessa looked at me. She hadn’t seen Crater, and I hadn’t told her that he checked in at the Chalet.

  I nodded toward Anne Marie, and she saw Crater approaching. She grabbed her purse and made a hasty beeline toward the restrooms before the celeb reached our table.

  “Mandy Swift,” Crater said as he approached our table. He shot a long appreciative look at Vanessa and smiled. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Indeed. I thought you were camping with your friends tonight.”

  “Ah, yeah. I am. I just thought I would check out the local nightlife too, and I am glad I did,” Crater replied. He smiled and winked like the rake I suspected he was.

  I tried not to grimace. Vanessa, on the other hand, smiled widely. Apparently, Vanessa didn’t know about Crater’s reputation, and I wasn’t exactly able to warn her when the man stood right in front of us. I wondered where Anne Marie went.

  “I saw you from across the room and wanted to say hello. I thought I saw three beauties, but now it’s just the two of you,” Crater continued. “I just wonder which of you I should ask to dance first.” He smiled toward Vanessa and she smiled back at him. Ugh!

  “That’s great,” I replied, “only we have to go find our friend. I think she must be unwell.”

  Without waiting for Crater’s reply, I grabbed Vanessa’s arm, and I yanked her from the booth. “We’ll be right back!” Vanessa called to Crater as I pulled her with me in the direction that Anne Marie headed a few minutes earlier.

  I DRAGGED VANESSA TO the women's restrooms. Once safely inside, Vanessa spun on her heels towards me. “What was that about?” She sounded annoyed.

  “Trust me,” I replied, turning toward the bathroom stalls. “Annie, are you in here?”

  Annie didn’t reply.

  “What’s going on? I could be out there dancing with that tall cool drink right now, Mandy,” Vanessa accused as she turned toward one of the mirrors and checked her lipstick.

  “Trust me, you don’t want to get involved with him. He’s a guest at the Chalet, and let’s just say his bad reputation precedes him.”

  I saw Vanessa’s eyebrows raise in the reflection of the mirror. “Really?” She smiled, and I knew I needed to make it clear that Crater McMurphy was trouble.

  “Yes. I can’t go into detail, but I’ve been warned about Crater by two people. Two, credible, people.”

  “Oh.” Vanessa looked disappointed—like I’d taken away her favorite toy.

  I took my cellphone from my purse. “I think I need to find Annie.” I punched her number into my phone.

  “Mandy?” Annie answered almost immediately.

  “Where are you?” I asked.

  “I ran outside. Sorry. I guess I panicked when I saw Crater,” my friend explained.

  “No, I understand,” I looked at Vanessa. “Vanessa and I just left him at our table. We’re hiding out in the women's bathroom at the moment.” Honestly, it felt a bit foolish and very juvenile to hide from Crater in the bathroom, but there you go.

  “I think I want to go home,” Annie confessed. “I’ll understand if you and Vanessa want to stick around.”

  “No, I think I’d like to go home too,” I replied. Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. Clearly, Vanessa wasn’t ready to leave. I covered the mouthpiece of my phone. “Do you mind if Annie and I leave? She isn’t feeling well, and I have to work in the morning. We can reschedule for another time.”

  Vanessa shrugged. “You won’t mind if I stay, will you?”

  “No, of course, not. Just be careful.”

  Vanessa nodded.

  I uncovered my mouthpiece, “Annie, I’m coming out. We can catch an Uber home.”

  “Great. I’ll meet you outside.” I disconnected the call.

  “Are you sure you want to stay?” I checked the time on my phone. It was just after eleven. “We could run out to the diner and get pancakes or something.”

  “No, I’m good,” Vanessa replied. “What is Crater McMurphy’s rep, anyway?”

  I shrugged. “He’s an unapologetic womanizer and a bit of a hothead from what I’ve heard.”

  “Hmm. Okay. Well, I think I’ll stick around anyway. The band is good tonight, and I haven’t been out for fun in forever. I want to dance.” Vanessa did a little spin to demonstrate.

  “Okay. Maybe text me later? Let me know you got in safely.”

  “Okay, Mom, I will.”

  I hugged Vanessa and left the nightclub to meet Annie in the parking lot.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE VANESSA wanted to stay,” Annie lamented when we were safe in an Uber headed back to the village.

  “To be fair, she doesn’t know the full truth about you-know-who,” I replied cautiously. I didn’t want to mention Crater McMurphy in front of our driver. “Also, Vanessa said that she hasn’t been out in a while. She just wanted to stay and listen to the band and dance.”

  “I think I’m getting too old for this stuff. Paolo and I are thinking about having a baby. Maybe we should just go for it.”

  “Wow. That came out of leftfield,” I replied.

  “I mean, I’m nearly thirty, and Paolo and I are pretty settled. It’s a good time to start a family.”

  “I guess so,” I replied with a sigh.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t drop off the radar when we have kids,” Anne Marie replied sensing my unease. At my age, losing friends to parenthood isn’t that uncommon.

  We reached A
nne Marie’s house first. I said ‘goodnight’ to her, and took the Uber back to my townhome. One thought kept racing through my mind. What was Crater McMurphy doing at the club? He should have been camping with Tate and the entourage, not hitting on women at a nightclub.

  I hurriedly changed out of my clubwear, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed into pajamas. I wasn’t particularly tired, but Anne Marie had a point. At the ripe old age of 28, I might be getting too old for clubbing on a Friday night—especially when I had to work on Saturday morning. Cue the early-bird specials. I lay in bed waiting for sleep to come. It didn’t. When my phone buzzed at one-thirty in the morning, I was still wide awake. I grabbed my phone, and read the incoming text message.

  Vanessa: Just got home, Mama. I’m safe.

  Mandy: Thanks for letting me know. Have a good night.

  I fell asleep shortly after I sent my reply.

  FOUR

  “Though it be honest, it is never good to bring bad news.” – William Shakespeare

  ON SATURDAY, I MADE my rounds at the Chalet. The resort hummed with guests going in and out enjoying the luxurious freedom that a mountain retreat provides. The weather was perfect—sunny and warm—and I expected large groups of tourists to make their way through the village. My mind was occupied with various things, such as how exhausted I felt after just a few hours of sleep, guilt about not visiting my parents, and what I would be having for dinner that night. That’s when my walkie beeped to life. “This is Mandy,” I said into the device.

  “Miss Mandy, this is Esmeralda,” said the housekeeper. “There’s a problem.” Her voice sounded worried.

  “What is wrong?” I asked hopeful that there wasn’t a plumbing or mechanical problem in one of the guest suites. We had a full house that weekend, and I didn’t want any catastrophic mishaps to occur. A flood or a power outage in a guest’s suite could spell disaster—especially with a full house.