by Nikki Rayne
I rolled out my beach towel. I turned on some music and dropped my phone. My eyes focused on the water and before I knew it, I was running toward the beautiful clear ocean like a carefree child running toward and ice cream truck.
I squealed and sucked in a breath as the water circled around my waist. My body fell back and I closed my eyes as I floated there, not caring if the waves pulled me away.
After I felt utterly relaxed, I swam back to the beach and dropped to my towel. My eyes were closed but the sunlight somewhat penetrated through my eyelids.
“That’s a bit loud,” a deep voice with a slight accent said as a shadow blocked out the sun.
I opened my eyes but with the sun behind him, I couldn’t see anything about him.
“Oh,” I said fumbling for my phone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was around here. It didn’t seem like it was that loud though, my phone isn’t very loud.”
He took a step back. “You’re wrong. It’s loud. If you don’t mind.”
“Sorry,” I said watching him as he walked away from me.
He didn’t go far. The tall guy sat down on a chair on the porch of the cabin next door to mine.
His eyes were glued to a laptop next to a stack of papers. He had eyes darker than the night sky and curly, shaggy hair that matched.
The man was shirtless and wore long orange swim trunks. His smooth, light brown skin displayed his perfect build. Every rounded muscle showed that he liked to work out.
He glanced up in my direction and I pulled my sunglass down over my eyes and turned back toward the ocean. The guy might have been incredibly hot but was still a bit of a stick in the mud. My music hadn’t been that loud. I just wish he wouldn’t have seen me gawking at him.
Whatever. I’m sure he knew he was attractive. It didn’t matter that I was staring at him. I was just the loud person disturbing him in the middle of the day.
I got up and grabbed my things. It didn’t have anything to do with the jerk next door… I just wanted to soak in my tub.
4
Frankie
Shit.
I wanted to be doing anything other than sitting here under the hot sun staring at my laptop. If I wasn’t on the brink of losing my job, I would have slammed the computer shut and throw it into the ocean.
I wanted to run down the beach.
Lift weight.
Go fishing.
But no. I was stuck here with that noisy woman next door. They weren’t supposed to even rent out that cabin.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t be there long. I could try calling the main office in the morning but I already knew they wouldn’t do anything to help.
I just had to do my best to ignore her even though that black bikini she wore had made it nearly impossible. My life was falling apart.
I had to figure out how to make up with my father. And I had to figure out a way to convince my ex to let me see my kid.
I was down to my last dime. My dad was doing his best to make sure I had to depend on him for everything. He was controlling. He’d always been that way even when my mom was alive.
My mom had been gone for ten years. Ten years to the day. And I still missed her. Things would be a lot different if she were still alive because she wouldn’t let my dad pull the shit he was.
I knew it was because he was afraid of being alone. If I didn’t depend on him, he was afraid I’d leave and then he wouldn’t have anyone. Sadly, he was the one driving me away with his behavior.
My divorce had bankrupted me. Any extra dime I got I sent to my ex, Maria, to help take care of Ana.
I threw my pen across the patio. It wasn’t enough. I wasn’t doing enough for Ana and God dammit, I missed her. I missed her so much.
My phone vibrated. I didn’t even look at the screen before taking the call. Apparently, I wanted a distraction. Something different than loud music or a hot ass.
“Yes?” I said sharply.
“Can you help up at the main office?” Mrs. Hernandez said in her sweet older lady voice. She was asking for help but I knew that it wasn’t so much a choice I would really get to make.
I glanced over at my pen on the wood flooring. “Yeah, I can be there in fifteen.”
“Thanks, Frankie,” she said. “I’ll make a note in the books. Make sure you get paid overtime.”
“Should probably just send all my paychecks over to Maria,” I muttered.
“What’s that?” she said. I could imagine her squinting at the phone.
I cleared my voice. “Nothing. See you soon.”
I leaned forward, resting my head in my hands. My fingers roughly scratched my scalp, shaking my wavy hair.
I walked over, picking up the pen before going into the house and changing into a nice pair of jeans and a shirt with the resort’s logo printed on the left breast. We were supposed to button the top two buttons on the polo shirt but I never did. I was almost sure it helped me get bigger tips from both the ladies and the men who came to enjoy the massive property.
There was a large hotel on the beach several miles down the beach. It was a much more affordable place for tourists. The cabins were for our wealthier customers who were looking for more privacy. Their own private beach.
I was lucky to get to stay in a cabin. There wasn’t anywhere else for me to go. But there was a price for getting to have my own cabin… I had to help out whenever I was needed. Filling in with everything from housekeeper to bartender. Carrying luggage to custodial work.
Cleaning toilets.
That’s what my life had become.
An absolute hell, that I had to claw my way out of so that I could see my daughter again.
I walked between the cabins. The woman with the loud music was running water. I shook away the vision of her peeling off that bikini before slipping into the hot, steamy water.
I climbed onto the four-wheeler parked between the cabins hidden by a large shrub and drove off down a narrow dirt path. Maybe once I got to work, I could figure out how the hell they had booked the cabin that was supposed to remain empty.
When I arrived, everything was moving along slowly. I eyed everyone to see where I’d be filling in.
I walked around the side of the desk. Laura was sitting near the phone, twisting her gum on her index finger. Her eyes were glued to me. It wasn’t a secret she wanted me to take her to bed.
She was a bit young for me. And I couldn’t afford the distraction. Although, something with no strings attached would have been nice. It had been a while since I’d been with a woman. Sadly, much too long.
“What’s up, Laura?” I said before turning the corner and heading down the hall toward Mrs. Hernandez’s office.
“Hi, Francis,” she said. Her eyes widened and she awakened at even the small amount of attention I’d given her.
It made me smile.
I tapped my knuckles on Mrs. Hernandez’s office door. Her sweet voice telling me to come in managed to penetrate through the door.
“Hello there, handsome,” she said crossing her arms. “How’s your day? Don’t answer. It’s about to get worse.”
“Oh no,” I said.
“Several staff members have called in sick. Need you to help Antonio,” she said looking at the computer screen.
I crossed my arms. The shirt felt tight on my biceps and I wondered if she’d let me go home if the shirt ripped.
“Aw, I don’t mind,” I lied. “Where is he?”
“A guest puked all over the bathroom in the bar,” Mrs. Hernandez said. “You’ll find him there.” She dug in one of her drawers and held out her hand. “Here,” she said. “Take this.”
She placed a flesh-colored nose plug in my palm. “Thanks.”
5
Olivia
The lights were off in the cabin next door. I wasn’t sure why I was checking.
I’d heard him leaving earlier but still, I was a bit nervous to turn on my music. The patio light was on, I had my favorite book, and I just wanted to relax.
I laid down in the lounge and turned on the music. The sun was kissing the horizon, giving my surroundings the color of a ripe clementine.
I’d forgotten to order dinner but I was lucky that there had been some items to snack on in the cabinets. Tori must have known I’d forget to order food. I would have hated to trouble anyone to bring out food to me.
My phone had buzzed several times since my arrival but other than glancing to make sure it wasn’t Hope or Tori, I ignored it. In fact, I hadn’t even brought it outside with me. It was strange to be living a life where I wasn’t continually checking something on my phone.
I must have fallen asleep because when my eyes opened, it was dark. My surroundings had mostly vanished but I could still hear the ocean.
“Hey!” a voice called out over my music. “Are you serious with that?”
“With what?” I asked.
The shadow of my neighbor came into view. He’d taken a few steps closer… enough that the light next to the door lit gave him a slight yellow tinge.
“It’s midnight,” he said.
How could I have fallen asleep for so long outside? Traveling must have worn me out and the long bath must have relaxed me.
“Oh,” I said.
“So, can you turn it down?”
I fumbled for my phone, managing to increase the volume with my finger before dropping it on the ground.
“Dammit,” I said dropping to my knees. It must have landed screen side down because I couldn’t find it.
“Jesus,” he said stomping over. He picked the phone up and handed it to me. “Here.”
I swallowed hard as I took it from him, still on my knees. My eyes shifted upward. He was only inches away and I was at hip level.
My heart was pounding. He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in my entire life.
“I’m sorry,” I said getting to my feet. I took a step back. “I didn’t realize. It seems I had fallen—”
“Just keep it down, okay?”
His eyes were focused on mine. The intensity of his gaze felt like it was melting my insides. I could barely even remember what he was doing on my back porch.
“Sorry?” I said shaking my head.
“Keep the music down,” he said. He said each word slowly and carefully as though he didn’t think I understood them. He pointed at his shirt. “I’m a busy man. Why don’t you head out into town? Lots of places to hear music. Dance.” He looked me over before meeting my eyes. “Whatever floats your boat.”
“I’m just here to relax,” I said as if I needed to explain myself to him.
His eyes held some kind of power over me. And for the life of me, I couldn’t stop imaging him with his shirt off.
“Oh shit,” I said looking down at my phone. The screen was cracked. I tapped the screen hard and as far as I could tell, it was still working. “I’ll have to get a new phone now.”
“There’s a place in town that can fix it,” he said.
I looked at him. “I’m Olivia.”
“Frankie,” he said blinking twice slowly.
“Nice to meet you,” I said daring a smile.
“I need to shower and I’m beat,” he said. “Please keep your relaxing down to a minimum.”
I twisted my fingers together. “I didn’t even know I was—”
“Well, you were,” Frankie said. “It’s a rather secluded area but not that secluded. Be mindful of your neighbors.”
“Well, I didn’t know I had any,” I said.
“Be more observant.”
Were all men assholes? The more Frankie said, the more he reminded me of Danny. Everything I said was wrong.
“You don’t own this place,” I said sharply.
I almost let out an audible gasp at the words that had manage to find their way out of my mouth. I never would have dared say that to Danny or I would have definitely regretted it.
“If I want to listen to music, I’ll listen. I’m a paying customer,” I said crossing my arms.
Frankie’s lip curled at one end. “I can always put a call into the main office.”
“They won’t throw me out,” I said confidently.
“Sure about that?” Frankie said cocking his head.
“Yes,” I said narrowing my eyes. “Didn’t you say you were tired?”
Frankie held up his hands. I wasn’t sure if that had meant I’d won. He didn’t say another word as he walked away, letting his cabin door close with a loud bang.
My adrenaline was pumping. It stopped the second I looked down at my phone. I was going to text Hope and Tori about the incident but the cracked screen had made my brief moment of victory poof into nothing.
I sighed and walked back into my cabin. Closing the door hard and locking it behind me.
6
Frankie
Even in the shower, I couldn’t shake her image from my mind. After going through an awful divorce with Maria, there was no way I was going to allow another woman into my life.
I scrubbed myself roughly with the bar of soap. Showers after helping with custodial work never felt long enough.
I turned off the water and toweled off. It was hard to ignore my growing dick but if I allowed my mind to go there, I was afraid there would be no turning back.
What was her name? Olivia. Beautiful Olivia wasn’t what I needed. Although I didn’t know what the fuck I needed.
Peace and quiet. A day where I wasn’t called in to fill in for someone else so I could work on finding a lawyer that could help me get to see my daughter.
Maria took Ana during the night. I knew where they were but I couldn’t go there. I’d be shot on sight. I believed Maria when she said as much.
Maria's family was one of the wealthiest families in Mexico. She lived in a gated mansion with armed guards.
Her last words to me were that I should just accept that I will never see Ana again. But that wasn’t something I would accept. I didn’t want her growing up thinking I had abandoned her.
Maria was difficult. She had believed I’d cheated on her and without proof, she believed the gossip. There hadn’t been anything I’d been able to say to convince her otherwise.
The memory came back.
“I’ll never be able to trust you, Francis!” Maria hissed.
“I didn’t do it! I wouldn’t do that,” I shouted as I slammed my fist against the table so hard it cracked at the edge. “Fuck!”
Anger filled Maria’s eyes. “My Bisabuela’s table! What is wrong with you?”
“I’ll pay to get it fixed,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
“This is done, Francis. I can’t do this anymore,” Maria wailed. “You’re immature. You’re an imbecil!”
She walked from the room and I knelt down to examine the table. When she came back seconds later, she was holding Ana’s hand. The fear in my daughter’s eyes had turned to me stone.
“Don’t follow us. Don’t come looking for us. My daughter can’t be around this. It’s not good for her,” Maria said.
She didn’t say another word. The door slammed. I hadn’t been able to move my feet until I heard her start her car.
“Maria!” I shouted. “Maria, stop! She’s my daughter too!”
Red brake lights were the last thing I saw.
Now, here I was living in a cabin on the beach. Some would probably tell me not to complain. But I wanted to see my daughter. I had every right.
Maria was easy to anger. She blamed me for everything, even when I wasn’t to blame. Her parents were in her ear ever since the day we’d met.
Her family and my father had never gotten along. Competition. Also, no one seemed to like my father much.
After she left, my father didn’t say a word. He didn’t even seem upset that he couldn’t see his granddaughter. He just thought it was another thing I’d screwed up.
I tried to find a lawyer that would help me but the second Maria’s family name came up, they’d immediately back out. Most of my free time was spent trying to f
ind someone that would work with me at an affordable price and willing to take on the case.
I also wrote countless letters to Maria. And notes to Ana I was sure she wasn’t given.
Morning came quickly. It was a challenge for me to get more than five or six hours of sleep due to the chaos of my life.
Every day I went to work in an attempt to show everyone I wasn’t a screw-up but it didn’t seem to make a difference. My father still wouldn’t help me get my daughter back. I was pretty sure he’d written me out of the will.
The hot sun just over the horizon beat down on me as I typed my letter to Ana. I started the letter the same as always… telling her how much I loved and missed her.
I hadn’t heard Antonio but saw him walking down the beach with his bags and baskets. He waved as he headed my way.
“Buenos dias, Francis,” Antonio called.
“Is it?” I asked. “Are you behind schedule today?”
“A little,” Antonio said wearing a sheepish grin. “Met a lovely lady. She wanted to stay over and I couldn’t tell her no.”
I chuckled. “That’s a good excuse.”
“Just don’t tell your father,” Antonio said. “This is the best job I’ve ever had.”
“Bringing fresh fruit and cleaning cabins is the best job you’ve ever had?” I asked squinting at him.
A serious look appeared on his face. “Si. The folks who stay in the cabins are mostly tidy. Half the time, they just want fresh towels. And I get to eat fresh fruit as I work. I really can’t complain.”
“Fair enough.”
Antonio leaned closed. “And the women. Beautiful women everywhere.”
He glanced over his shoulder as my neighbor stepped out onto her patio wearing the same black bikini. I shifted in my seat and forced myself to look away.
“Beautiful women like that,” Antonio said softly. “You’re lucky to have such an incredible view here.”
“Hmm,” I said turning my attention back to my laptop. “Nice seeing you again.”
