YOLO_You Only Live Once

by Sue Seabury

  “What are you doing? It’s showtime not nap time. Up, lady.”

  Kat rose obediently, her breath still short.

  Queenie filled the walk to the cliff with more funny stories of questionable veracity. Kat let her talk. Queenie’s shaky tone and chewed lips confirmed her theory about nerves. As for Kat, it was the uphill climb that made her breathing hard.

  “A prime example of how sex on TV can’t hurt you, unless you fall—”

  “Oh.” Kat didn’t mean to interrupt Queenie mid-sentence but the view was too beautiful.

  They had arrived at a peak moment, the sky vivid pink and orange with the sun sinking behind La Roca. The water reflected the colors and the flowers on the surrounding bushes seemed to glow red. The air temperature was perfect; the lightest breeze brought the invigorating scent of the sea up from the water below. Perfect.

  Kat stayed to soak in the view but Queenie made a beeline for the bar. Kat caught only a glimpse of bobbing black curls above the crowd.

  Just a few minutes later, the light had dimmed to a dusky blue. She sighed. So glad she’d caught the sunset. That was a view to remember. If only she’d had someone to share it with. She refused to look toward Hugo, took care to stay out of Pete’s line of sight, and thought wistfully about Josie. She’d call her again later.

  Kat headed to the bar, but the others already had several drinks under their belts and Queenie was working hard to catch up. Pete was RuPTA’s captive audience. Kat didn’t have the energy to join in the nonsense. She went down to the end of the makeshift bar and set the backpack down while she waited.

  Ramsey and Hugo were both serving, Ramsey doing more chatting while Hugo chopped and blended.

  She caught Hugo’s eye; he averted his. Still embarrassed. So be it. She had no control over other people’s emotions. She would be polite and kind to show him she hadn’t read too much into the kiss.

  The waitress Esmeralda appeared at her shoulder. “If you’d rather sit down, Miss, I can bring you something.”

  Had Hugo told Esme to take care of her so he wouldn’t have to? Or was he being solicitous about her foot? Kat watched him, but he didn’t look up. Even though she’d worn cushiony flats, her foot was a little sore. “Okay. That’d be great.”

  Esmeralda’s thick ponytail swished as she tilted her head. “What is it you want?”

  “Oh, sorry. Whatever. Anything. Hugo’s been taking care of it so I don’t have to think.” Kat laughed.

  Esmeralda’s sharp bird eyes blinked.

  “Just tell him something for Miss Katherine and I’m sure I’ll like it.”

  Esmeralda’s smile was tight.

  Kat went to sit in one of the many vacant chairs. She didn’t know why the others were standing around in those ridiculous heels when there were comfy chairs and waitress service.

  Yes she did. The Cigarbellies were standing because they’d probably get stuck if they sat, and the women hovered around them like flies.

  Was it her imagination, or did she just see Liam grope Paola’sand Tiny Tot’s rear end at the same time? She had to be hallucinating that both women smiled back at him. She shook her head. She’d take it slow on the Cabo Cooler.

  The sky deepened to indigo. Stan suggested food and they moved like a herd. Queenie was engrossed in conversation with him, while Pete seemed overwhelmed with RuPTA and didn’t even look at Kat. She didn’t mind, really. She still had a half of her Cabo Cooler left and she wasn’t hungry yet. She stayed put.

  The wind had died down and the only sound was theco-qui of hidden frogs and the gentle rush of ocean waves over the pebbles at the shore. By only turning her head slightly, she could see Hugo cleaning up. He worked efficiently and methodically; a headlamp making his wild curls glow. Kat sat perfectly still.

  He began to hum. Her heart beat faster and she felt irrationally jealous of the glasses and fruit that were on the receiving end of his concentration. A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed but it didn’t go down. She cleared her throat; she had to.

  The little light swung her way, surrounded by a sea of curls. “Miss Katherine.”

  Back to her full name. So be it. She couldn’t control anyone but herself. The lump stayed put. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just . . . enjoying the view.”

  “It is dark now. I worry about you on the path alone.”

  “Then I’ll walk with you.”

  A pause and then, “I still have a lot to clean up.”

  “I can help.”

  “No.” The light twitched. His tone seemed to surprise even himself. “You are my guest.”

  “Okay, well,as your guest I’m exercising my right to stay up here on the cliff ’til you finish.”

  Kat caught a hint of a smile before the light swung back down toward the bar.

  A minute or two passed. Kat longed to go keep him company, but her body felt molded to the chair. Karmic payback for her mean thought about the Cigarbellies getting stuck in them. She tilted her glass back to finish up the remains of her drink, then used a force of will to rise and go the bar. She set her cup on the counter. It made a hollow ‘tock.’ “About earlier—”

  Hugo’s hand went to his forehead; it blocked the light. “I can’t apologize enough. I have enjoyed very much getting to know you. Too much, it seems. I crossed a line, I—”

  “Hugo, calm down. It’s okay.”

  His hand went to his jaw. He squeezed it so tight, his face distorted. “It’snot okay—”

  “Yes it is.” Kat put her hand on his. It was warm and soft. She wrapped her fingers through and gave a gentle tug. “I liked it.”

  He pulled away. He might as well have slapped her. “I — liked it too, obviously, but it’s not all right. I don’t think you understand.” He licked his lips. “You see, Esmeralda—”

  “I see.” Kat wasn’t proud of her bitter tone. She should have known. Esme was so pretty.

  “No, not that.” Hugo said quickly, almost fiercely. “I do not date my staff.”

  Kat though she heard him add “anymore” under his breath. So Gianna had been a staff member.

  “I am the boss here.” Pride came into his voice. “People look up to me. I cannot tell my employees how to behave if I am not going to follow my own rules. In order to be respected, a person must earn it.”

  Kat could have dispensed with the lecture, but at least now she had her explanation.

  “It is not proper, as the owner of this resort, tofraternize with my guests.”

  “I understand,” she said softly.

  He picked up his ever-present cloth and wiped circles. “Esmeralda and Paola get a lot of . . . offers.” Hugo met Kat’s eyes to make sure she understood, then continued, “Offers with dollars attached. I cannot condone this.”

  Ugh. This was so depressing. Why hadn’t she gone down to dinner with the others? Kat took it upon herself to lighten the mood. “Does it matter that, if you tried the extortion route with me, I’d refuse to pay?” Too late she remembered he didn’t get her humor. “Sorry, that’s two Cabo Coolers talking on an empty stomach.”

  Hugo snorted, unmistakably a laugh. He tried to cover by looking down and wiping more circles. “I was thinking the money should go the other way, but I like your idea better. Hmm, I have a loan payment due soon.” He planted his hands wide on the counter.

  Kat slapped his arm, his lovely, smooth, muscular arm. She let her hand slide down the length of it.

  Hugo took her hand. “You are very beautiful tonight.” He placed her hand gently but decisively on the countertop.

  His headlamp was focused on the bare skin of her chest, right beneath Carver’s locket. It seemed like that tiny spotlight was burning a hole in her. She gripped the edge of the counter not to reach out again.

  “Yo, Huge! You almost done up here?” Ramsey called from behind them. “We could use a hand back — Oops. Never mind. Take your time.”

  “Ramsey,” Hugo said.

  Kat’s heart was in her throat again. Wha
t would he say?

  “Take these down with you.” Hugo handed him two bags of garbage. “I’ll only be a few more minutes. I just need to stack the chairs and fold the table.”

  Kat looked at Hugo. He looked at the ground.

  “Ramsey, wait for me,” she said. She heard a rustle as he turned.

  “Sure thing, Miss Kat.”

  “Do you want to give me anything?” Kat asked Hugo. “I’ve got two hands with nothing to do.”

  “You could take these napkins back, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course.” Kat hated it that her voice cracked.

  The stack of napkins passed from one set of hands to the other without any skin touching. Napkin-carrier was the perfect job for her. She hadn’t brought any tissues.

  20

  The surprise that she cared so much came as a shock, but the realization that only a minor fling was possible under such circumstances helped stem the tide of tears. By the time she made it to the dining area, she was barely sniffing. She understood Hugo’s decision. It was perfectly reasonable.

  Her heart twinged again. She ignored it and blinked a few more times to clear her vision. Queenie was near the bar flirting with Stan, while Pete, Liam and Kevin stood to the side, absorbed in their phones. The Technology Corner was too intimidating, but the foursome of women sat at a large table with plenty of empty seats. With a final glance at Queenie that went unanswered, Kat thought,kill them with kindness, and marched up to the table. “Mind if I sit with you?”

  A few eyebrows went up, but the “of course” was gracious enough.

  Paola came over. “Something to drink, Miss?”

  “Punch.Rum punch.” Kat hoped the girl understood not to be stingy with the alcohol.

  The conversation she had joined was about divorce and whose ex had behaved the most childishly. Kat told her baking pan story which garnered universal sympathetic coos. When Paola returned with her drink, Kat held it up in toast. “To living well being the best revenge.”

  A loud chorus of “hear, hear” followed. The tinkling of glass was so sharp, one might have shattered. Not hers; Kat took a long slug.

  These women weren’t as much fun as Queenie. Too much one-upmanship and calorie discussion, but Kat didn’t regret sitting with them because Queenie wasmuy ocupado with Stan.

  Hugo returned and buried himself behind the bar. Usually, he put his hair up in a wild ponytail coming out of the top of his head. Tonight, his hair was down. Every time Kat happened to look over, his face was down too.

  She made a decision. She wasn’t going to waste another minute of her vacation pining after things she couldn’t have.

  “Care to cut some more tile, Cathy?” Pete asked.

  “Sure,” she heard herself say. Pete may not have been exciting, but at least he was available.

  When Esmeralda asked if she wanted a refill, she also said yes. Fun with a vengeance, that was the name of this game.

  Between the punch and the vigorous spinning Pete put her through, “Cathy” was feeling a little ill and went back to the table to take a break. A tall shadow hovered over her. Her heart skipped and her lips curved up automatically. She turned. “Hello!—”

  Queenie loomed above her, arms crossed. “Hello, Party Girl. Or should I call you Miss PTA?”

  “Oh, Queenie.” Kat slapped the wicker chair next to her. “Sit.”

  Queenie plunked down and crossed her legs, her top one pumping violently. Kat scooted her chair out of range. She didn’t want a broken nose.

  “So how’s King Lear?” Kat waggled her eyebrows. “Looked like you really captured his interest there.”

  Queenie flicked her head to where Stan stood at the bar. Kat looked too, just because. Hugo still had his head down.

  “Fine, fine.” The leg stopped moving. “I can’t believe you ditched me. For them.”

  Kat had picked up her glass and was just about to take a sip. She set it back down with a hard clink. “I didn’t ditch you. You were busy, and anyway, I figured I could keep tabs on them, find out if they’re really interested.” She tugged her chin toward the Cigarbellies. “Which they aren’t.” It hadn’t actually crossed Kat’s mind to do this until now, but it sounded good.

  “Unless they intentionally kept their mouths shut because of you,” Queenie said.

  Kat shrugged. “Maybe. But they’re pretty bitter, so I doubt it. It’s more of a game to them. Kind of like the one you said you like to play.”

  Queenie’s glare said she didn’t see the similarity.

  Kat continued, “And it sounds like they all soaked their exes for a bundle, so I think they’re just passing the time—”

  The sound of Queenie sucking on her straw cut Kat off. “You goin’ hiking with them tomorrow? Or parasailing? Or, I know. I bet you’re gonna do yoga on the beach at dawn.” Queenie stretched her long arms, thrusting her chest out. “Sooo invigorating!”

  “Keep your voice down.”

  A bitter eye fixed on Kat. “So, are you?”

  Head down, Kat sucked on her own straw. “At home, I exercise every morning.”

  Queenie slammed her glass onto the tabletop and stormed away. Kat started to get up, then stopped. Queenie was drunk and probably wouldn’t even remember the conversation tomorrow.

  Kat leaned back in her chair and twirled the straw in her empty glass. Where were Esmeralda and Paola? They wasn’t nearly as attentive as Hugo.

  She looked over at the bar, but Queenie happened to look her way at that exact moment. Kat gave her a tentative smile. Queenie turned her back.

  Kat stabbed at the ice with her straw. She didn’t owe the woman anything. In fact, when she first got here, she’d wanted to avoid her like a neon spandex plague. Her first impression had been correct. She’d go back to that.

  She also had no interest in Hugo other than as cook and drink mixer. She would do yoga in the morning, alone. She didn’t need other people to motivate her. Then she’d go on that hike down to the turtle beach by herself. After that, maybe she’d try parasailing, but she didn’t need anyone else with her to enjoy it. She could do it all on her own and have a perfectly good time.

  Right now, though, she needed a drink. She picked up her glass and marched over to the bar. She rattled her ice cubes. “Whenever you have the time.”

  Hugo glanced up, but then dropped his head again immediately. “Forgive me. I sent Esmeralda to buy limes. Somehow, I am out.”

  “You’re slipping,” she teased.

  Hugo’s hand froze on the blender. “A minor lapse. I am sorry if you felt neglected.”

  Ugh. His humor was limited to third grade jokes. “Kidding. I wouldn’t notice if you gave me a lemon instead of a lime.”

  He set her glass on the counter without looking up. “Some drinks require lime juice. Esmeralda should be back soon. It’s my luck Paola went home with a headache, and of course Ramsey is . . . busy. Until Esme returns, I will try to keep a better eye on needed services.”

  That’s all she was. A needy guest to be “serviced.”

  “Cathy!” Pete’s shiny-eyed, brandy-smelling face was inches from hers. “Up for another round of tile-cutting?”

  Kat turned to face Pete but her eyes slid back to Hugo. He was carving oranges very deliberately, not his usual rapid slice. “Thanks but no thanks. I’m beat. Going to bed.”

  Kat took a step and managed to slip on a wet tile. Pete grabbed her arm.

  “Whoa! Need some help finding your room?” He let out a lame chuckle.

  “No. It was just a melted ice cube.”

  Hugo was suddenly standing next to her with a mop. He rubbed the spot vigorously. Kat watched as the blue strings came near her foot but never touched. Such control.

  “Okay, well, rest up,” Pete said. “The ladies mentioned parasailing. The ideal windspeed is between twelve and twenty-seven miles per hour, so we’ll have to check the weather report—”

  “You do that. Let me know.” Kat walked away quickly.

  F
resh flowers awaited in her room. Bright red bougainvillea and some tiny white ones that smelled divine. She guessed jasmine. She had forgotten to look in the gift shop for a field guide. Tomorrow.

  * * * *

  “Mr. Alvarez. Three phone calls in one week. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Hugo kept a pleasant smile in place in case of spy cameras.

  “My niece is looking for a job.”

  “Oh?”

  “You remember Coraly. Met her last year at my Easter party.”

  “Oh, um. Yes, I believe I remember her.”

  “Nice girl. Also my god-daughter. I keep telling her to get contacts, but she says they make her eyes itch. Maybe I’ll buy her laser surgery for Christmas.”

  “That would be very generous of you.”

  “Yeah, well. I was thinking you could hire her.”

  Hugo blinked. “Does she have any experience?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “I see. I will do my best to find something for her. ”

  “Good. Give her a test-run, as it were. Hugo, I won’t beat around the bush. She’s got a thing for you. If things work out between you and her, I was thinking I could maybe forgive your loan payment as a wedding gift.”

  Hugo shook his head. “Forgive me, sir. I don’t think our connection is good. Would you—”

  “Just give her a shot.”

  “As a waitress and housekeeper.”

  “Yeah, try ’er out.”

  21

  Kat’s early bedtime should have made it easier to get up, but the alcohol she’d ingested was intent on reminding her why she had a two-drink limit.

  She needed a long shower and some ibuprofen. She also wanted that field guide. Back to the gift shop.

  She slid on her slate-colored nylon running shorts and a turquoise tank top. The black hair elastic with the gold thread clashed with her outfit, but she didn’t care. She was going to exercise, not put on a fashion show.

  She walked the long way around to reception to avoid any others who might be up and about. The gift shop door was really locked this time; she pulledand pushed.