“Well, he came to me and tried to talk and then Daniel kicked his ass,” Erica said. Cassandra and Emily looked at each other for a long minute before they turned their attention back to Erica.
“I’m sorry, what?” Emily asked. She was more shocked than surprised.
“Did she say something about that bag of cuteness kicking someone’s ass or did I hear my own things?” Cassandra asked.
Erica laughed.
“You did not imagine anything or hear your own things. I said exactly that. Daniel kicked Eli’s ass,” she said.
“So, I think now I really want the long version. Don’t you Cassie?” Emily said as she looked at Cassandra who was grinning widely. “And also, there is that little fact about you taking Daniel to the airport, the very same Daniel who later kicked Eli’s ass? What’s up with that?” Emily asked.
“He was supposed to go to Seattle for business but he later changed his mind and came back to the hotel to surprise me,” Erica said. “And boy, was I surprised?” she asked under her breath.
“Please give us the long version,” Cassandra was begging. Erica ran her fingers through her hair.
“So, I had just taken Daniel to the airport and I was about to head back to the hotel and there he was. It was like waking up in the middle of a really bad nightmare only to find that it is not a dream but a reality,” she started. “He wanted to talk to me, have dinner or something…I don’t really know. All I cared was that I needed to get out of there. It was just a whole…it was just a shit storm,” she finally said.
“Shit storm,” Emily echoed.
“Shit storm,” Erica said again. “I was just not…it was weird, that’s all I can say. He followed me back to the hotel and…” she didn’t know how to say it. She had not brought herself to talking about it. Seeing it, watching it…was one thing. Talking about it was a whole new different thing, one that she was not prepared for. She looked at her computer screen and shrugged.
“Do you not want to talk about this, sweetie?” Cassandra asked.
It was like she had read Erica’s mind. The truth of the matter was that she didn’t want to talk about anything Eli related. But it was like her body and mind were not in sync because all she did was shrug. And her answer surprised her even more.
“No it’s fine,” she said. “I don’t really remember what he was saying, all I know was that one minute he was talking and the next minute he was having his ass handed to him. Apparently Daniel has been an MMA fanatic for a while. It was like watching some fat security guard trying to take down Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill,” Erica said.
“Ouch,” Emily said looking clearly impressed.
“So, he likes to beat up people for fun?” Cassandra asked. “This guy gets more attractive by the minute,” she said shaking her head.
“He doesn’t like beating up people for fun. MMA is more than that,” Emily said as she looked at Cassandra.
“Is that what they tell you at your Taekwondo classes?” Cassandra asked rolling her eyes at Emily.
“It’s a hobby but if someone decides to get in your way, it can come in handy. I’m sure Daniel would agree,” Emily said. She looked at a smiling Erica.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said matter of factly.
“And maybe, you should have joined me when I first started the classes,” Emily said. Erica shook her head and smiled.
“So, what’s the way forward? I mean, he is there. Right where you are and he knows the hotel you’re staying in,” Cassandra said. Erica took a long deep breath.
“We are leaving Athens,” she said in a cool voice.
“What? But you haven’t even stayed there for long,” Emily started.
“Yeah, I know. We were supposed to stay longer but I just can’t. Every time I think of going out for a glass of wine, I run the risk of meeting Eli and it goes without saying that, that is not how I want to spend my vacation,” Erica said. “Plus I think we have seen it all…the Parthenon, Poseidon’s temple, the Acropolis…” her voice trailed off. “There is nothing more for us here. It’s just all done,” she added with a sad smile.
“So are you going to take out a restraining order or something against Eli?” Cassandra asked. Erica paused and looked out into the starry sky. She could get a restraining order or something but that would just be giving Eli the airtime he wanted. She looked down at the screen and shook her head.
“No, we are just going to leave. It’s not like he will follow me around the world,” she said.
“He’s done it once sweetie. What’s to say he won’t do it again?” Cassandra asked.
“She’s got a point there,” Emily said.
“Well, he wouldn’t have known where to follow me to if someone hadn’t told him now, would he?” Erica asked. Emily took a long deep breath.
“You are never going to let me live that down, are you?” she asked. Erica smiled and shook her head. “I did say I was sorry, didn’t I?” she asked.
“Relax, I’m just pulling your leg,” Erica said with a smile.
“So, what’s the new destination?” Cassandra asked excitedly. Erica shrugged.
“Let’s just say that it is somewhere in Central America,” she said. Cassandra looked at Emily and shook her head.
“See, what you did? We can’t even get the real scoop now,” Cassandra was trying to whisper but Erica heard her. She smiled as she watched them argue. It was like being back at home all over again. She was still watching them when she saw Daniel from the corner of her eye. He was leaning against the doorpost. She turned around just as Emily and Cassandra turned their attention to her. “Damn, he looks even better without a shirt on,” Cassandra ‘whispered’ again. A smile played on Daniel’s lips.
“Thank you,” he said leaning over Erica’s shoulder so that Cassandra and Emily could see him.
“Damn it, he heard that?” Cassandra ‘whispered’ again.
“Cassie, we have always told you that you are terrible at whispering. Matter of fact, you shouldn’t ever try it,” Emily said.
“Well, it’s not like I’m trying to get into Langley or anything,” Cassandra said rolling her eyes.
“Daniel, you remember Cassandra, Emily,” Erica said with a smile. Daniel smiled and nodded. “Did I wake you up?” she asked. Daniel smiled and leaned down to kiss her. The ohs and ahs from Cassandra and Emily made them pull apart. “Okay guys, we have to go,” Erica said touching the top corner of her laptop ready to bring the top down. Actually, she was already bringing the top down.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Emily yelled making Erica stop the lowering process.
“What?” Erica asked as she raised the screen and looked at her sister.
“You need to call mom. She is very upset because you left without telling her and I might have let it slip that calling off the wedding was your idea,” Emily said frowning. Erica sighed and Daniel cleared his throat.
“You have been letting a lot of things slip lately, haven’t you?” Erica said.
“You know what, I’ll just be over there,” Daniel said as he headed back into the suite. Erica looked at the screen and shook her head.
“So, she wants to talk? But I don’t want to talk. She’ll get all sad and…” Erica started.
“Hey, I had my fair share of parental drama. Now it’s your turn, damn it,” Emily said as she looked at her. Erica shook her head.
“Fine. I’ll call her once we land. Okay maybe a week after we land,” Erica said in a soft voice.
“Should I maybe send you a bottle of wine to get your courage built up?” Emily asked.
“Yeah, we’re taking a trip to Napa this weekend,” Cassandra said excitedly.
“You know what, if you do remember to actually send the bottle, just send it over to my place. Right now, I have to go. I did mention the midnight thing, right?” Erica said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
“Alright, sleepy head. Go to bed,” Emily said as she looked at her sister.
“Good n
ight guys,” Erica said smiling.
“We love you,” Cassandra and Emily said in unison.
“Love you too,” Erica said before she finally hung up. She threw her head back and took a long deep breath. She got up and walked back into the suite where Daniel was waiting for her dressed in nothing but his pajama bottoms. He was seated with one leg over his lap, lazily sipping on a hot beverage. Tea, Erica gazed. He had a weird thing for tea, almost like a British guy.
“All done with your family call?” he asked as she walked back in. She nodded and sat next to him. He draped an arm around her shoulders as she nodded. “Want me to make you some tea?” he asked.
“You know, I don’t really get your weird obsession for tea. Why can’t you just have coffee like a normal American?” she asked as she looked up at him.
“You really have no idea, do you?” he asked.
“No idea about what?” she asked. He smiled and nodded before he grabbed the phone. “What are you doing? Who are you calling?” she asked as he put the cup down and dialed the reception.
“Room service? Can I have a pot of chai tea sent up to my suite?” he said smiling at Erica. “Ten minutes? Good enough,” he said before he hung up.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked as she looked at him.
“Getting you to taste what you have been hating on,” he said. She looked at him and shook her head.
“You like tea…strangely colored tea, if I must say,” she said as he looked at her. He handed her his cup and she frowned. “No,” she said.
“Come on. There are so many types of tea just like coffee. So you will never know what you like if you don’t try it,” he said. She rolled her eyes and took a sip. He was watching her intently as she listened for the taste.
“Not bad,” she said.
“Wait until you try the chai,” he said.
She shook her head and raised an eyebrow over the other.
“If I must be terribly honest, I have to say that I think chai is overrated,” she said.
“Tell me that again in ten minutes,” he said as he took back his cup of tea. She rolled her eyes and he began sipping on his tea.
For the next few minutes, they talked about anything and everything concerning their trip to Belize. Suddenly, the next morning seemed forever away. “I can’t wait to be in Central America,” he said as he looked at her. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. Daniel looked at her and smiled before he walked to the door. Erica heard hushed conversations before Daniel walked back in pushing a trolley in front of him. She looked up at him as he poured her a cup of the steaming spicy tea.
“I have a feeling I am going to regret this,” she said as he held the cup out to her.
“Just try it,” he said with a smile. Erica rolled her eyes and inhaled the sweet spicy aroma. She hated admitting it but it smelled pretty damn great. He was looking at her as she took a sip.
“Holy freaking fuck,” she said under her breath before she took another long sip.
“I hate to tell you this, but I told you so,” he said with a smile. She looked at him and took another sip. She then closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair as she drank every last drop. Daniel was looking at her, a satisfied smile on his face. “I’ll just leave you to your tea-gasm,” he said before he walked out of the room.
Chapter 9
As they traveled to Belize, Erica was feeling her creative juices flowing. As she looked at her computer screen, it was almost as if it was calling out to her, for her to put down every single thought she had. At some point, she was almost afraid that she was typing too fast and too loud. She looked at her screen and smiled as every thought she had just flowed out of her…
When I was taken to La Quebrada, I thought, why would a safe person like me choose to go to a place like that? Why would I want to be out in the wild? I would much rather stay indoors and read a book, even on vacation. Yeah, I am that sad. But Acapulco proved more than enough to get me out of the cocoon I was in. And La Quebrada was just the first step.
La Quebrada, which translates to ravine or gorge in Spanish, is by far my favorite tourist attraction in Mexico. The attraction which has been dazzling people since 1934 is ideal for the safe people like me and the more daring people who get off on jumping off ledges forty to fifty feet high.
She was on fire as she went on typing and uploading photos. It was like a switch in her had suddenly come on and was not about to go off until she was done…
And finally, the clifftop bar of the Hotel Los Flamingos. Something about dining as you breathe in the fresh sea breeze and looking down at the most perfect picturesque landscape just gets your insides tingling. There is a lot to do and see in and around Acapulco but this bar is definitely the cherry on top. (Especially their signature cocktails. Just don’t plan to drive for twelve to forty eight hours because once you get started, you are not going to be leaving any time soon. And to prove it here is a picture of the pineapple juice with rum and coconut crème).
She took a long deep breath as she looked at her screen. This was it. This was going to be her first online diary post. A smile played on her lips as she uploaded the document she had so passionately written. This was it. This was her own idea of perfection.
“Name of the blog…” she wondered as she looked at the computer screen. She had not thought this far into the future. She had no idea what she was supposed to call her new website. “My way or no way,” she thought but then shook her head. That was as corny as ever. She needed something special, something unique. “The Hayes Way,” she said under her breath.
“What? Did you say something?” Daniel who had been deeply engrossed in the in-flight entertainment asked taking off his headphones.
She looked at him and smiled. “I just created my website,” she said proudly.
“Is that right? What is it called?”
“The Hayes Way?” she said looking at him.
“I like the sound of that,” he said with a smile. He looked at the screen and raised an eyebrow. “And it doesn’t look girly at all,” he added as he looked at the black background website. She looked at him and shook her head.
“What is that supposed to mean? Just because I’m a girl, I’m supposed to have chosen a flowered background?” she asked. He smiled and shrugged.
“Well, most girls would tend to do that,” he said as he looked at the computer screen. “Well, this is beautiful baby. I’m really proud of you,” he said as he reached for her neck. He pulled her down and kissed her softly. She was proud of herself too. She could feel her heart beating hard as she put the computer away. She leaned back in her seat and looked at Daniel.
“You know, by the time we go back home, we are going to be so fucked up,” she said.
“Why?” he asked.
“The different time zones,” she said.
“Yeah, we keep on losing and gaining time. Actually I don’t even know what time zone we are in now,” he smiled.
“I think we are headed to a central time zone,” she said. “If I’m not wrong, it’s UTC minus six.”
“Look at you, the time zone expert,” he said. She smiled.
“The company I worked for had a lot of international clients. So you kind of had to know exactly what time zone they all were. I mean, you don’t want to conference call a client and find him banging his mistress or anything,” she added with a smile. He looked at her and smiled.
“Yeah that would be awkward,” he said. She looked at him and smiled. “A few more hours and we will be in Belize,” he said as he looked out the window.
“Thank God. I desperately need a shower,” Erica said with a smile.
“Well, you have to wait for a couple of hours,” he said.
“Too long,” she frowned.
“You know two hours is the length of Blended, the Adam Sandler movie,” he said as he scrolled on her screen. She put on her headphones and interlaced her fingers with his, as she prepared herself to watch the movie.
/>
*****
The whole idea of watching the movie was actually the only thing that got her through the last two hours of the flight. It was nine in the evening when the plane touched down in Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport. The drive to the hotel was just a short forty minutes and when they got to their room Erica was not surprised to find that Daniel had once more asked for a suite. She was obviously impressed as she looked around their suite. As far as she was concerned, each suite seemed to be so much better than the last. There was just something special about Belize that just got to her. Or maybe it was just the room…she was not sure.
“Oh my God,” she whispered under her breath when she saw the bathroom. She was still looking at the bathroom when Daniel walked in.
“So, do you like it?” he asked as he put his hands on her shoulders.
“Like it? I love it” she said in a small voice. “I want to get married to this room and have little rooms like this.”
“I’m glad you like it. I made sure they reserved the best VIP suite,” he said as he kissed her neck softly.
Erica frowned. “The best VIP suite? Wouldn’t that be the presidential suite?”
“No, you said that the whole presidential suite thing was a bit too much for you so I went for the VIP suite,” he said.
She turned around and looked into his eyes.
“So, if this is the VIP suites, shouldn’t it be the only one? I mean…” she started.
“The hotel has five VIP suites. And because I have a VIP with me, I had to make sure that I had the best VIP suite,” he said as he held her waist. She was smiling as he kissed her. “Are you tired?” he asked in a whisper when he pulled back. She looked into his eyes and shook her head.
“I could do with a shower though,” she said. He smiled and nodded. “Actually, scratch that. I think I’ll just have a nice long bath,” she added as she looked at the huge tub. “Seriously, I could have a family function with all my cousins in that tub. Barbecue and all,” she said as she looked at the tub. Daniel laughed and walked out of the bathroom.
“I’ll get us some dinner…breakfast…whatever,” he called out from the bedroom area.
An Unconditional Love (BWWM Romance Book 1) Page 20
