by Smoak, Ivy
"That looks delicious," Mason said. He was the first to get up. "Not sure if this is up to Daphne's standards, though."
I was surprised when he handed the first burger and beer to me. "Oh, thanks. I'm sure it's great." I was almost positive it was not going to be great, but I didn't want to be rude. It was easy to wait patiently for everyone to get their food, because I wasn't excited to eat it at all. I moved in the seat so that I was facing Rob. He smiled. I liked this almost as much as having his arms wrapped around me.
"Aren't you even going to try it?" Rob asked. "Living is all about trying new things."
I hadn't realized that everyone else was already eating. I was a little embarrassed that I had stormed into Rob's room rambling about not wanting to die before I knew what living was. What did I even mean by that? I just knew that in that moment I wanted him to teach me how he lived. And maybe I wanted to have sex with him. A little. I bit my lip. A lot.
He held out his burger for me. I had my own on my plate, but there was something sexual about him wanting to feed me.
"What's on it?"
"Everything a burger is supposed to have on it."
I laughed. "According to you."
"Sure, according to me. But you should listen to me, Daphne. I think I could make you pretty happy." He put the burger closer to my lips.
He was doing it again. Saying things that I was probably interpreting way wrong. Of course he could make me happy. Just seeing that grin on his face made me happy. He raised his left eyebrow.
I didn't want to say no to him. Not when he was looking at me like that. I leaned forward and took a bite of the burger. It was freaking delicious. I started laughing and put my hand over my mouth. "It's so good." There were fried onions, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and seasonings I had never tasted before, and they all exploded in my mouth in the most wonderful way.
"Told you. Think about all the things you've been missing out on. You should probably stick with me." He winked at me.
"I might just take you up on that. What time are you guys leaving today?" I tried to ask as casually as possible.
"Around 5," Mason said. "I made Penny a promise that I intend to keep."
"And what promise was that?" James asked.
"That I'll have you back before midnight."
"Well, that was sweet of you to promise to return her kidnapped fiancé at a specified time."
"Psh. Kidnapped?" Mason laughed. "If we had really kidnapped you, we wouldn't have let you do whatever you wanted all weekend."
"Whatever I wanted? You wouldn't even let me call Penny. Rob had to sneak me out of the room before you guys woke up and I only got to leave a hasty message on her phone before all three of you came charging toward me."
He let James talk to her? I tilted my head to the side to look up at Rob. "That was really nice of you, Rob," I whispered.
"Why do you seem so surprised? I can be very nice." He leaned back, pulling me on top of him.
"I know." I tried to sit up again, but his arms were wrapped tightly around me. "Let me up." I squirmed and he started tickling me. "Rob!" I started laughing even harder as his fingers slipped under my shirt, tickling my stomach. "Stop, I can't breathe," I said through bursts of laughter.
This time when I pushed on Rob's chest, he let me sit up. The smile on his face was contagious.
"Let's play a getting to know Daphne game," Matt said. "Before they start having sex right in front of us."
"I'm not into public nudity like Rob is," I said.
Matt laughed.
"What does a getting to know me game entail?" I asked. I took another bite of the delicious burger. I really had been missing out.
"A heated round of never have I ever. If you've done something you have to take a drink."
I laughed. "I don't see how that gets you to know me."
"We'll just make statements about you," Mason said. "Like...never have I ever had sex with Rob." He laughed at his own cleverness.
I didn't have to be embarrassed about it. Rob had already sung about our sexual escapades to the whole pool. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of the beer. It actually went pretty well with the burger.
"You like it, don't you?" Rob asked.
"It's okay."
He smiled. "It's okay to be wrong, you know." He put his hand on my shin. "Never have I ever ordered food like a dead chef who came back to life with the purpose of ruining every other chef's delicious dishes."
"Is that supposed to be me?"
"It is you."
I laughed and took a sip of my beer. "Fine. Never have I ever shared a bed with Rob."
James laughed. "In the least sexual way possible...I think the rest of us are all guilty of that." He took a sip of his beer.
Mason shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his beer.
"In the most sexual way possible," Matt said and winked at me.
Rob choked on his bite of sandwich. "What? Gross, man."
Matt laughed and took a sip of his beer. "I was definitely kidding. However, I am not kidding about this. Never have I ever sucked cock."
I could feel myself blushing. "Why are you guys teaming up against me?" I took a sip of my beer. I could see Rob staring at me intensely out of the corner of my eye. Earlier he had said he wanted to see his cum dripping down my chin. Apparently he hadn't been joking around. I swallowed hard and my throat made a weird squeaking noise.
"Anxious for later?" Rob whispered.
I looked up at him. I did want to taste him. But I didn't have to answer his question, because James had one of his own.
"Never have I ever had sex at The Blue Parrot Resort."
"Lame," Rob said. He grabbed another drink from the tray and took a sip.
Matt and I also both took sips. I was glad to know that James and Mason were faithful. Maybe that meant Rob would be too. Not that we were dating. I really needed to talk to him alone. He was only going to be here for a few more hours and we had a lot to figure out. How could I get him away from his friends? By telling him you want his cum dripping down your chin. I took a bite of my burger to try and stop thinking with my hormones.
"Never have I ever been a teacher," Mason said. "Wait, no, that's a lie. I've just taught people things outside of a classroom."
Matt laughed.
I wasn't sure what was so funny, or what on earth he was referring to.
"Let me clarify," Mason said. "Never have I ever been a teacher at a school."
James and I both drank. He looked a little sad after he set down his beer. Again I got the feeling that he still wanted to be a professor. I just didn't understand why he didn't realize it. I glanced at Rob. He was staring at James too.
Rob cleared his throat. "Never have I ever been in love." Apparently he thought that statement would fix it. And I did see a smile cross James' face. Mason and James were the only two to drink.
I had loved so much. And so much had been taken away from me. I had never been in love, though. As much as I wanted it, I wasn't sure I could handle it. The thought of putting my heart in someone else's hands was terrifying. They'd probably just squash it. Rob would squash my heart. It already felt like he was. I was getting attached and he had such a casual air about him. He took showers outside because he hated how stifling a roof was. Love was stifling too. I knew my love would be, because I'd be so scared of losing it. I'd suffocate him. I needed to make this game fun again. I needed to not think about Rob leaving in a few hours.
"Never have I ever had a threesome," I blurted out.
Mason laughed. "I'm probably the most guilty of that one."
"With the girl you're going to propose to?"
He shook his head. "No. I would never share Bee with anyone. I've just had a sensational past." He laughed again and took a sip of his beer.
James tried to discretely take a sip of his beer.
"You too, James?"
He looked a little embarrassed when he made eye contact with me. "That was way before I met Penny, althou
gh I would never refer to my past as sensational. More like a string of mistakes."
"So you've never had one with Penny?"
He laughed. "No. I'm known to get a little jealous. I'm not sure I could handle that. And I like to think that I'm enough for her. She's certainly enough for me."
How did his confession of having a threesome turn into something sweet? Penny must have a hard time winning arguments with him. He didn't play fair at all.
"I've never had one," Matt said. "Maybe we could experience our first time together, Daphne."
"Shut the fuck up, Matt. You had a threesome the night after Penny's graduation party," Rob tossed his empty beer bottle at him. "I know because James and Penny wouldn't let me spend the night and I had to listen to you sloppily trying to please two women at once. Or was it a devil's threesome? I can't quite remember."
Matt laughed. "It was definitely two girls. And it was only because you passed on one of them. You were acting all weird that night. I wasn't going to leave one of them alone. Besides, you're not so innocent yourself."
I looked at Rob. He had a strange expression on his face. His empty beer bottle was laying on Matt's chair. "Did you take a sip?"
"I'm not sure if I have to answer that. You should have been paying attention."
"Just tell me."
He let go of my leg and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"It's not a big deal. I'm just curious."
Rob smiled. "Why, do you want one or something?"
"Not at all."
"Well good, I don't want one with you either. I only want you."
"That doesn't really answer the question."
Matt cleared his throat. "Never have I ever had sex with three women at the Blue Parrot Resort."
Rob took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. He looked even more upset than he had last night when I had walked out of his room. He didn't have to take a sip. His demeanor completely gave him away.
I laughed awkwardly. "So, last night then?" Really? I tried to take a deep breath. We got in a fight and he went and had a threesome? I had walked all over the resort crying like an idiot and he had had a threesome? God, we were so different. How did I ever think there could be more than this weekend between us?
"No, it's not what you think."
I didn't want to stand up and storm off. I didn't want to give him the impression that I cared more than he did. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction. I laughed again. "How could you possibly think you know anything about what I'm thinking? We don't know each other."
"Daphne, it was before I met you." He leaned forward and put his hand on my thigh.
Don't touch me. I tried to ignore the tingle his touch gave me. "Yeah, sure whatever. It's fine." But it wasn't fine. Had he had sex that morning right before he met me? Why the hell was he so persistent then? Why hadn't he just left me alone? I didn't need this. This was why I didn't do stupid shit without thinking.
"Never have I ever seen my brother happier than he was a few minutes ago," James said.
I looked over at him. I knew James was trying to help. But he didn't realize that what he said just reminded me of my brother. Of how Derek never got to be happy again. About how I couldn't even remember his smile without looking at a photograph.
I couldn't believe I had gone up to Rob's room with the idea in my head that I was going to tell him about my brother. Rob didn't deserve to know anything about Derek. He wouldn't understand. He couldn't understand because his brother was still alive. And James was a whole lot nicer than Rob was.
"That's very sweet of you to say." I gave James what was probably the most un-genuine smile ever. "It's actually getting kind of late guys. And I know you probably have some more stuff planned for your bachelor party. I have to get back to my friends too. They're probably worried about me."
"Can I walk you?" Rob said. His face looked so guilty. Or upset. Or I don't know, because I didn't know him well enough to tell.
"Don't you dare fucking follow me," I said quiet enough for only him to here. "You got what you wanted from me. Just...please leave me alone." I stood up. "It was nice meeting all of you," I said without looking at any of them. I walked as quickly as I could toward the hotel.
Chapter 32
Rob
"Daphne!" I yelled, but it just made her walk turn into a run.
I turned around to glare at my friends. They were all silent. I clenched my hand into a fist. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"What? She deserved to know the truth," Matt said.
"The truth? I didn't even get a chance to tell her the truth thanks to you."
"Calm down, you weren't going to see her after tonight anyway."
Fucking idiot. "I like her."
"I don't really see why that changes anything."
"It changes everything." I stood up.
"I don't understand why, it's not like it was going anywhere."
"Matt, stop," Mason said.
I didn't want to tell my friends that I had had a crush on Daphne for over a year and that I didn't have the balls to talk to her on campus. This was my one shot. I didn't just like Daphne, I really liked her. And Matt had just blown it for me.
"Fuck all of you." I stood up and started to follow Daphne. I could explain what happened to her. It was just one of those stupid cards. It didn't mean anything. And it was before she showed up. I would never hurt her.
"Rob, wait up." James grabbed my shoulder.
I shook his hand off. "I don't need your help."
"But I think if you..."
"You know what? I don't need saving, so stop fucking trying to save me."
"I didn't say that you did." He looked hurt by what I just said. But I didn't have time to care about his feelings. I was just pissed off, and I wanted to find Daphne. I wasn't going to lose her like this. I had blown my first chance with her by never speaking to her back on campus. There was no way in hell I was going to blow my second chance too.
"Just stop meddling in my life, James. We're not kids anymore. I don't need you fixing everything for me. I can take care of myself." I pushed through the doors and was glad that he didn't follow me. Instead of taking the elevator, I ran up the stairs. If I didn't get rid of some of this adrenaline, I was going to lose my mind.
I stopped on her floor and caught my breath before knocking on her door. "Daphne, open up." I hit her door with my fist again.
The door opened slowly and Alina stepped out, closing the door behind her. "She's not here, Rob." She started walking toward the elevator doors.
"Then where is she?" I followed her toward the elevator.
"Maybe you should just give her some space?" She hit the down button. "I feel like she probably wants to be alone right now."
"I think that's for her to decide, don't you?"
Alina shifted uncomfortably. "She's been having a hard time here. I think that she just needs some time."
"We just had a misunderstanding, I'm going to fix it."
"That's not what I'm talking about. I just don't think she's in a good place. I'm going to go after her, so you don't have to worry about it."
"I'm already worried about it."
"She needs me right now. I'll take care of her. I think you should just stay here."
"I want to be the one that she needs."
Alina searched my face. "Rob, despite how it may seem, this isn't about you."
I'm pretty sure it is. "Then what's it about?"
The doors dinged open and she stepped toward the elevator.
"What is it about?" I asked again.
"I let her down. We never should have come here. If Kristen had told me this was her plan, I would have made her change it. But when we got here, Daphne seemed okay. She actually seemed happy with you and I thought we'd all be able to keep her distracted..." she let her voice trail off.
I grabbed Alina's wrist so she couldn't get on the elevator. "Distracted from what?"
Alina looked like she wanted to cry. "Missing him
."
I couldn't help it. Jealousy seared through me. Of course a girl like Daphne was involved with someone. But maybe she was missing him because they had broken up. Maybe there was still a chance for me.
"I miss him too," Alina said. "I don't think she realizes how much I miss him. Maybe we should have talked about it more. I just didn't know how. She always looks so upset whenever something reminds her of him. We shouldn't have come here." Alina burst into tears.
Oh, shit. I let go of her wrist, but that just made her cry ever harder. The elevator doors closed without either of us getting on. "It's okay," I said and put my arms around her. I lightly patted her back. She pressed her face against my chest, leaving what I hoped were tears and not snot on my skin.
I had no idea what this girl was so upset about. I waited it out, continuing to pat her back until her tears slowed down. "So, who are you two missing? An ex-boyfriend or something?"
Alina pulled back and wiped her eyes with her hands. "She didn't tell you last night? I would have thought she'd tell you with everything that was going on. But she has such a hard time talking about it. We all do."
"Tell me what?"
"About her brother."
"She said she didn't have any siblings."
Alina nodded her head. "I guess she technically doesn't anymore."
My insides twisted in knots. Daphne had been so good with James last night. Was it because she was used to having someone to take care of? Maybe she hadn't been judging me and my brother at all. Maybe she was just worried. Please don't let it have been drugs.
Alina looked down at the floor. "He died of an overdose."
I was such an asshole. She was worried that I'd lose James like she had lost her brother. "Where did she go?" I hit the elevator button.
"I don't know. She said something about not being scared to live. I thought she might be heading back to the zip lining course? She wouldn't do it earlier because she said she was scared. I was going to check there first."
"I'm going to go talk to her."
"Rob, she needs me."
No, she needs me. "I'm more familiar with the walking paths. Just look around the hotel." I stepped onto the elevator and hit the door close button before she could join me.
