Page 123 of If It's You

“Nah, I’m good. Wake me up when it’s time to get ready for the show,” Lindsay said, face down in her lounge chair.

Maizie rolled her eyes. Lindsay was going to be absolutely fried if she stayed in the sun that long.

Maizie slowly slid into the pool, which felt frigid compared to the112 degree temperature on the outside of the pool. She swam around the edges for a while, enjoying the perfect water.

“Hey, there.” A guy, probably in his thirties, sidled up next to her along the edge of the pool, drink still in hand.

“Hi.” Maizie kept her face forward.

“What brings you here?” He leaned back on his elbow.

“My boyfriend,” she lied. It was the only way to deal with these creeps.

“Oh, really. I don’t see anyone with you.” He scooted closer and brushed her leg with the back of his knuckles.

She pulled back with a gulp.

“He’s in the room. I’d better get back.” She stood up and walked to her lounge chair, hoping to find Lindsay there, but she was gone and so was her stuff.

Her skin crawled with worry. Where was her best friend?

“I can walk you there if you’d like.” The guy had followed her from the pool and had at least ten inches on her.

She swallowed and gave him the glare that had been reserved for Christian this summer. “I’m perfectly capable of walking by myself.”

“I’m sure you are. But I would hate to have a pretty girl like you get lost around here.” His words slurred together, and he tried but failed to wink at her.

“You know what, why don’t I call my boyfriend and ask him? This is our first vacation since he became a cop, he’s always so appreciative of helpful citizens.” Maizie did her best to keep a level stare. She picked up her phone, making it obvious who she was calling, and clicked on Christian’s name without hesitating. Thank heavens he had changed his profile picture in her phone to one of him in the volunteer uniform. And she kept “forgetting” to change it.

“Hello?” Christian picked up on the first ring.

“Hi, babe.” She smiled at the man who was still way too close.

“Maizie? What are you—?”

“I just met this nice man at the pool who would really love to meet you. You finished your workout right on time.” Maizie cut him off. The guy took a step back and bumped into a lounge chair.

“What’s going on?” Christian’s voice rose in pitch.

“Oh, you’re on your way out?” Maizie said. “I’m right next to the orange cabana.”

“I’m sure he’ll take good care of you.” The man said, stumbling again and walking away quickly.

Maizie let out the anxious breath she’d been holding and grabbed her stuff and took off. She couldn’t believe that had actually worked.

“Maizie? What is going on?” Christian’s voice in her ear reminded her of what she was doing.

“Just a second, sweetheart,” she said into the phone again, making sure the creep was out of earshot.

“You are starting to worry me.”

Maizie took one more glance over her shoulder to make sure he was out of sight before she ran.

“Maizie?”

“Just a second.” She panted into the phone. She raced back through the halls and up the stairs. She jammed her key into the door while Christian continued to question her on the phone.

She opened the door and was relieved to hear Lindsay’s terrible singing in the shower.