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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Becca

Sipping mimosas seems like a perfect way to begin the day.

I can only think of one thing better. The way John hovered over me last night, daring me to make the first move, to give him permission to kiss me, sent chills popping up on my skin.

His lips trended upward in a way that said he was up to no good.

Yet when we were pressed together in a twin bed, side by side, he was a gentleman and kept his hands in appropriate places.

Part of me hoped his hand would slide between my thighs and kiss under my ear, but for all his bravado, he never crossed the line.

“Why are you all smiles? It wouldn’t have anything to do with John “The Godfather” Basilio, would it?” Oakley asks, teasing.

“Hmm?”

“You heard me.”

My forefinger traces the champagne glass before I take another drink. They don’t need to know everything, but I cackle as I tell the story of John jumping up on the bed, scared of the lizard.

It’s Adalee’s first day here. She was a gymnast at our college, and I’ve known her forever.

“Are you serious? I can’t imagine Basilio fearing anything. ”

“Yeah, it was worth sleeping two in a bed,” I say, covering my mouth, hoping no one will hear.

Of course, I can’t get that lucky. The women lean in around the table.

“What?” Oakley asks with a know-it-all attitude.

Harper chuckles. “Spill.”

“He was pretending to get close to you,” Emmaline says, lifting a brow.

Lettie jumps on the bandwagon. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“If you would have seen the sheer terror on his face, you wouldn’t say that.

It was hilarious.” I twiddle a piece of toast between my fingers.

“It was me who asked to sleep with him. I acted like I wasn’t scared, but I couldn’t fall asleep thinking about what else might be in the room,” I admit, unable to look my friends in the eyes. “Nothing happened.”

The girls’ expressions range from shocked to tickled. Before they can ask more questions, Federberg and Coleman’s wives join us, with pool bags in hand. “Sorry we missed breakfast. We ended up drinking margaritas until the wee hours of the morning.”

Brooke waves them off. “It’s vacation. We all need to do what we want. Right, Becca?”

“Absolutely. In fact, I’m ready to go to the pool. Are you on your way?”

“Yeah, we reserved a cabana too.”

Excitement takes over, and all of us head to the adults only swimming area with an infinity pool, a lap pool, and an enormous pool with three distinct areas in a clover leaf pattern. A volleyball net in one leaf, a swim-up tiki bar in another, and the other is for standing or floating.

We find enough loungers situated around the edge of the pool. I remove my cover up, squeeze my sunscreen into my hand, and lather up my body. After everyone is settled, the sound of the ocean brings peace to my eyes, and I lie there thinking about last night and if the lizard will return.

I must have dozed off because when I open my eyes, the wives are floating on inflatable loungers, gently bobbing in the water.

When I move to the pool’s edge, I carefully dangle my toes into the water, expecting it to be freezing, but the temperature is perfect for cooling my body without my teeth chattering.

Brooke jumps off her popsicle float, wading over to me. “Were you dreaming of John?” she asks.

“Funny. But I do need a drink.”

We migrate to the floating bar, a genius idea.

I opt for a vodka cranberry. They give us cup holders that float, and somehow, the alcohol stays in the glasses despite the seesawing effect of the waves.

Swapping stories and gossip, I’ve never laughed so hard for so long that my abs hurt, but listening to what their husbands are afraid of is hilarious.

“The new Chucky movie came out, and I mentioned going to see it. Reed was like, ‘Oh, hell no. And our kids are never seeing that movie.”

“Understandable,” I say. “So, we have men who are afraid of lizards, Chucky, clowns, wasps, and Brooke’s dad.”

Christina, Dawes’ ex-wife, now girlfriend, says, “I remember Mitch calling me saying that Coach Sweet was the scariest coach he had ever had. But he loves your dad,” she says to Brooke.

“He’s competitive, so I get it. He’s one of those men who, if you listen to him and do what he says, you’ll be rewarded with better skills and maybe a few championship rings. I hope Reed and Bryce can get one more Stanley Cup before Reed retires.”

“Retires? Really?” I ask.

“Yeah, with five kids, he doesn’t want to miss out.

He knows what it means to raise yourself and not have a dad around.

” She fills in the details of Reed’s trauma to Charla and Nova, the wives of Coleman and Federberg.

“Reed and I wanted a big family since we’re both only children.

Best decision ever, but damn, half the time, I don’t know where I’m supposed to be.

Reed feels guilty for traveling. He’s contemplating two more years, so he’ll be retired in time for Caleb’s senior year, and we can live Caleb’s dream with him. ”

With all the talk about their kids, my heart aches. No kids.

When we finish our drinks, we grab another and return to our cushioned loungers. I grab my phone and ear buds from my beach tote and put on my classic vacation music—The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet. The whole time I’m thinking of John’s note, so I tap out a message to him.

Me: You kept me safe?

John: Sunshine, we need to find that lizard. He’s my lucky charm.

I giggle under my breath. We make keyboard bantering a thing, and my lips can’t keep from smiling as I hope for a vacay hookup with John. One time won’t hurt, right?

Tanned and tipsy, we let the morning slip into a lazy afternoon, with nothing to worry about except whether one of us is going to swim to the floating bar or if we’ll just wait for the waitress.

Suddenly, booming laughter reverberates all around us. The guys are back, changed into swim trunks or in Federberg’s case, a skimpy Speedo. He’s from Germany which is all that needs to be said regarding his attire—hanging proud.

The girls eyeball John, and Oakley smirks and says, “I was thinking of getting a new pet. A pet lizard would be fun.”

John’s eyes shoot in my direction, and I shrug. He grins. “Lizards are lucky. I drove the ball like a madman this morning.”

I wonder if that’s why he thinks they’re lucky.

“Adalee and I need to see the beach. Everyone going?” Hagan asks, with his deep dimples framing his face.

Harper jumps up. “Me and my star QB.”

They’re so much in love, they’re sickening. If there’s a hint of jealousy in my voice, it’s out of love and admiration .

“I reserved a cabana for the week.” Bryce takes Emmaline’s beach tote from her. “Oh, and I requested lizards so we can all get lucky.”

The jab at John has everyone bursting out in laughter. John takes it on the chin. “I’ve changed my mind; it wasn’t luck—I’m just better than you.”

Reed, who’s an inch or two taller than John, ruffles John’s hair. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.” He pauses, allowing for the guys to tease John a little longer. “Brooke and I are heading back to the villa. Cannon is playing in an Under 9 hockey tourney, and Brooke’s dad is streaming it live.”

“Jolie’s with them. She couldn’t stop talking about Cannon’s game today,” Emmaline chimes in. Jolie is Bryce and Emmaline’s seven-year-old daughter. The Crosses and the Wynwards are the best of friends, especially since Reed joined the Georgia Jets a couple of years ago.

Some of the couples stay at the pool, but the core group of Corbin’s besties race to the beach. We ladies grab our towels and jog down the winding path to the wooden bridge. When we reach the dunes, Adalee nudges me, and we take off running.

When we reach the dense sand where we don’t sink, Adalee and I kick off our sandals and do gymnastics on the beach.

Even though she was a gymnast, I can do everything she can do on the sand.

Emmaline, Lettie, and Harper are tall compared to us, and they watch in amazement.

“Woohoo,” Lettie screams into the breeze as they all sunbathe right outside the cabana.

John and Hagan meet us with water bottles in hand. “Babe, you two are working up a sweat. You need to stay hydrated.”

Babe?

I take the bottle from John, guzzling it until it’s empty. “Thanks. I was having so much fun, I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

“I’m at your service,” he says with a glimmer in his eyes.

Adalee asks, “Who’s up for a little competition? ”

Each one of us thrives on competition, so I ask, “What do you have in mind?”

“Cheer stunts. I know how to do the basic ones. We just need to teach these two how to be the base.”

“Yes, but can I have Hagan?” I half-joke, both terrified and thrilled of my body’s reaction to John’s hands being on me.

John bumps my hip. “Never bet against me, Bex.”

“I don’t want Adalee to get hurt and stunting requires trust in your partner. I’ll take the big guy here.” I crook my thumb at the hot hockey player beside me.

First, I show John how to hold my waist and Adalee how to jump while Hagan observes but standing close enough to catch me if John misses my feet, which he does. However, John catches me around the waist, not permitting me to fall.

We switch to Adalee and Hagan and of course, Adalee controls her body perfectly and on the third try, Hagan holds both of her feet above his head.

“You did it! Wave, Adalee. That’s what cheerleaders do.”

She cackles and throws her arm in the air. “How do I get down?”

I gesture for John to move behind Hagan in case she goes backward, then demonstrate for Hagan. “Don’t bend your elbows. Bend your knees but give a little pop of your fingers, releasing her heels so she comes off in front of you.”

“Okay, got it,” Hagan says with enough confidence that I believe he will do it.

We continue until the sun climbs higher, falling over its axis and producing long stunt shadows. When I dismount from the extension, high over John’s head, he catches me by the waist, but my skin burns at his touch.

“I need to grab a shirt; it’s beginning to hurt.”

He peels his shirt off and once again slips his Property of Dallas Rattlers white t-shirt over my head. I knot the shirt at my hip, so it doesn’t get in the way.

“Are you ready for the Stunt Battle? ”

Adalee interlaces her fingers and cracks her knuckles and neck like she’s in an actual competition. I bet she misses the thrill of competition as much as I do. When you’ve done something all your life and one day it’s just over, it takes a toll on you. It’s a hard void to fill.

“Come on, everybody. We need you.”

The rest of the crew gathers around us while I explain the Stunt Battle. The girls will be the judges, and the guys will stand a few feet away in case one of us falls.

A surge of exhilaration tingles my senses as I straighten, ready for the Beachfront Stunt Battle.

Hagan and Adalee go first and hit the extension, but Hagan wobbles just a bit, attempting to stay under her and not behind her.

John whispers in my ear, “What do I get if we win?”

She gets down safely, and Adalee, who is usually soft-spoken, says, “Losers get dunked!”

“Deal.”

We go back and forth with me and Adalee getting braver, pulling harder stunts like liberties and heel stretches. Adalee is as flexible as she was when she was a gymnast; these are nothing new to her except the part about doing it on a guy’s hands.

With all eyes on us, I squint up at John, his eyebrows raised, sizing me up like a science experiment.

“Don’t drop me, okay? I’m going to try to win this battle right now.

You’re going to only catch my left foot.

” My voice is tainted by nerves. It takes months for cheerleaders to learn these stunts of working with their partners, but John and Hagan are picking it up like it’s easy.

Believe me. It. Is. Not.

Corbin shouts his support, “You got this Becca.”

John smirks, spinning me so my back is against his front and adjusts his grip on my waist. “No promises, boss. You’re bigger than the tiny girls on television.”

“Please, you bench press four times what I weigh. And for your information, I was one of those tiny girls. ”

“Just making sure you have some spirit left for the winning stunt.”

I elbow him lightly in the abs. “You better catch me, or I’m telling everyone how you…”

“How I what?”

“How you cry during your favorite movie, Love Actually . Consider it insurance.” I wink, grabbing his hands. “Same as before, jumping on three.”

John grins, his confidence never wavers, and I admit there’s something sexy about a man who believes he can do anything. “Trust me.”

I do. But should I?

“Famous last words,” I mumble. “One. Two.” And on the count of three, I’m suddenly weightless, rocketing into the sky and pulling my right leg to my ear, holding it with my left hand, and my right arms pointing straight out. John holds my bare foot like he has been stunting his whole life.

“You did it!” Everyone cheers.

With his head tilted back, looking up my leg, hopefully past my privates, he says, “I didn’t drop you.”

“You still have to get me down. On the count of three, pop me off.”

For a moment, I fly a little higher before I float back to the sandy beach while wearing John’s shirt.

Hagan and Adalee concede so we win. John wraps me in a hug and with spark in his voice, he says, “You owe me.”