Rum Punch Regrets (17 page)

“You see dat? I will use it on you, Andrew, if you be puttin’ dose hands on my girl,” Ziggy teased.

Andrew threw his hands up in mock horror and backed up behind Abby. “If you try, I swear I’ll hold her hostage.”

Abby was more than aware of Andrew touching her forearms.
Oh no,
she thought,
not my brother’s best friend. This is a definite no. He’s the one who will always be around, you silly girl.

Not wanting to appear rude, Abby played along with the game for another heartbeat and then found a way to slide out of Andrew’s playful grasp. He looked at her funny when she pulled away. She just shrugged and threw herself into helping Maria prep the snacks.

When all was said and done, Maria and Abby had arranged several plates on the counter of fruits, cheeses with crackers of all kinds, an assortment of meats, and a little veggie tray with ranch dressing for dipping. Abby grabbed a little plate and then headed over to the center island to take one of the two seats. Andrew joined her, much to her chagrin.

“Abby, Tracey here tells me you’ve been down here for a while now. Is that right?” Abby had the feeling he already knew the answer but was just trying to be conversational.

“Yes, that’s right . . . and I’m here for a little bit longer. Then it’s back to Los Angeles for me.” Abby’s voice was actually a little down as she said this last part.

“I can’t imagine leaving paradise after being here for so long. Although, Ben seems ready, too. He’s very excited to get back to the States.” Andrew was being very friendly to Abby. Was he flirting with her?

Behind them, Tracey was helping Maria get drinks together for everyone. They were stirring up some pitchers of lemonade and iced tea. Ziggy was busy cutting up fresh lemons. And here sat Abby, feeling out of place in a room she was usually so comfortable in.

“I’m a little sad to leave here, in a bittersweet kind of way,” she piped up, as if she was afraid of the silence and needed to fill it. “I think it’ll be really weird heading home and not knowing what I’m going to do.”

Andrew’s eyes were boring straight into hers. “What do you mean?”

“Not too much to tell, really. We hit the recession, I got laid off, and I came here. Now I get to go home and find a job.” Andrew started to say something, but Abby stopped him. “If you’re going to tell me to be more positive, I get it, but facts are facts. Things are just different for me and a lot of other people right now.”

“I was going to say that I feel a lot for the Americans right now.” He stopped long enough to take the glass of lemonade that Tracey was offering him. “But now that you mention it, that was very negative of you to say.”

Abby looked at him and was about to go into her usual “I’m right and you’re not” tirade that was reserved for when people were sassy, but the smile in his eyes told her he was joking, so she pinched her mouth closed and smiled at him.

“You’re a teaser, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been called a pisser.”

Abby was reaching for her napkin as Andrew was reaching for some more food on his plate. Somehow the two of them grazed hands, and Abby could swear the electricity shot up into her shoulder. She snapped her hand back, but she did it too fast, because she saw a look of confusion register on Andrew’s face.

“Uh . . . Trace. Don’t make my drink, I’ll come around and pour my own.” Abby was already off her barstool. Anything to get away from the close proximity she was in with Andrew. “I like a certain mixture.”

“Is it your Arnold Palmer?” Ben teased.

Abby laughed as she got up to make her favorite beverage.

“Yes, Ben, I’m making my golfing drink.”

This made Andrew perk up. “You golf?”

“Well, I have to do something in my free time.” Abby was stirring her drink and heading back to her spot next to Andrew. “Actually, free time that I used to have in my other life. I hate to admit it, but I’ve not played at all since I’ve been here. It’s too hot.”

“Nonsense. We need to go out one day before I leave. Maybe when Ben’s back in classes you can entertain me?”

Abby was taking a drink of her concoction and had to fight to keep from spitting it out. “I’m sure we can find some time for me to ‘entertain’ you, Andrew.”

“Good. Now,” Andrew had turned his attention to Ben and Tracey, “these two mentioned going to Nevis tomorrow for a getaway at one of the hotels.”

Maria scoffed at Andrew. “Maybe you should all ask Abby what she went ahead and did earlier to make life a little easier on all of you.”

The group all turned, waiting for Abby to spill her news.

“Well,” she began, “I called the plantation you mentioned, Ben.”

“Coconut Palm Plantation?”

Abby nodded. “I held two cottages for us. They sleep up to four in each. That way, if you have friends that want to come, bring ’em. I just want my own bed in one of the cottages, okay?”

Ben was shocked but happily so. “Abby, thank you. I kept meaning to do that all week, and I kept forgetting . . . all week.” He had his arm around Tracey’s waist. She had a grin plastered on her face as well.

“This has been such a rough semester! I’m ready to go and just relax and enjoy some sunshine.”

“Hiking. We should totally go hiking,” Ben said.

Abby and Andrew both snorted at the thought. The timing was so perfect it made the whole lot laugh.

“I guess I know which two will be on the beach most of the time,” Maria said.

Abby was nodding her head in happiness. “Indeed.” She looked Ben’s way. “I think when we get back from Nevis, we should talk to Leigh and get this over with.”

Ben looked a little pale at the thought. Abby totally understood. “I know you’re worried because of how rough school’s been for you, but I think if we can get this out now, while you have a few days off to deal with it . . . well, I think it’s better in the long run. You need a clear head. We both do.”

Ben stared at the floor, soaking in Abby’s suggestion. After a few quiet moments lost in his thoughts, he looked at Abby and nodded.

“You’re right. When we get back Monday, let’s call Leigh.” He pulled Tracey in a little tighter to his body. “That way I can talk to my mum, too.”

Abby smiled at Ben. It was so cool that she had a brother. She had always felt very protective of family members, even if they did drive her nuts, and with Ben it was the same. She wanted to protect him from any falling-out this phone call with Leigh could have, knowing that it could impact the world they were creating for themselves down here.

“Okay, kids. I’m done with all of ya. You too, Ziggy,” Maria said as she began to shoo everyone out the door. “Take some drinks and food for the road. But I don’t want to see any of ya until it’s time for dinner. Got it?”

Everyone began to trail out the door. Ziggy was packing his gear in his cab, while Ben and Andrew were getting Andrew’s luggage and taking it into the pool house, leaving Abby and Tracey together.

The girls made their way to the pool, each knowing the other wanted to sit. They let their feet dangle in the cool water as they sipped their beverages in silence and enjoyed being still.

It was Tracey who broke the peace finally. “Andrew’s cute, huh?”

Abby rolled her eyes at Tracey. “Well, yes, he is very cute for a guy who is the same age as my little brother. Next question?”

Tracey laughed at Abby. “You’re funny, Abby. He’s cute. There are a lot of boys here who are cute. And,” she added as she let her feet turn swirly circles in the pool, “I think you’d make a great cougar.”

Abby’s jaw dropped at that last comment. She looked at Tracey, only to find she was biting her lip to keep from laughing.

“Are people really and truly okay with cougars? Why can’t an older woman interested in a younger man be a grown-up cat with an attitude? ‘Cougar’ sounds so, oh, I don’t know, so . . . lecherous.” Abby’s reasoning made Tracey bite her lip more in her outstanding effort at stopping her laughter.

“So many of the guys down here have hooked up with older women, not that you’re old,” Tracey was quick to ad-lib. “What I mean is that with tourists, teachers, and the occasional horny mom who shows up, well . . . the boys here are pretty hot on it, too.”

Mumbling an “eh” under her breath, Abby rolled on her side to face Tracey. She had grass stuck in her hair that she was pulling out as she pointedly changed the subject.

“So, Coconut Palm Plantation on Nevis. I’m so excited. Do you know the ferry run times?”

“We can look it up online, subject changer. Runs like every thirty minutes.”

Abby absentmindedly nodded. She was playing with one of the sticks she had found in her hair and was drawing pictures in some sand.

“Abby, I’m not trying to push you on anyone or to do something stupid. I just want to see you happy. I see how hard you work to make the people around you happy. The hours you’ve spent assisting Maria around the inn so she doesn’t have to work so hard to clean the rooms, or the detail you’ve put into repairs that go above and beyond what your sister was asking of you. You’ve been working nonstop. From what you’ve told me about your life back in the States, you always seem to work in jobs tailored around other people’s happiness.” Abby felt Tracey’s eyes watching her as she added, “Don’t you think it’s time you got some of that happiness as well?”

You have a point,
Abby thought.
But to think I might find something that magical here, wouldn’t that just be wishful thinking?

Tracey was watching Abby with such hopeful eyes. Abby smiled at Tracey and finally told her what she wanted to hear.

“Yes, Trace, I do. I think it’s high time I was happy, whatever that definition may be. Happiness is an air mattress these days. I’m not really looking for anything romantic, but if it comes along while I’m here, then so be it.”

As she finished this last sentence, Abby could see Andrew through the kitchen window. He was smiling at her as she walked up to the house.
J.D. be damned,
she thought.
He missed the boat.

She felt her heart flip as she smiled back at Andrew, knowing that the fact that they were about to share a small space for the next week could complicate this situation that much more.

CHAPTER NINE

It was an easy packing job -- bathing suit, cover-up, some shorts and T-shirts, a couple of sundresses, and a pair of jeans. Abby started to pack a sweatshirt, then laughed at the thought of even needing it on the island, tossing it back into its cubby.

When everyone had disbanded after the meal, Abby had decided she wanted to pack for the trip. She tackled her clothes first. Then, thinking she was alone in the pool house, she looked for her toiletries so she could get them organized when Andrew appeared in front of her wrapped in a towel. Abby’s thoughts could only remind her she was in a no-touch situation.

His South African accent seemed a little thicker when he spoke. Or maybe Abby was just hearing everything in slow motion.

“Are you okay, Abby?”

Abby realized she was hard-core staring at his abs.
Wow,
she thought.
Never thought I was an ab girl, but wow . . .

“Umm . . . ” she cleared her throat, which sparked a coughing fit. Andrew watched her with amusement.

“What I meant was, yes, I’m fine. I was just wondering if the towel you had on . . . if that was mine and then I kinda zoned out. You know, wondering why I’d pack it when we’re going to a hotel.”

The smile that played on Andrew’s beautiful full lips was torturing Abby for some reason. She wasn’t sure if he was truly humored by her or was fighting the urge to make fun of her. And the electric current that was generating between them was not helping matters one bit.

“The towel? Ben said I could use it. If it’s yours, my apologies. Want it back?” He was grabbing at the edge, teasingly, as if he was about to take it off and hand it over.

Abby shook her head and laughed nervously. “That’s okay. Keep it on, there, sailor.” She took a hot second to recover. “I just like to pack for any situation. Makes me a little neurotic, I guess.”

Andrew nodded his head, turning around to head up the steps to Ben’s room so he could change. “Neurotic. Yes, just what I was thinking as well.”

Abby snapped her attention his way to make sure he was teasing. From the smile that had enveloped his face, she could see he was.

“Yeah . . . Well, back to packing.” Abby found herself awkwardly playing with the rings on her fingers yet again.

Andrew opened his mouth to say something when Ben walked in.

“Hey! You done? I need to shower, then we should go grab a beer, right?”

Andrew turned his gaze away from Abby, focusing on Ben. “Sounds good. Give me five.”

“Ben, leave out what you want to take tomorrow and I’ll pack it for you. That way you guys can get out of here. Cool?” Abby was desperate for anything to keep her mind and hands busy.

Ben and Andrew both let out a whoop of excitement. “Told ya, Andrew. Abby’s the best. I got lucky.” Then Ben bolted up the stairs to get ready to go out.

Andrew turned around, trailing Ben up the steps to his room. “Yes, you did say that, Ben.” Andrew then turned back to look at Abby again. “You did get lucky.” He then shot her one last wicked grin and disappeared into Ben’s room.

Abby felt her body shudder just a bit.
I’ll find something annoying about him in no time,
she decided.
Then I can move on.

#

Morning came quickly. Abby had planned an early rise so she could have her coffee, waking up properly by sipping peacefully on her caffeine by the pool. She was so busy daydreaming that she didn’t see the gigantic centipede that had begun making its way across the terrace toward her bare foot. It was a big one, measuring about ten inches. And its little legs were swiftly bringing it closer to Abby’s unsuspecting feet.

Snapping out of her dreamy state to see the pincered insect approaching quickly, Abby made a split-second decision.

In her mind, she pictured herself jumping in a fluid motion from sitting position to standing on the chair, or maybe using the chair as a launching pad, like Jennifer Garner would in
Alias,
or Angelina Jolie in one of the
Tomb Raider
movies, so she could jump over to the pool house, landing by the door, and get one of Ben’s boots, twirl around and pummel the rippling caterpillar-like demon to a bloody and deliberate death.

Unfortunately, Abby wasn’t quite so graceful. When she saw the centipede, she let out such frightened, guttural sounds that one might be forgiven for thinking she was fleeing from a mass murderer. Meanwhile, she was trying to hoist herself on top of the chair to remove her feet and legs from harm’s way. But as luck would have it, her flip-flop caught one of the plastic chair rungs, making it wobble just long enough to make her lose her balance and descend into a slow-motion free fall.

It was only fitting that at this precise moment Andrew emerged from the pool house to check on the commotion. As Andrew’s foot touched terra firma outside the front door, Abby was slowly falling backward, toward the pool. At the same time, while it was sinking in that she was about to fall into cold water at 7 a.m. for her own private hell of a wake-up call, her robe was beginning to slide off her body. Arms flailing as she tried to hold on to the small bit of fabric covering her bra and panties, Abby still had her eyes on the centipede and was barking at Andrew to “KILL IT!!!” She hit the water, chair still caught in her flip-flop -- her robe on the ground next to where she’d stood.

Andrew was already using Ben’s boot to crush the centipede. As Abby raised her head out of the water, she watched as the creature lifted his body one last time toward Andrew before he delivered the crushing fatal blow.

Abby bobbed in the water, breathing heavily, not sure what to do. Andrew turned, pointing at the centipede. “Got it,” he said, and grinned.

“Great. That’s just great.” She was unhooking her shoe from the chair and putting them up on the side of the pool. “I’m glad.”

Andrew was trying not to laugh as he surveyed the scene: Abby’s coffee had toppled over, her robe was on the ground, and she was in the pool half-naked, hoisting out a dripping deck chair. His attempt to suppress his amusement was unsuccessful.

Abby rolled her eyes and looked at him with indignation. “Okay, I get it. Ha ha. Abby, you’re a mess. Ben, did you see Abby run from the centipede ’cause she’s a sissy? Tee hee hee . . . Let’s Facebook this with a status update. Oh, no, wait! I’m gonna tweet it. Bwah ha ha.”

Abby’s attempt at sarcasm only made Andrew laugh harder. She was a pitiful sight, dripping wet and looking forlorn, but as she looked around at the yard and how it must have looked from Andrew’s point of view, she started to giggle as well. As they were laughing, Andrew picked up Abby’s robe, bringing it over to her by the poolside.

“Here, Abby. I would not be a decent man if I left you in the pool half-naked after running from such a mean, evil, large, gigantic --”

“I get it, Andrew! Look. Those things
are
evil and that one
was
gigantic. I’ve heard stories down here about their stingers.” Abby motioned for him to turn around so she could climb out of the pool and put her robe back on. “People go to the hospital because of those things!”

“Well,” Andrew began, with his back turned away, “you handled it with such graceful, catlike reflexes.” His lips were turned up in an evil grin.

Abby was leaning her head over the pool now, wringing out her long brown hair. “I know sarcasm, Andrew. I can be pretty sarcastic myself. You are not as subtle as you think.”

He turned around and took a step closer to her, bringing them almost nose to nose. “Maybe I’m not trying to be subtle, Abby. Subtlety is not an attribute I’m usually known for.” Then with a flash of his perfect wicked smile, he disappeared back into the house.

Abby was still reeling from Andrew’s closeness to her space, appalled at her lack of smoothness in reacting to the situation, as she cleaned up her mess. Ben soon came charging out on his way to pick up Tracey. He barked at Abby to make sure she was ready so they could make the ferry. Abby looked down at her condition and couldn’t believe Ben had just flown past her, like some male Wicked Witch, shouting orders like a drill sergeant. He hadn’t even noticed she was soaking wet, nor did he realize he had stepped over the bloody mess of a centipede.

As she was about to go inside, Andrew came racing out fast on Ben’s heels. He stopped long enough to address Abby before he jumped in the car.

“By the way, your bum?”

Abby’s mouth dropped open as she turned to face him. “What about my . . . bum?”

Andrew smiled that perfect and wicked smile one more time. “It’s quite lovely.” He then jumped in the car and the boys were off on their mission.

Abby shook her head, mortified that Andrew had seen her act so ridiculously. She didn’t have time to think about it long, though, because she needed to get ready. They had a ferry to catch if they were going to get to Nevis, and she was determined to be ready on time.

#

Unspoiled paradise.
That was the one descriptive phrase that popped into Abby’s head as they drove from the ferry landing on Nevis to the Coconut Palm Plantation. Abby marveled at the lush tropical foliage as the car made its way around smooth elegant turns on an untouched parcel of land. Monkey Crossing signs appeared every few miles, as did produce and fruit stands with locals selling their wares. It was as if this beautiful island had been plucked right from a story and dropped down for them to discover, with houses, resorts and a few restaurants speckled amid the landscape. Where St. Kitts was clearly more geared toward the tourists that headed to escape to the Caribbean constantly, year-round, Nevis was its unshaken twin. Serene, peaceful and nurturing.

Abby was in heaven. She was so wrapped up in the visual stimulation of the island that she almost forgot about the equally stimulating Andrew. He had been smashed in next to her in the backseat for the whole trip, except for the forty-five minutes they were on the ferry and could get out of the car. While on the ferry trip, Abby had jumped out of the car as soon as they were allowed, saying she needed to stretch.

Abby spent the rest of the ferry ride talking about anything she could think of with Tracey so as not to get caught in a conversation with Andrew. Especially when she had nowhere to escape to because they were on a damn boat. Abby even waited until the last possible minute to get in the car so they would not be touching skin on skin for as long. She was begging silently to the universe to get her to her room so she could get her head together.

They were all not fully prepared for the beauty that was Coconut Palm Plantation. As they pulled in, the side parking lot kept the view of the hotel grounds partially hidden. There was a rundown sugar mill that had been preserved and still stood stoically at the entrance of the hotel. The main home itself resembled a Southern plantation. The house was from the 18th century and had a sprawling porch all around the second floor. The view from the porch overlooked the “Avenue of Palms,” a stretch of land that flowed from the main house down to the beach. It was there along the avenue that the cottages were situated, just a brief walk from the beach, pool and lounge areas. It was breathtaking.

As they were all finding their way to their cottages, Ben and Tracey found they knew quite a few people who were in the other cottages as well. Almost every small group they passed called out hello or asked where they were staying. It seemed this was the place to come for a study break, and Abby had a feeling it was going to be more of a party weekend for these guys than a “back-to-nature” getaway.

Ben’s cabin came first, and the trio went inside to get settled and changed. Abby skipped off to her cottage, excited at her chance to just lie out and relax.

Abby’s cottage was adorable. She had her own little porch, complete with a pull-out couch and a kitchen table. There was a coffeemaker, tea bags, scones and a fruit basket all sitting on the table welcoming her. Tucked in the basket was also a small bottle of rum, with a few bottles of fruit juice. A perfect welcome to the island hideaway!

Her bedroom was right beyond the sitting/porch area. There was a king-size bed, mosquito netting draped all around, and a fan spinning above the bed that looked like something straight out of
Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Its blades were made with palm fronds, and it spun slowly and rhythmically in the cool, quiet space. Abby was ecstatic. And what she was paying for both cottages for the night was such a dream compared to prices she would be paying if she were in the States. It was a win-win, like the fact she was able to pay for it with her casino winnings.

As she was getting changed, there was a knock at Abby’s door. Abby threw her sundress on over her suit, calling out “Come in” to her visitor. When she came out to the porch area, Ben was sitting at the table with a big grin spread over his face.

“I trust by that big-ass smile that you are pleased with our accommodations?” Abby put on her best fake British accent to amuse her brother.

“Dude! It’s like this honeymoon suite over there.” Ben was shaking his head in disbelief. “I mean, I’ve heard about this place, but I had no idea it would be so incredible.”

Abby peered on the other side of the bedroom door and smiled. “Yeah, I’ve got a nice little spot in there for when I lay my head down tonight. I have to say, I feel a touch guilty having all this space to myself.”

Ben nodded in agreement. “Which is why I thought I’d ask you a favor . . . ”

Abby groaned. She could see where this was going already. “I know I said I felt guilty, but I was really saying it only for effect.”

“I know. And I would not ask this if it wasn’t important to me. But Tracey and I really would like to have one night while we’re here to ourselves. Do you know what I mean?”

Yeah, I do,
Abby thought.
Hot, dirty, we-just-started-dating sex.
“I have an idea. Go on.”

“Will you please let Andrew sleep on your pull-out couch? Just one night?”

Tracey appeared as if by magic at the screen door. “Abs, please know that we wouldn’t ask this, but . . . ”