Free Vacation Therapy by Lance Zarimba

have...a plain beach towel?"
    John picked up the Club Fred towel and unrolled it. “Don't you like the design?"
    "I'd really like just a plain one.” I didn't want to hurt his feelings.
    "Sorry, but it's all we have. But I can sign this one for you if you want."
    "What?” I said, almost taking a step back from him.
    He held the towel up next to his face. “That's me."
    There he was, bigger than life. How could I refuse? “Sure, sign one for me."
    "Cool. My first sale of the day. Whom should I make it out to?"
    "Tay...” I stopped. “Make it out to Sergio."
    He grabbed a Sharpie marker and wrote something and then signed his name to the towel. “So what's your room number?” he asked.
    "What?” Was he hitting on me?
    He gave me a surprised looked and said, “I need your room number so I can charge it to the right one."
    "Oh, yeah. Sorry. I'm in room 417."
    "Thanks, Sergio. See you around."
    "Yeah, right."
    I hurried around the cabana and looked back at John. He had watched me leave and waved. I waved back and peered at the ocean. A few minutes passed, and a guy approached the Club Fred table. As soon as he stepped in front of John, blocking his view of me, I threw the towel down on the beach and stepped onto John's face. As fast as I could with the bottled water tucked under my arms, I hopped across the hot sand, back to my chair, moving the towel with me.
    Sergio peered up. “Told you the beach was hot."
    I sat down quickly, fanning my feet. I threw him a bottle of water, and then I threw him the towel.
    Sergio unfolded it and looked at me. “What's this?"
    "A souvenir."
    "Okay, but I'd like to know one thing."
    "And what's that?"
    "Are you going to meet John tonight, or am I?"
    "What?"
    Sergio held up the towel, so I could see what John had written.
    "He's all yours,” I said quickly, picking up my book. I began to read, trying to ignore Sergio's laughter.
    [Back to Table of Contents]

Chapter 14—Jungle Cruise
    Even with 30 SPF sun block, I could feel the sun cooking me. Using Sergio's sunglasses as a mirror, I saw that my face glowed pink. I should've tanned before I went on vacation. Like I'd had time to do that. If there had been time to work on my base tan, then I would've planned my own trip, and I wouldn't be here at Club Fred.
    Logan continued working in his notebook, Sergio had run off to do a few haircuts, and Tom was still sleeping, but my stomach wasn't. It growled, letting me know breakfast was long gone. Since no one seemed interested in lunch, and I needed to get some shade, I went in search of food, but this time with my sandals on.
    Lunch was being served poolside at the cabana. The walls around the pool were doors made from full length Venetian blinds, like along the streets of New Orleans. I walked past the bar and buffet tables and veered toward the pool.
    My heart raced for a few seconds as I neared the Club Fred table. I was ready to bolt back to the beach at the first sight of John, but luckily he was nowhere to be seen. The other guy, the bodybuilder, manned the table. “Gary” was written in big block letters on a peel-and-stick nametag glued to his bare chest.
    Muscles bulged in all directions. It looked like he had been sucking on an air hose, instead of the bottle of water in his hand. My gaze trailed from the nametag across his chest and down his abdomen. So that's what a washboard stomach looked like. I could see his six-pack. No, there were eight.
    "Did you see something you wanted?"
    "What? No. I don't...” I startled and blushed when I saw his expression.
    "Hot.” Gary raised his arm over his head and poured the water over his head. It trickled down his tan torso and he shook his head, spraying water everywhere.
    I stepped back, trying to avoid the shower.
    "Come on and look, it won't cost you anything, unless you stare at me. That will cost you.” He waved me closer. “Just kidding, one of these trips will get you out of the sun for a couple of hours, and it looks like