Chapter Twenty-One
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
An hour later, driving south on the interstate, Quinn’s sat nav pointing the way, Kya caught a glimpse in the rearview mirror of the person she could be if she only got out of her own way. She’d always wanted to be a carefree girl, the kind of person who took off at a moment’s notice, instead of planning a trip for weeks only to postpone it for months. She dreamed of having someone, not a clan or a crew, just one special person to make life an adventure.
Was this the summer her dream came true? Okay … no. This was a one-off thing, and she didn’t believe in dreams. Now was not the time to start.
They arrived at Key Largo in good time. The island was at its core a fishermen’s town, nothing inherently glamorous about it. They were far from South Beach with its parade of luxury cars. Bait shops outnumbered coffee shops and designer boutiques. The resort was appropriately named The Blue Wave. A fresh coat of seafoam green paint and conch shell accents drove the point home.
Quinn pushed open the door to the lobby. ‘I like it. It’s cheeky.’
The woman at the front desk waved them in. She wore a seafoam uniform. Her name tag read Paula. ‘Ladies, welcome.’
‘We booked a resort pass,’ Kya said. ‘The website says we get two lounge chairs and an umbrella.’
‘It’s Sunday,’ Paula said. ‘Most of our guests are checking out. You’ll get the whole resort to yourselves.’
‘Lucky us!’ Quinn said.
Once a credit card was swiped and the paperwork was out of the way, Paula gave them the lay of the land. ‘We’ve got snorkelling, kayaking, and free bikes for you to use. Instead of two lounge chairs, how about a sunbed?’
Quinn was overjoyed. ‘Nice!’
‘Just so you know, it’s a rocky beach,’ Paula cautioned. ‘Most people come here expecting sand, but this ain’t the Bahamas.’
Quinn plummeted from her high. ‘Oh.’
Kya wished she could give her the Bahamas, anything to get her to smile again.
‘The water is clear, though,’ Paula added. ‘You can see the fish. It’s great.’
That was enough to lift Quinn’s spirits. ‘Sounds like paradise,’ she said.
Paula was right. There wasn’t a square inch of sand to stretch out on. However, the water was exceptionally clear.
‘Napping on the sand is out of the question. Are you disappointed?’ Kya asked.
‘No!’ Quinn reached down and picked up a crushed shell. ‘If I can’t be happy in paradise, please have my head examined.’
‘It is stunning.’
‘Paula mentioned kayaking and snorkelling. Which do you fancy?’
‘Do we have to choose?’ Kya said.
‘We can do whatever we want.’
As it turned out, they had to choose. According to Paula, kayaking wasn’t available on Sundays, but they could snorkel to their hearts’ content, which they did.
In the unreasonably warm waters, they discovered coral reefs, colourful schools of fish, a sunken iPhone, and each other. They locked eyes through thick goggles. Quinn swam around her like a mermaid. Touching her glistening skin underwater felt like a luxury Kya did not deserve. She would never forget this day.
At one, they abandoned the beach to search for lunch. They didn’t have to go far. The hotel’s patio restaurant offered grilled fish tacos and free refills on lemonade. Quinn told her how she got her start playing DJ sets for free at her friends’ birthday parties. Soon, she was in high demand, the most coveted DJ in her little suburb.
‘The first time, I was terribly nervous. I spilled beer all over the decks, which is why I don’t drink while I work. I need a clear head. And to make matters worse, I played the wrong song. Our friend Owen requested “Changes” by Bowie. I played Tupac.’
‘Which is why you don’t take requests anymore?’
‘You’re still cross about that?’
‘I’m not! I swear!’
‘You are, too. Did I scar you, Kya? Will you ever get over it?’
‘I’m not cross. It’s your job and I respect it.’
‘How did you get started with computer programming? Were you into coding early on?’
Despite what Kya had shared in her blog Q I blogged about it.’
‘You were on LinkedIn at twelve?’ Quinn teased.
Kya laughed. ‘Shut up!’
‘You didn’t try to build one yourself?’
‘God, no.’
The waiter arrived to clear away the plates and refill their glasses. Kya was grateful for the interruption. Unlike Quinn, she had never truly known what she’d wanted to do with her life. She had no clear vision of a future to run towards now. Did she really want to return to the tech industry, after the way they’d spat her out? What else could she do? What else was she even qualified to do? A feeling of unease spread inside her, but she sipped her lemonade and kept quiet about it. This getaway was going to be a relaxing break from her problems. She wanted to have fun. The waiter was young enough, with freckles and shady brown hair. She asked him for a recommendation. ‘Hey, where should we hang out later?’
‘On a Sunday?’ he said. ‘Let’s see. Ted’s Tiki Bar is always a good time. There’s a live band. The happy hour is lit. Dollar shots at seven. Don’t miss that.’
Kya frowned at Quinn. ‘We’ll have to miss it, if we’re hitting the road by five.’
‘Six,’ Quinn said. ‘What’s the rush?’
There was no rush, no curfew. They were free.
Ted’s Tiki Bar lived up to its name – a concrete dance floor under a straw roof and bamboo everything. The band played raucous salsa music. Quinn rested a hand on Kya’s hip, as if to keep her from drifting away. But Kya wasn’t going anywhere. Quinn’s light touch anchored her. Although not the best salsa dancers, they were enthusiastic. They twisted and turned and spun around. They clapped in time to the beat. When a guy asked to cut in, Quinn said, ‘Not on your life!’ When another offered to buy them drinks, Kya politely turned him down.
The band took a break. Quinn and Kya lingered on the dance floor as the others flowed to the bar. ‘If we’d only said yes to the free drinks, we wouldn’t have to fight for one now,’ Quinn said.
Kya agreed. ‘It’s a madhouse.’
Quinn checked the time. ‘Kya … it’s dollar-shots o’clock.’
‘What? It’s seven! Already?’
‘Time flies when you’re dancing tipsily to salsa music!’
How had she not noticed the setting sun, the sky turning purple? ‘We have to hit the road.’
Quinn cocked her head. ‘Do we, though?’
‘We can’t stay here.’
‘Why not?’ Quinn asked. ‘You heard Paula. Everyone’s left. There should be plenty of vacancies.’
Vacancies. Plural. Okay. She could do that. They’d each get a room, rest, and hit the road in the morning. ‘All right. Let’s find Paula.’
Paula was behind the desk like earlier, flipping through a magazine. ‘Ladies! Ready to take off?’
‘Actually, we’d like to stay the night. Could we have two rooms?’
‘Sorry. No rooms. Just bungalows.’ Paula opened a colourful map of the property. ‘Our most popular ones have water views. The sunrise is incredible.’
‘We’ll take one of those,’ Quinn said.
‘Bungalow 1 or 2, take your pick.’
‘Lucky number 2, please,’ Quinn said.
Paula grabbed a key off a hook. ‘Down the path toward the beach but hang a right. You won’t miss it.’
They left the lobby, grabbed their beach bags stored in the trunk of the car, and giddily made their way to the bungalows. The day’s heat had not relented, but the breeze made it bearable. They slipped off their sandals and kicked up rocks as they went. Kya slowed her pace and took in the deep beauty of the night. A quarter moon peeked out between the tufts of clouds. The sea roared just feet away. The palm trees ruffled their crowns. Kya was no romantic, but if she didn’t kiss Quinn this very instant, she would never forgive herself. What else was a night like this for?
Quinn turned around to face her. ‘What are you thinking about?’
‘This.’
Kya took her hand, pulled her close. She felt Quinn’s heartbeat and every breath winding through her chest.
Quinn looked up at her, eyes sparkling. ‘What took you so long? I’ve been waiting all day.’
Their first kiss in the alley was rough. Their second, in Kya’s bedroom, was sweet. This one, under the stars with the wind in their hair, was a dream, but it felt just right.
The robes and towels stacked in the seafoam green bungalow smelled of the sea. Kya slipped the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob, only to remove it minutes later in anticipation of the pizza delivery. They opened windows, lit a citronella candle, and ate on the floor. Quinn said California-style pizza would forever remind her of Kya, who was sure that was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her.
After dinner, they played cards, a game of poker with rules made up on the fly, until Quinn rose to her feet and, extending a hand to Kya, said, ‘It’s time for bed.’
Kya wasn’t so sure. She took her hand and pulled her back down to the floor.
Quinn let out a playful cry. ‘Is there something you want? Another round of poker?’
Everything Kya wanted was in her arms. ‘I want to see you, all of you.’
‘In other words, you want me naked?’
Kya rolled her head back. This woman would be the end of her. ‘Are you always this bold?’
‘Always.’
Quinn rose to her feet again, towered over her. ‘Take my clothes off.’
Kya laughed, nervous. ‘Is that an order?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t take orders,’ Kya said with a shrug.
Quinn held her gaze. Could she see straight through Kya’s bluff? Of course she’d take orders from Quinn. She’d let her do anything to her she wanted.
‘You’ve put me on a pedestal,’ she said. ‘You think I’m a queen or a goddess. I’m not. Take my clothes off and look at me.’
Kya was on her knees now, gazing up at her admiringly. She had put Quinn on a pedestal and despite her request, as touching as it was, she would remain there. She was Kya’s high priestess, better than mere mortals, regal , divinely beautiful, perfect in every way. Kya would walk two steps behind her, worship her on her knees, shield her from harm. If Quinn had something against that, well, too bad. That was how it was going to be.
‘You’re doing it again.’
‘Doing what ?’
‘You’re looking at me like I’m outer worldly. I’m just a girl.’
Just a girl, looking at another girl, asking her to … what? What a joke!
‘Sorry, Quinn, you’re not,’ she said. ‘You’re a star. You’re a dream. You’re an angel. You can’t change that.’
Kya unfastened the buckle of Quinn’s shorts and worked the hard denim over her hips and down her legs. Then she untied the string bikini; the triangles fell to reveal the sharp tan lines that had intensified over the day and the beautiful V between her thighs. She was so beautiful, Kya found it hard to breathe. Her words faltered. Yet, she rose to her feet and, heart pounding, stripped Quinn of her T-shirt. She tugged at the strings of her bikini top. The knots came undone quickly and there she was. Kya took in her slender neck, full breasts, honey brown nipples, nipped waist. How was she to believe Quinn was just an ordinary person? Kya was clever and a shrewd poker player. Her brothers had taught her the card game on rainy nights at home. Later, in college, she cleaned up on poker nights. She recognized a winning hand when it was dealt. Yet tonight, she would lose it all.
She inched close and breathed in Quinn’s sunbaked skin. ‘May I touch you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where?’
‘Wherever you like.’
Quinn stared at her with a look of defiance. Then all at once, they pounced at each other. They stumbled backwards onto the bed, knocking over a cosmetic case in the process. Laughing, they pushed aside Quinn’s headphones and portable speaker. But when Quinn yanked a tie out of her hair and let her curls fan across the pillow, Kya’s laughter died.
‘Quit worshipping me, and touch me,’ Quinn insisted.
‘I’ll worship you if I want,’ Kya whispered. ‘You can’t stop me.’
‘Fine! Do what you like! Just use your hands!’
Kya climbed over her. ‘You little—’
‘ Don’t you dare! ’
Kya undressed and climbed over Quinn. She pinned her between her knees. ‘Hi, beautiful.’
‘Hello.’
Those were the last words they would exchange that night. The air turned to smoke between them. Kya knew instinctively that what would happen next wouldn’t be sweet, pretty, or lovely. Quinn was impatient, and she was hungry. They were going to devour each other. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she had Quinn’s skin under her fingernails or bruised the smooth bronze skin with her teeth. But when Quinn reached out for her and pulled her onto her soft body, it was like sinking into honey. Kya’s mouth sought hers. She slipped a hand between her thighs and sank her fingers into her warmth and her wetness. When the citronella candle burned out, Quinn opened for her, and Kya licked and tasted her until she cried out her name and begged her to stop.