~ 8 ~
Rona
Perhaps I should make a move, like for real.
Lusting after Lily all day at the beach was scrambling my sense of timing and perspective, that and the steady stream of homemade pina coladas being handed to me.
I wasn’t drunk. It was more like a constant buzz, made possible through a week of over-indulging.
Next week I’d get back to normal and that meant little to no alcohol or processed foods. I’d feel better for it.
But for now, I would enjoy the feeling of doing whatever I wanted.
And that meant lying watching a bikini-clad Lily play football tennis on the beach like it was volleyball, sipping my cocktails, enjoying holiday life.
I had my book with me that I was giving the impression I was reading but any actual concentration on it wasn’t happening.
I was okay with that as my focus lay elsewhere.
I only cared about or wanted to stare at one person from behind my sunglasses.
We all had a go at football tennis. When it was one of our turns to go head-to-head with the international football star we marched to our defeat.
Sometimes we paired up to try and beat her, but as of yet no one had.
Lily moved like a beautiful gazelle with fit, strong, muscles on show.
It felt like I was watching a real-life advertisement for Nike, which I had recently learned was named after a Greek goddess, or the opening credits to a World Cup set in Brazil, except I was able to zoom in on the visible abs and thigh muscles of the star of the show, at any point.
“Rona, you’re next!” Nell called out, jogging over to where I lay on my towel, along with the rest of the gang.
“Is it? I thought I just went?”
“That was an hour ago. We’ve all had a go since. Lily only wants one more game and she asked for you.”
Lily was playing keepy-uppy with the ball herself now, awaiting her next victim. Did the woman never get tired?
“Okay.” I sat up.
“You’ve got this,” Nell roused. “I believe in you.”
I looked at Nell. She was taking this too seriously. I thought we had all long since given up on getting any points off Lily, let alone beating her.
I stood, grateful for my bikini shorts, feeling a little self-conscious after a week of indulging. “I’ll be happy as long as I don’t twist my ankle or something.”
“Yeah, what’s the stress, Nell?” Kaira said, shielding her eyes from the sun while looking up at her.
“I hate losing and I mean, like, I think she’s even trying to let us win sometimes. It’s like the ball sticks to her and then she tosses it back in the perfect spot.”
“What do you expect, dude? That was her job,” Kaira asked, a quizzical look on her face.
“You’re right, you’re right.” Nell sat down on the sand and sighed. “I got too caught up. I thought I was okay at football but apparently not.” She managed a laugh while looking over at Lily playing tricks with the ball for fun. “She is really amazing.”
I joined Lily by the net. The tops of Lily’s bare feet were red from kicking the ball. I wanted to stroke her red feet and make them feel better. What the fuck?
“Ah, so you’ve come to be my final conquest?”
“I come in peace. Just go easy on me, all right?”
“I’ve been going easy.”
“I know. That’s what scares me.”
“I meant to ask, and I’m sorry I haven’t already, but have you played football before? You must have, with your control of the ball.”
“I’ve played a little over the years, just for fun. Sometimes Nell organises five-a-sides and I join in. I’m rubbish though.”
“Nah, you’re a natural.”
“Thanks.”
“Have you ever played this game before?”
“No.”
“Then football tennis could count as one of your something news.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. It’s also a challenge for me. I don’t think my limbs know what they’re doing.”
“They seem highly competent to me.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“Just need to think of something else you can stretch yourself with before we go home tomorrow.”
“I’m okay to leave it at this. Our secret game has done its job. My creative juices are flowing again.”
Lily spun the ball on her finger, reminding me of the scene in Top Gun from the eighties.
“I’m glad your juices are flowing. We’re still gonna end on a bang though, right?
” Lily walked off towards the back of the sandy court marked by various flip-flops and sandals.
I watched the back of her as she went, in awe of the way she moved, feeling turned on.
I hoped we would end on a bang, perhaps even in the literal sense. There had been no more mention of skinny-dipping but I had a feeling we would probably end up swimming naked in the sea together tonight. I was open to it but didn’t want to seem too keen. Keep her on her toes and all that.
We played for about twenty minutes. Lily toyed with me like I was a human-size chess-piece.
I kind of liked it. She would do about ten tricks when the ball came to her side of the net, gently bouncing the ball off her knee, inside of the foot, head, you name it, before effortlessly placing the ball back on my side of the court where I could in no way reach.
I enjoyed looking at her small and perfectly proportioned boobs bounce as she spun her tricks, so there was a very definite upside to this torture, but my staring did not help with my ability to play the game as I was mostly caught off guard all the time.
However, I did manage to get a point off Lily.
It was a fluke, no doubt, but I celebrated the ball bouncing past her like I’d scored the winning goal in a World Cup final and may even have twisted my ankle a bit during my celebration. Worth it, though.
The rest of the gang barely noticed, most having lost interest in the game or were swimming in the sea. Nell looked like she was sleeping.
“Great shot, Rona.” Lily clapped. “You’re on fire.”
I found her praise seductive. Sexual, actually. At least that’s how I was choosing to take it.
After our game we all had some sweet treats by the towels and talked about where we were all going to go out for the last night of the holiday.
“What about that meat market at the end of the strip?” Nell suggested.
“With all the guys hitting on you?” Bouchra did not sound happy.
Nell shrugged. “I was thinking more of the straight women looking for a holiday fling? Maybe it’s the singleton in me.”
“I’d be up for that,” Lily said.
I scratched my head and looked away, frowning. I clenched my teeth. Jealousy felt as unattractive as it must have looked. I’d told Nell I felt there was something going on between me and Lily. She had every right to suggest what she suggested though. I needed to be realistic here.
“Yeah, it’s a good shout and only fair since we keep going to the main lesbian club. We’ll protect you, little Bouche.” Vicky’s words were always the final ones. She was very definitely the leader of our group.
When everyone else packed up to walk back to the villa, I stayed behind. The beach was starting to thin out, too, with people moving towards getting ready for their evening.
Lily stood next to me. “Are you coming back?”
“I’m going to record the waves before I forget.”
“Oh. Okay. I can stay here with you, and watch your stuff while you go in the water, if you want?”
I was tempted to say she should just go back with everyone else and get ready to pull her straight girl this evening, but I held my tongue, realising how insane that was.
“That would be great, thanks.”
I took my field recorder into the water with me. It was waterproof but I held it up anyway. Lily was sitting up on the beach, her forearms resting on her knees. It looked like she was watching me, but she could’ve been staring off into space. It was hard to tell from this far away.
The water lapped its music again. I couldn’t wait to get back into the studio.
This holiday had given me the creative break I’d needed, a fresh head, and loads of ideas.
My juices were indeed flowing, and this meant I had to get back to my space, reset, and get to work.
I floated on my back and pressed record, letting the waves gently rock under me, and thought of a new sound to go with some lyrics I’d been playing with.
***
The jetty at the bay was sparsely lit with soft lighting now that night had descended.
The ridges of the wooden decking massaged my bare feet as I walked along the jetty.
The feeling at the bottom of my feet was deeply relaxing.
If only it were a real foot massage in a comfortable spa, however.
Lily was serious about swimming, naked, and everyone else was too, apparently.
Lily had suggested it in the club earlier tonight, daring everyone to end the holiday on a bang.
They were up for it. Nutters, the lot of them.
The club itself was better than we expected, and we all had a great time.
I was still buzzing from all the dancing we did, especially the times Lily and I caught eyes, and the times we brushed up against each other.
My ears were ringing but I didn’t care. It had been a great night. I was sad we had to go home tomorrow.
But by the time we got to the end of the jetty, with the metal ladder down into the water looming at us, the mood in the group had changed. Lily was the only one who still seemed keen, already taking her shoes off.
“Nah, you know, on second thought, I’m going to bail,” Vicky said. “I didn’t expect it to be this visible.”
“I didn’t really want to do it anyway. Sorry, guys,” Mathilde said, looking visibly relieved.
We were three pairs, although I shouldn’t have considered me and Lily a pair. Nell had already disappeared with a girl she’d met at the club. The sexuality of the girl Nell had pulled had been hotly debated, and we settled on agreeing not to be so nosey.
“That’s fine. I wouldn’t want you to do something you’re not comfortable with,” Lily affirmed.
“Neither did I. I’m sorry too, Lily,” Bouchra muttered.