Chapter 18 Bea
Is he huge? I bet he’s huge
Driving home from the resort I feel like I’ve been gone for far longer than seven days. It feels like going home after a month-long vacation on an island far away from reality. Florida is naturally a colorful place, but everything feels duller the farther I drive from Coconut Cove.
My apartment looms over me as I sit in my silver sedan staring up at the white and blue building. It’s painted in the light colors common for the area that are supposed to make it feel more tropical and friendly. It just seems dull and boring to me now.
I tap on the steering wheel with my bare unpolished nails, my skin a deeper tan than when I left a week ago. Must be all that sun from being outside with Zaxon so much.
Okay, time to get out of the car and go inside, into my apartment, the place that has always been my safe space. Sucking in a breath I force myself to get out of my car and pull my suitcase from the trunk and go inside.
My apartment is on the top floor, because there was no way in hell I was living under someone else to deal with their noisy stomping. It’s also a corner unit because I wanted to share as few walls as possible with anyone else.
I take the elevator to the third floor and walk to the door of my apartment.
Inside is dark and warm, the air turned down while I was away.
It’s also extremely quiet. A quiet I used to like, that I strove for.
It was engrained in every motive I had when searching for a place to rent.
Now it seems daunting. The loudest silence I’ve ever heard.
I turn on the lights and adjust the temperature on the thermostat, rolling my suitcase into my bedroom and beginning to unpack. Most of the contents get tossed into the hamper.
After everything is put away and the laundry started, I sit down to write my report.
Most of the information is already entered since I like to work efficiently, writing my report as I work rather than trying to remember everything after the fact.
That’s how things get missed. Finishing the report and sending it in only takes an hour and writing my resignation letter and emailing it to my boss takes even less time.
Which leaves me sitting in my quiet, empty apartment alone. What did I do before when home alone? Read? Watch TV? I guess I could macrame some, but even that feels empty. I’ve gotten so used to the presence of another person that being alone has me all twitchy.
My phone rings and I scramble for it like a teenage girl waiting for a call from her crush. It’s not my crush sadly, but my best friend. At this point I’ll take a call from a solicitor just to have something to do.
I swipe at the screen and hold the phone to my ear. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself. I haven’t heard from you all week. How was the resort? Tell me everything. Is it as nice there as they claim?”
Andrea skips the pleasantries, as she normally does, and starts her own version of twenty questions. I settle into my couch and get comfortable, this is not going to be a short conversation and that’s fine with me.
“Slow down Drea, you’re going to hyperventilate and pass out.”
“No, I’m not. I have very good lung control. No spill. How was it? Should I book a room? Have a little vaca of my own? I’ve been meaning to get to the beach and haven’t had the chance. I bet they have the perfect beach for sunbathing.”
Giggling I tell her about all the bells and whistles at the resort and how much I recommend it. Even the beaches that I hate. Telling her about my new beau and job is going to require a little more tact. Tact I seem to have lost and just blurt it out.
“I started dating a gargoyle who works at the resort.” The words tumble from my mouth quickly, as if I would lose my nerve if I spoke slower.
“What?! How? You were only there for a week, when did you have time to meet and start dating someone? And a gargoyle? Is he huge? I bet he’s huge. Did you touch his wings?”
“Oh my god Drea, is that all you think about?”
I can hear the shrug in her shoulders through the phone along with her “Eh.” She’s not doubt googling pictures of naked gargoyles as we speak.
“I’m a sexually vibrant person Bea. I need to know these things. I haven’t been with a gargoyle before, and I need to know the physics of it before seeking one out.”
“Well, you’re going to have to stick to internet searches for your info or find a gargoyle of your own.”
Andrea blows a raspberry in my ear and some sort of immature fart noise. “You’re no fun.”
“Not according to Zaxon,” I mutter the response before I can stop myself. Unfortunately, she still hears it and latches on to the small fragment of information.
“Zaxon, is it?” she coos far too high pitched.
“Yes. Zaxon was the security guard assigned to escort me around resort. He was extremely annoying and cheerful, smiling way too much_”
“So of course you instantly distrusted him,” she inserts.
“Yes. Smiling for no reason is suspicious. But he was also kind and funny_”
“Probably ridiculously hot,” Andrea interrupts once again. I don’t mind, this is how we’ve always talked. Me being rational and her inserting inappropriate commentary.
“Yes, he is…excessively attractive. He also never wears a shirt.”
“Oh, what a shame. Must have been hell for you to spend all day with a shirtless hot gargoyle who’s also funny and nice,” she dead pans with every ounce of sarcasm she possesses.
I flop back on the couch and images of a shirtless Zaxon invade my thoughts, then more images of him completely naked and I have to choke off a groan before Andrea hears it. I’ve been gone less than a day and I already miss him. I’m ridiculous.
“Yes, well,” I clear my throat. “We spent a lot of time together and he grew on me. We talked and stuff.”
“And stuff? Did you get busy with a gargoyle after just meeting him? While working? Who are you and what have you done with the stickler for rules Beatrice I used to know?”
She can’t see me, but I glare and roll my eyes anyways. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“You have to admit, it is out of character for you.”
Yeah, well that’s not the only part out of character for me that’s going to surprise her.
“There’s also one more thing that happened while I was there.”
“What?” she asks with calm curiosity. “More interesting than a gargoyle boyfriend?”
“Maybe not more interesting but just as big a change. I got a new job. Working at the resort.” I hold my breath waiting for her response. I don’t expect her to be judgmental, but this is still a lot of information to absorb.
“Wow, you really went all in, didn’t you? Anything else I should know? Did you get a tattoo? Go streaking.”
“Not streaking…”
“Oh my god Bea. I think I may pass out. Did this gargoyle just fuck a whole new personality into you? Am I still your best friend?” Her last question has a quiet edge of concern in her tone that pulls at my heartstrings.
“Of course you’re still my best friend. No one else can put up with my need to follow the rules so much. And it wasn’t anything illegal. The resort has a nude beach and Zaxon convinced me to go with him one day.”
I pick at a string on my shirt, embarrassed at my own unexpected behavior. I never rationally considered attending a nude beach in my entire life and in the span of a week Zaxon managed to push me out of my comfort zone in ways that I discovered I liked.
“Okay, now I definitely have to meet this Zaxon guy and thank him for getting you to finally live a little.”
I laugh and let out a long breath. I bet her and Zaxon would get along great. Both pushing me to do something ridiculous.
“I’m sure we can manage that. We’ll be working together after all in two weeks.”
“You already quit your old job? That was fast.”
“Well, the job at the resort is just too good to ignore. The pay is great, the benefits are amazing, and I no longer have to drive all over the place. I’ll actually have coworkers I’ll see every day and have lunch with.
I also get access to the resort as part of my benefits.
I’m sure I can bring a guest. If you’re still interested in checking out their beaches. ”
My strategic bribery distracts her enough to shift our conversation past my growing relationship with Zaxon to everything I can get her for free at the resort.
After I’ve promised to take her to experience all the benefits of the resort once I’ve settled into my new job, our conversation goes on for a little while longer until it dwindles, and we say our goodbyes. Once again I’m left trying to figure out what to do with my time.
Breaking down I pull up my messages and start a new thread with Zaxon. We’ve never texted, and I rarely saw him even use his cell phone, but I can only hope now that I’m not there, he pays more attention to it.
I very much want to invite him over. Not just for sex but because I miss having someone to talk to, to cuddle with and stare at the stars.
To make breakfast with and laugh with in the shower.
At this rate he won’t need to do anything to convince me to move in with him.
Just being alone in my own apartment will do it for him.