Chapter 2
Baby, listen… that bartender hadn't been playing when she told me those rum punch drinks would put me on my ass… or however she said it. All I knew was that shit did just that.
After finishing my first drink yesterday on the beach, I grabbed another one and walked around the resort to see what all it had to offer.
All I remembered seeing were the spa and the soul food restaurant.
I stopped at a cart to get a couple of street tacos that the resort offered, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in my room on day two of my vacation still in my bikini from yesterday.
I giggled as I shook my head in the mirror. After a nice hot shower, I definitely looked a lot better than I had when I woke up an hour ago.
Today, I opted to wear a green crop top and some white shorts.
I planned to go to one of the restaurants on the resort to soak up some of this alcohol from last night…
and then order another one. I would take it a lot slower with those bad boys today, though, because I planned to read and relax all day.
Maybe tomorrow I would book a spa appointment.
I wanted to get on a jet ski and swim with the dolphins at some point, too, but I knew I had time for that.
For today, I just wanted to relax and not overdo it with the liquor.
I grabbed my phone from the counter in the bathroom where I put it while I pulled my braids up into a bun. The sun here was outrageous, and I didn't want my long braids to get in the way and overheat my little ass.
After pressing Ashley's contact in my phone, I waited for my best friend to answer. I grinned when she did.
"Indie, baby! What are you doing? How are you?" she sang into the phone.
"Other than a pounding headache, I'm cool. How are you, bookie?" I asked as I grabbed my clutch and walked out of the room.
"I'm good, but fuck all that. My life is boring compared to yours right now. How is Port Isle? I swear I'm so jealous right now."
"Yeah, well, nobody told you to have a baby right before my mid-life crisis. How is my lil man, anyway?" I cooed. My godson had to be the cutest baby on the planet.
"His stinky butt is good," Ashley said. I could hear the smile in her tone.
"Hey, now. Not too much on my godson."
"Listen, Junior here needs to stop shitting so much. It's gross."
I giggled. "He must got that from his daddy."
"Allen Senior definitely gave him that trait because I sure the hell didn't." I laughed as she asked, "How was your first day? I barely heard from you."
"Yeah, because these fruity ass drinks put my ass right the fuck to sleep early as hell. I can't even remember how I got back up to my room." I admitted as I stepped onto the elevator.
"Aw, hell. You know it's been years since your ass had a proper drink. I know you're feeling it today." Ashley laughed hard as hell. Wasn't shit that funny to me.
I rolled my eyes and waited for her to finish laughing like she was a damn comedian as I stepped off the elevator.
I contemplated whether I wanted to go to a restaurant inside the resort or outside on the beach.
Finally, I decided to go outside and walked through the front doors.
How often did I get to have breakfast on the beach? Not often was the answer.
Though it was early in the morning, the sun beat down on me like it was mid-afternoon.
"Shit, it's hot as hell already." I wasn't complaining, though. I loved the tropical weather.
"Lucky. It's raining here," Ashley said, and I could hear the pout in her voice.
I giggled as I passed by one of the many swimming pools. I was definitely going to rent a cabana and have some pool time today. "Even if it were nice out, you wouldn't be going anywhere. You're too scared to bring AJ outside, remember?"
Ashley sighed longingly, with her dramatic ass. "I remember. I wonder how long it'll take for me to get over that. I miss outside."
I chuckled as I squinted my eyes at the sun. "Girl, that's all up to you. That boy is brand new to the world, but he isn't going to break just because you take him outside. Get out your head."
"Maybe you're right—enough about me and this stinky baby. Entertain me," she demanded.
"First of all, I said not too much on my godson. Second, there will be no entertainment from me, friend. I'm about to enjoy my breakfast, book an appointment with the spa, and then lay out at the pool for the rest of the day."
Ashley groaned. "I so wish I was you."
I shook my head. "No, girl, you don't. It's wild that this is my first vacation in… I don't even know how long. You don't want to be like me, Mrs. Passport Stamps."
Ashley traveled more than anyone I knew. That was all her and Allen did before AJ came, and I had no doubt that it would only take them a few months to get back to it.
"I miss traveling," Ashley said dreamily.
"Didn't you just go on a babymoon two months ago?"
"Correct. Two whole months ago," she exclaimed.
"Girl, I ain't even about to play with you on this phone right now," I said as I walked up to the first restaurant I saw.
It was a cute little spot with plenty of seating, and the smells wafting through the air made my stomach rumble.
"I'm about to eat and get back to drinking. I'll text you later."
"Fine." She groaned. "But take lots of pics. I didn't get any yesterday."
"I got you." I chuckled. "Love you, Ash."
"Love you, too, Indie."
We hung up the phone just as a hostess greeted me. "Hi, welcome. Just one today?"
For some reason, my heart gave a little piercing pain when she asked that. I nodded. "Yeah, just me."
At my big age, it was a bit embarrassing that I didn't have a man to keep me company. Love had taken a huge backseat to my career, and I realized it was a regret of mine. I'd always wanted marriage and kids, but I lost that dream somewhere along the way.
I sighed as I followed the beautiful hostess to my table. My face turned upside down when I took in the view from my seat.
After thanking the waitress, I quickly picked up the menu, and my mouth watered at all the selections. Finally, I decided on the Cajun crab benedict with cheesy hash browns. I needed a large glass of water, and after I polished all that off, another rum punch definitely called to my spirit.