We walked out of the hotel to an extremely crowded pool. Most of the chairs were already occupied by sunbathers.
"Nope, not this one," I said. Part of our agreement was that I got to choose the least crowded pool. No one was getting to my bracelets until I found a loophole in this stupid game.
We turned around and headed to the opposite side of the hotel. Luckily there were four pools at the Blue Parrot Resort. There had to be at least one that wasn't crowded. We walked past the slutty swimsuit place again and back outside. This pool was mostly shaded by the building, which meant there weren't many sunbathers.
"This one will do," I said and headed toward a chair.
"Oh come on, it's not even that sunny over here," Kristen said. "I need to work on my tan so that I look amazeballs in my maid of honor dress."
"There's a few chairs over there that are in the sun," I said and pointed across the pool. There were already a few people in the sunny chairs, but there were four empty ones. It looked like we had gotten there just in time.
"Oh my God!" Kristen squealed and ducked behind a pool chair.
All three of us stared at her.
"Get down, guys!"
"What exactly are we hiding from?" Layla asked.
"Professor Hunter is here!"
I laughed. "Sure he is." I looked over to where I had just pointed. "Actually, that guy does really look like him."
"Don't stare!" Kristen grabbed my arm and pulled me down behind the pool chair with her.
"Kristen, you're being ridiculous. The chances are that it's not even him. And even if it is, what are you trying to accomplish by hiding?"
"Do you think I should go over there?"
"That depends on what you're planning to do," Alina said and crouched down next to us. "He's engaged, remember?"
"I wouldn't do anything weird," Kristen hissed. "I just want to talk to him."
"You guys?" Layla said.
"Not now, Layla," Kristen replied. "Okay, we need a game plan. Maybe we should just go get those seats next to him?"
Layla laughed and crouched down next to us. "I know one of the guys that he's with. We can walk over and I can say hi and do introductions."
"Which one do you know?" I stood up to look at the group of guys, but Kristen immediately pulled me back down.
"Stop being obvious, Daphne!" Kristen said.
I laughed.
"Mason Caldwell. He runs the marketing campaigns for Sword Body Wash. He helped me become their celebrity endorsement. He's a marketing genius. Actually, he's the reason why we can afford to be here." She laughed. "I owe him a huge thank you. I'm glad we're going to run into him."
"Wait, let me get this straight," Kristen said. "The whole time you knew me, you knew a friend of Professor Hunter's and didn't tell me? You're pure evil, Layla!"
"I didn't even know about this weird crush you have on Professor Hunter until yesterday. Well, at least, how big of a crush it was. And I didn't put the connection together until I just saw Mason."
"So does that mean that it's definitely Professor Hunter over there?" Kristen asked. She suddenly looked nervous.
"Most likely. Hey, maybe he's here for his bachelor party."
Kristen frowned. "Don't remind me."
"If we go over there, you have to promise not to embarrass me, though."
"Why does everyone assume I'm going to be awful? I'm always completely normal around Professor Hunter."
"Mhm," Alina said.
"Tell them, Daphne," Kristen said.
I shrugged. "I never had a class with you and him. I have no idea how you acted. I just know that you talked about him nonstop and made me sit outside of his apartment building a few times. Because you're a stalker," I whispered.
Kristen frowned again. "I'm not going to be weird. I haven't seen him in a few years. And I'm dating Tim. I'm in love with Tim. I just think it would be rude to not say hi. That's all."
"Fine, but I'm not spending my whole bachelorette party stalking him with you."
"I promise that won't happen. I cross my heart and hope to die." She made a cross over her chest as she said it, to prove how serious she was.
"Great. So, does this mean we can stop hiding and being weird?" I asked and stood up.
"I guess so," Layla said and stood up beside me.
Alina stood up and pulled Kristen up too.
"Just act super normal, everyone," Kristen said.
"I don't think we're the ones anyone's worried about," Alina responded.
She swiftly got an elbow in the ribs.
I followed the three of them to the other side of the pool, making sure my towel was covering up my bracelets and was in front of my inappropriate bikini. Not that I had anything to worry about. Professor Hunter was engaged and I knew enough about Mason Caldwell from tabloids to know that he had been dating a beautiful blonde for a couple of years. Professor Hunter and Mason had both been New York bachelor royalty. One of the other guys with them was just as gorgeous as Mason. They looked pretty similar, but he was definitely younger. Maybe they were related?
I stopped walking when my eyes landed on the man sitting beside Professor Hunter. But not because he was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid my eyes on. Well, maybe partially. It was mainly because I recognized him from campus, though. I used to see him almost every day, running along the paths on the green. I'd be lying if I said I didn't stare. It was hard not to.
He looked a lot like Professor Hunter. Maybe they were related too? I wasn't sure why I had never put that together before. He was laughing at something that Mason had just said. He seemed more carefree and easy going. It had always seemed like Professor Hunter was uptight. It was probably because all the girls on campus were stalking him. The guy sitting next to him seemed so relaxed and happy, though. He also had shaggy brown hair instead and was tanner. He glanced over at us and made eye contact with me. He smiled, a dazzling white, perfect smile that made my insides flip over.
I quickly looked away. For some reason my heart was beating fast. Probably because I had been caught staring. It definitely had nothing to do with how hot he was. I stopped by the chairs we'd be sitting in and picked the one farthest away from the guys. Fortunately it was also the one in the shade, or else I would have had to choose between sitting near them or getting skin cancer. I'd just sit here while Kristen embarrassed herself. There was no reason why I had to be part of whatever awkward conversation was about to ensue. And once I was done eavesdropping, I could swim some laps. It was going to be a perfectly relaxing afternoon.
I put my bag with my old bathing suit on the chair beside mine, in case some eager sunbathers wanted to swoop the chairs beside me, and sat down, making sure to keep my blanket over my wrist.
"Well, if it isn't Mason Caldwell," Layla said.
Mason smiled. "Layla Torrez." He stood up and gave her a hug. "You quit on me and now you're spending your days in Costa Rica?"
She laughed. "I'm spending my days doing what I love now. You know that. I'm here for my friend's bachelorette party."