Stacey
“I’ll have another Cosmo,” I say pushing my glass to Gail, the bartender at Gail’s Bar. I don’t actually know her, but there are plenty of people in this bar that do, so I’ve heard her name several times.
“You got it. Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?” she asks while making my drink.
“No thanks, just the drink,” I mumble twisting a napkin in my hand.
When she places the drink in front of me, I pay her and take a sip. I look around the bar and figure there must not be many out of towners here because they all seem to know each other. There are a lot of people in here and I assume that’s because it’s a Friday night. I’ll admit, I’m enjoying the people watching. It’s probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time. That pretty much describes how boring my life has become.
Needing an escape, maybe looking for a bit of excitement, has brought me back to Westlake Resort in South Carolina. I spent all my summers here as a kid. My parents ended up buying the place when my brother and I graduated high school and moved here permanently. Along with my brother, who works for them at the resort. I wasn’t willing to leave New York. I had dreams to accomplish and goals to reach. Which I’ve been lucky enough to do. However, now I feel like I need more, something different. So when I could no longer take the repetitiveness of everyday life, something told me this is where I needed to be.
Hearing a deep voice in the distance draws my attention. I look around until my eyes land on what has to be the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen. Dark hair, muscles that are clearly defined beneath his t-shirt, and I can tell he is popular with the women because they are circling around him, seemingly waiting for their chance.
I look back toward Gail and smile. “Who’s the guy?”
She laughs while whipping down the bar. “That is Ryan Drake.” Ryan Drake, no way. It can’t be the same Ryan Drake that I grew up with. The same scrawny kid that used to collect baseball cards, ride his bike up and down past my house, and tell me the most ridiculous stories. That Ryan was my brother’s best friend and he sure as hell didn’t look anything like this Ryan. I glance back to him and Gail places her hand on mine. “Don’t bother. He’s really is just a pretty face. He sleeps with all the visitors we get, not only here in town, but also back home at Westlake Resort. He’ll just use you and move on.”
He’ll just use me huh? Maybe this is exactly what I need. I mean the reason I drove down here from New York City was to bust out of my boring life. A one-night stand could be a huge start. The idea that he lives in the same resort where I am staying, that is just a bonus.
“You should listen to the lady. Ryan’s a great guy, but I sure as hell wouldn’t trust him around any woman I know,” says a guy who has just plopped down next to me.
“Thanks, I appreciate the advice…” I let the last word drag out giving him the opportunity to introduce himself.
“Leon,” he says tossing back his beer.
“Well thanks, Leon. I’m Stacey,” I say, but he doesn’t pay much attention. He is talking to Gail, so I decide to just take Ryan in.
He looks like a bad boy, which is such anything but the Ryan I knew, and a huge turn on for me. All the guys I’ve been with are exactly like my life, boring. Especially the last guy I was with, Kevin. He had no sense of humor, didn’t like going out because he’d be too tired in the morning, even on a Friday night. Worst of all, he was the worst sex I’d ever had. He didn’t like to fool around, he just went right for it, and it lasted—on a good day—five minutes. Checking out Ryan , I can tell he’d be amazing in bed. Just the way his body moves is sexy as hell.
I think back to when I left New York the other night. I was sitting in my office going over the paperwork I needed for a case I was working on and I couldn’t concentrate on it. The last few weeks had been like that. I used to live for work. I thrived on being in the courtroom, working long nights and not having a life at all. But something was changing and I knew I needed to get away to figure it out. Walking into my boss’ office, I told him that I needed time off and considering I hadn’t taken a sick day or vacation day in years, I had time on my side.
Pulling out of my thoughts I order yet another drink, before looking back to my new favorite view. I watch him laughing with a few of his friends or who I think are his friends, and it reminds me of how long it’s been since I laughed like that. I can’t even remember what it’s like to laugh and actually mean it. To find something so funny that it just comes pouring out of you.
I take a deep breath and toss back the rest of my drink trying to numb the pain I’m starting to feel. I have no idea what I’ve been doing with my life. Yes, I make great money, have an upscale loft and more clothes than I’ll ever wear. But what’s the point? I have no one to share it with, no one who can make me laugh, and no one who can make life exciting.
That’s what this vacation is all about, and I think Ryan may be the key.