Chapter 2

Stew being a nice guy, looked for a great resort which is 4 hours drive from home. He booked it for 5 days. We will drive down tomorrow morning from Stella’s place. I went to bed just thinking of the best coming days.   

As always I switched off alarm and kept sleeping in the morning. I heard car horn and woke up with shock and realization that I was suppose to be ready. I poked my head out from window and saw Stella was in the car.

“What the hell!”

“I will be there in 2 minutes, just 2 minutes.” I said and ran towards my closet. I have this travel kit with all essentials. I picked it up and stuffed some shorts and t-shirts in a bag and ran out grabbing my shoos and thongs on the way out.

“See I came, in less than 2 minutes” I said while breathing heavily.

“That is impressive, let’s go.”

“Wait, can I just go and pee”

“There we go” I took it as yes and ran inside to the bathroom. I came back and Stella was sitting on couch reading morning newspaper.

“Let’s go” I yelled and was going out

“It’s ok; did you keep your swim wears?”

“I love you sister” I said and ran to pick them up from bathroom. I yelled from bathroom “ Stella, can I…” before I could complete my sentence she said.

“Yes, make it fast” I kept rest of the stuff in a plastic bag and came out.

“Oh wait, I forgot my purse. I might not need it but it has license” I started to walk to my room while talking and Stella said

“I got it already, let’s go now.” I ran towards her, gave her a running hug and kissed on cheek.

“You know I love you right” she looked at me and smiled back.

She was driving and I was setting up my phone to play some music. While choosing the right song I said

“Stella, can we stop for coffee and you know I didn’t even brush my teeth”

“I knew it was coming. The rest area is in another 30 miles.” She said and smiled again. We stopped and had some breakfast. The rest of the drive was very delightful. It was nice and warm weather.

We reached hotel by 11 in the morning and I was wondering on where the beach is. I could just see a big resort. We checked in and the guy at reception told us the way to our room. As far as I remember from the booking mail the room was suppose to be beach facing. I opened the door of the room and it was a lavish setting with a big deck at the back. I jumped on the bed and Stella opened the curtains for the deck. The beach was right in front of us. Stella looked at me and we yelled at our highest voices.

I didn’t even wait for another second. I changed into my swim wear and ran towards the ocean. Stella followed me as she had to apply sun scream and all which I am never interested in.

After a while we came out were just lying on the beach under the warm sun when I saw a guy who was sitting on a bench just having his lunch or something. He sat there for a while post he completed his burrito. He got up and walked away.

I just ignored and we went ahead with our plan. The plan was to go to spa and get ourselves pampered.

I was getting the body message and my eyes were closed. Somehow I could not get him out of my mind. He was tall and good looking guy. He was wearing a business suit and a dam good one for sure. Although I was sitting far away but somehow I get a feeling that his eyes were sad. I felt like he was alone which I could not understand.

After the message Stella and I went to the shack at the beach and sat under the umbrella. We ordered some wine. Stella was reading a book and I was just staring at the ocean.

“What are you thinking Vic?”  Stella asked

“Nothing, just admiring the beauty of the ocean.”

“Really, I take it. What else?” Stella asked as she knew I am thinking about something. In reality I was thinking about someone.

“Nothing much, I was thinking, what if someone is lonely because they want to be lonely?”

“What, why do you think you are lonely? We all are with you Vic?” Stella said with worry in her voice. She kept her glass down and turned towards me.

“No. I am not saying I am lonely. I was just…” I looked at her and I could see she has thousand thoughts in her mind, but I didn’t wanted her to be worried. So I just said

“I am thinking of a new article for my magazine and you… never mind.”

“Oh my god, Vic, we are here so that we can be free of work and other things.” I nodded along. Stella picked her Novel in her left hand and wine glass in right and started reading again.

I decided I should just jump into the ocean again. I kept my glass on the side and ran towards the ocean. I could here Stella yelling at me

“Vic, it is going to be cold girl.” I just had to wash my thoughts in the ocean so I went anyways.

The next day during lunch time after Stella and I came out of pool I decided to take a walk around the beach and Stella just wanted to fell asleep under the sun. My intention was not to spy but also it is true that I did not forget those lonely eyes. I kept walking and listing to the sound of ocean when I saw him walking towards the bench. He came sat for a while. He just kept looking at the ocean. I kept looking at him from the corner of my eye while walking around.

He was tall and handsome. He had this lean look with beard which was nicely trimmed. This is a small town and I could not guess what kind of work he would do that he has to wear a suit on a Friday noon. I so wanted to talk to him may be just say hi. I started to walk towards him and then he pulled out his burrito and started eating him. I decided I will wait for a while so that he finishes his lunch. I kept walking and suddenly I heard Stella’s voice.

“Vic” I ignored it once but she kept going.

“Vic… Vic… Victoria” I couldn’t ignore her more so I went to her.

“What? Sorry couldn’t hear you because of wind” I said

“No worries! I just met resort manager and he told me that we can take a golf cart and drive around. It is cheap and we can go to some bush walk which according to him is AWESOME.” I was listening to her but my eyes were at him. He almost finished his lunch and was just cleaning up. Stella was still lying on the sand and she just took a peak on what I am looking at and said

“What are you looking at?” I moved so that she couldn’t see and said

“Nothing, sounds like a good plan. Let’s go.” Stella and nodded and got up.

“You go to room and take shower; I will just get your stuff. I need to pay for our drinks.” Stella could smell that something is fishy but she gave me befit of doubt and went ahead. I turned around saw him walking away.

The next two days I made sure we are in the resort during lunch time even though Stella wanted us to be out somewhere. I kept looking but he didn’t come.

We were sitting in the dinning area looking out to the beach. I was having a very nicely cooked pasta and Stella as always watching her weight so she was have a sad salad. I was mostly playing with pasta with my fork and thinking to myself that may be he did not come because its weekend or may be he saw me looking at him. Tomorrow is Monday and we are supposed to check out in the morning 10 AM. I could either tell Stella, ask her to wait in the resort till 12:30 PM which is his time to come or just put my curiosity to rest.

“Vic, what happened? You look lost most of the stay here. Is everything alright?” Stella asked

“I am good.” I just avoided her question

“Vic, you can tell me baby. Certainly you have something in your mind otherwise you will not leave even a single pasta on your plate and you have not eaten more than 5 mouthful in last 20 mins” Stella said and I kept looking at her thinking should I or shouldn’t I.

“Never mind, if I have something I will say it. Alright, Stella don’t worry about me. I am fine. I just keep thinking something. I am a writer that’s what we do.” I said and smiled

“Well, you can’t get away with this card all the time but I am going to leave you with your thought. You should just know that you can tell me anything.” Stella said in comforting voice.

“I know thanks.” I said and kept my hand on hers to tell her that I trust her and thanking for her support.

We it was Monday morning and we checked out. I could not find courage or may be I was not able to explain myself why I want to meet him. I just saw him twice and I am not the kind of person who will fall in love at first sight. There was something different in him. We were driving back. I could see the traffic, road turning, and managing speed limit but at the same time my concentration was not on driving. I wanted to turn around and just go for it.

We reached at my place at around 2 PM. I stopped the car and opened the door. Stella kept her hand on my arm and said

“Do you want to talk now?” I turned towards her and looked into her eyes.

“No, you will judge me.”

“Come on Vic.”

“Alright, when we were at the beach on first two days I saw this guy.”

“Wooohh” Stella made a the sound

“Nothing as such. He was sitting on the bench next to beach. He had his lunch there I guess. I felt he was lonely and somehow I got this curiosity to go and talk to him.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I don’t know. It just felt stupid.”

“Did you like him?” Stella asked

“Not in that way. I mean I don’t even know him, how am I suppose to like him?” Stella nodded and said

“We should go back. Come on.”

“No.” I said as a reacting to her idea

“We never do such crazy things. We should do it Vic.”

“It’s not that, it’s just he come at 12:30 for not more than 30 mins and it is 2 O’clock  already.” Stella nodded along.

“We can go tomorrow.”

“No, let it go. It was this stupid instinct I guess.” Stella gave me a hug and I got down from the car. I took my bag and Stella said

“Take care and don’t think about it much.” I nodded and walked towards the house. I kept thinking how stupid and funny it is that I always believe that one can only like someone when they know each other but this man surprises me.

Go to Chapter 3