“Guys, I’m sorry,” Rich interrupted. “I really don’t want a bachelor party. I know it’s tradition. But that’s kind of why we wanted you all here. We just wanted some time away. I don’t need another weekend right away. We can always do a guys weekend but I don’t need that.”
“Bullshit.” Ryan took a sip of Mark’s drink and gagged. “You are the groom. Last weekend of freedom and all that.”
One by one the rest of the wedding party boarded the boat. Sophie was last and stepped aboard in a lace bathing suit cover up. She wore large sunglasses but her cheeks were still flushed and puffy. She walked past the men to the front of the boat and sat down next to Amber. Mark watched her. She moved so gracefully. Her blond hair was swept up in a loose braid and she had changed into a black bikini. She had gotten some sun today and looked stunning. He smiled at her when he thought she was looking but the smile wasn’t returned. Amber whispered something to her and when Sophie sighed a tear escaped down her cheek. Amber listened to the whole story, nodding her head and patting her leg. Having Amber sit so close to Sophie worried him since he had slept with Amber only six nights ago. But that was before he met Sophie. That was before his heart started to betray him.
****
Molly floated along the surface looking down at the most amazing coral and fish she had ever seen. She occasionally glanced back up at the boat to check on her brother. He was passed out on his stomach, getting the late afternoon sun on his back. Ryan had told them that they had hit the bar and he had a few drinks that could take down an elephant. “I’m worried about him.”
“He’s fine Molly. He’s been through some shit. You have to just give him some time. You know he saw a lot of crazy stuff over there. I know he’s been back awhile but sometimes it just takes some time to get your head right.” Ryan swam between Molly and Amber, glancing at Amber’s ass more than at the fish. “He has to get back out there. Man up. He’ll be fine. I think he might have met someone.”
“He’s already manned up,” Molly glared at Amber. “And he’s not fine. He’s wound tight. And honestly, I think it has something to do with Sophie. Does that sound crazy?”
“Molls, your brother is never going to settle down if that’s what you’re hoping for. I don’t care what he’s thinking right now. He’s been my wing man way too long. No way. He’s a player for life.” Ryan reached out and touched Amber’s ass.
“Seriously dude?” Caleb swam up beside them.
“Oh, thank God someone honest. What’s wrong with Mark?” Molly swam over to Caleb and held onto his strong arms as they treaded water. “It has to do with Sophie, doesn’t it?” Caleb groaned. “I know you have feelings for her. I’m so sorry. But I am worried about Mark. He’s been angry and standoffish and now he’s drunk. Please C. Please tell me what you know. Ryan thinks he met someone. That’s crazy, right?”
“Molls, I love you. But I think you need to ask him what’s happening with him. All I will say is that I am in love with Sophie but she has feelings for someone on this trip and it’s damn sure not me.”
“Five More Minutes” the boat captain yelled. Mark startled awake and sat up.
He looked around at his group of friends. He had to get his head on straight because he was ruining this trip for his sister and Rich. He had been away from them for so long and this was his homecoming. He couldn’t blow it. He needed some clarity on the Sophie front and he would get it as soon as he could. He scanned the water and saw her swimming with Chad. They were smiling and laughing and Chad was telling her horror stories about sharks with giant teeth. She was happy and he was glad. The rest of the group was scattered in different areas around the boat. He smiled. This was his family and it was time he started acting like it.
“Come here you idiot.” Amber yanked Caleb toward her. “Do you know what you did to her today?”
“Ha. What I did?” Caleb tried to push away.
“She was totally played. She has feelings for this guy who practically screws her and then leaves from lunch to have sex with the waitress from the bar this morning. And you yell at her?” Amber smacked at his chest and pointed at Sophie and Chad getting out of the water. “You yelled at her and she needed you. Well played Caleb, well played.”
Caleb was swimming to the boat before Amber could finish. He felt like such an asshole. He thought she was upset because she had fallen for the guy and didn’t want to tell him. He let his emotions take over and had been so angry. And all afternoon he had ignored her like she was nothing. She was everything to him. And even if she couldn’t return his feelings, she was his friend and no one could take her place. He was such a fool.
He rocketed onto the boat, dropping his fins into the crate and pushing past everyone. He knelt in front of Sophie and took her hands in his. “Look at me.” She wouldn’t look up. He gently grabbed her chin and forced her to make eye contact with him. “Soph, I am so sorry. I am so so sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he did.”
She launched herself forward into his arms and cried. He held her as she trembled and whispered that it would be ok. He ran his fingers down her braid and kissed her softly on the shoulder. “You needed me and I turned on you. I won’t do that again Soph. No matter what, I love you and I will always be there for you.” He stood up and sat down with her on his lap. She traced his Celtic arm band tattoo and began to calm down. “He’s my best friend Soph. He always has been. I won’t take sides in this. But I will be here when you need me because falling for someone that doesn’t love you back really sucks.”
“Enough!” Mark jumped out of his seat as the boat started speeding away. He tried to walk to the front of the boat but Amber stopped him.
“Don’t you dare go up there! Haven’t you done enough for today? Don’t you hurt her anymore.” Amber grabbed his arm and shoved him. Her screaming got everyone’s attention.
“Whoa, what the hell Amber?” Rich stood up and grabbed her.
“Ask this asshole. Leading Sophie on and then going to get laid by some waitress. Solid guy. She fell for this asshole. She doesn’t need anymore of his shit today.”
Ryan looked up. “Mark didn’t sleep with Tabitha. That was me.” He looked confused.
“Bullshit. He left the table and met up with her after lunch. You walked in and said she was waiting for him. He got right up and went to her.” Everyone was looking at her as she kept trying to shove Mark. Sophie cuddled closer to Caleb and whimpered.
“I NEVER slept with her.” Mark looked Sophie right in the eye. “I didn’t go anywhere near her. I went up to my room and took a damn cold shower.”
“He’s telling the truth. I went back to where I left Tabitha and she was still there waiting on him but he never showed.” Ryan was a player but he always had someone’s back in a fight.
“You mean to tell me you passed up a free piece of Ass Moretti? I highly doubt it.” Amber huffed as she sat back down.
“Nothing is ever free Amber! What right do you have to get in my face? Hi pot. I’m Kettle.” He shook her hand and seethed as he looked at her, “And, yes, even a man whore like me can pass up a piece of ass.”
Mark turned away and went back to his seat at the back of the boat. There was so much drama over one false piece of information. He looked right at Molly, “This is why I am single; all this shit right here. I spent the day trying to figure out what the hell was happening to me and why Sophie was so upset. But did anyone talk to me? Did anyone ask what the truth might really be? Nope. This is the perfect example of why I always have been and why I always will be solo. Sorry sis.”
He pulled his sunglasses up over his eyes and turned his head to watch the scenery as the boat made its final approach to the hotel.
Chapter 7
She’d blown it. Yesterday had been a disaster. Hearing Mark tell everyone on the boat that he hadn’t met the waitress and then hearing Ryan defend him was heartbreaking. His face showed complete betrayal by everyone on the boat. And, it was all her fault. She had jumped to conclusions and confided in Amber who just couldn’t let it go. And all those faces on the boat, all the people he loved more than anyone in the world, they had all believed her without a second thought. Well, everyone but Rich. He looked just as shocked as Mark and had done his best to convince him to join the group for dinner. But Mark had bowed out, saying he wasn’t feeling well. She knew the truth.
“Caleb, are you awake?” She whispered into the dark room as the first streaks of morning sun snuck through the curtain.
“No.” He grunted and rolled over. Caleb had been out late with the guys and she knew his head was probably pounding..
“Can you be awake?” Sophie begged in a little girl voice.
“Are you on fire?” Caleb waited for an answer but just heard her huff. “Unless you have a strong urge to seduce me right now, I am going to sleep some more. If you want to seduce me, I will totally be up for that.” His voice was groggy but she could tell he was smiling.
Sophie just sighed. She stretched and got up to brush her teeth and hair and then made her way toward the balcony. Opening the blinds just a tiny bit, she looked out at the beautiful sun just making its appearance. The beach was quiet. She felt like it was all hers. She stepped into the fresh air and got comfy in one of the oversized chairs.
There was a small breeze coming off the ocean and she pulled her legs up to wrap her arms around them. This was heaven. The world was at peace in this moment and even with all the thoughts swimming through her head, she was able to take a deep breath and smile. Despite this crazy place, full of parties, nudity and alcohol, she was having a great time. She straightened her pony tail and promised herself that today, she would make things right with Mark and enjoy the last days in paradise.
The wedding party had welcomed her with open arms and she felt like she had been a part of the group forever. Ryan still shocked her with the things he said but she was getting used to him. The few times she had gone with Caleb and Molly to meet Ryan out at a nightclub, she had been hit on relentlessly and Molly had brushed him away each time. Caleb had always just sat by her side, sometimes with his arm around her, to help protect her from Ryan’s perverted assaults. He was smoking hot, no doubt about that. But she had never met anyone that went home with someone new every time they went out.
Her life was much more reserved. She’d only had a few boyfriends. She somehow found herself just one of the guys in high school and that continued on to college. Her sister had been the social butterfly, dating and having fun and Sophie just stood in the shadows. Then she met Shawn and life for her changed. She was determined to wait until their wedding night to make love, but he had a different idea and had talked her into it about a year into their relationship. She spent the next three years having periodic sex and really didn’t know what the big deal was. It was never great. She never burned for him and was never so turned on she couldn’t wait to be with him.
But Mark. She sighed. She knew him all of six days and she would have given herself completely to him in the water yesterday if Rich hadn’t interrupted. Just one look into his green eyes and her whole body tingled. His lips on her neck had ignited her blood and she was on fire for him. Feeling his erection against her back had done something to her and her good girl side was completely obliterated. He was sex personified. She ran her fingers over her lips. She could still feel his tongue fighting against hers as he begged her to be good because he couldn’t.
The sound of footfalls on the wet sand drew her attention from her fantasy. Her breath hitched. Mark was running the beach. His shoes hit the line where the water and sand met and his footprints were the only ones on the beach. Her breath turned heavy as she watched him. He was wearing black shorts that left little to the imagination. His leg muscles pulsed as he ran. He was wearing his dog tags and they hit his bare chest with each new stride. Sweat poured off his face onto his chest and back. The muscles in his stomach rippled as his strong shoulders and arms pumped. He was beautiful. There was no other way to describe it. She heard Rich call his name but he never looked back. His music blared in his ears. As he reached the fence line, he turned and came back toward the hotel. Rich had walked toward him and when he spotted him, he took his ear buds out and wiped his eyes. When they met, Mark hunched over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Rich put his had on his back and looked concerned. There was no way he was crying. Was there? Certainly he must have just been wiping sweat. She leaned forward in her seat and strained to hear what they were saying.
****
The beach was his. He had run the whole length of the property more times than he could count. Running was his outlet and he needed to relieve some stress. The tears were a little much but he couldn’t stop himself. Everything was crashing down on him at once. He hadn’t seen his friends in so long and he couldn’t be angry at them for thinking he was the same old Mark. His conquests with Ryan were legendary. And it certainly didn’t help his cause that he had slept with Amber about fifteen minutes into seeing her again. And she was engaged? This was a disaster. His feet pounded harder and he picked up his pace. The old Mark would have gone out and picked up a girl and taken her home, or wherever was closest, and would never have called her again. He knew it seemed cold. But he was upfront with them from the very beginning so he found it difficult to understand when they continued to call him and why they acted heart broken. He was a one night stand. And that’s all he’d ever be.