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spin_kick_snapKathy had given her two weeks at the bar, told her landlord she wouldn't be renewing her lease in July, and hired a service to pack up her place. Knowing herself and how much she'd fret over the movers (or try to do their work for them), Kathy had decided to do something she hadn't done in three years: take a vacation. Not just take a few days off and chill in her apartment, but an actual vacation, somewhere new that carried no memories. Somewhere she could make memories.
She'd never taken a solo vacation before; had, in fact, been a little leery of them, but she was finding it to be a lot more fun than she expected. She'd been worried about being lonely - and, she had to admit, there were times when she was - but that was easy enough to ignore in favor of lounging on gorgeous beaches, exploring little shops and museums, and eating only at restaurants that served food she wasn't already familiar with. Today she'd gone snorkeling, fed stingrays, and took a guided tour along the ocean floor. Tomorrow, she'd be going to Blackbeard's Castle, and taking a pirate-themed dinner cruise, and the day after that?
Well, she wasn't sure yet. Maybe she'd fill it up with activities. Maybe she'd just chill and spend the day bumming around on the beach. Maybe she'd hit up one of the island's nightclubs. Who could say? Not her, that was for sure. Most people probably wouldn't understand why this unscheduled vacation was growth, but hey. At least she could recognize it.
Right now, she was watching the sun set over the white sands of the beach, sipping at some drink that was 3/4s sugar by volume, her dog by her side. This was...this was good. This was something she could tell Eva about without feeling ridiculous, like without outside influences, she was perfectly content to live a small and boring life...
A volleyball hit the ground near her, spraying sand. A moment later, it was followed by a guy, wearing a pair of board shorts and a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that," he said. "Couple of our players have more strength than finesse." He jerked his thumb behind him towards a group of other young twenty-somethings standing next to a beach volleyball net. "Did any sand get into your drink? I can ask the bartender to bring you another one as an apology."
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Kathy heard herself saying by reflex. "I was just waiting for--" She stopped. She wasn't waiting for anyone. Why shouldn't she accept the transparent offer of a drink, brought on by an equally transparent excuse to come talk to her? He was cute and polite, and smart enough to offer to have an employee of the hotel bring her drink over, not try to bring it himself. Three good reasons to say yes.
The only thing making her say no was...habit.
And habits made for small and boring lives.
"No problem," the guy was saying, taking her rejection easily. "In that case, sorry again, but--"
"Wait!" she blurted out. "You know what? I changed my mind. I'd love a refill." She nodding towards his group. "You looking for another person to play?"
The guy brightened. "Yeah, we'd be happy to add another player." He had dark chestnut curls and his skin was the warm bronze of someone who spent most of his time outdoors. He didn't resemble anyone she knew, even in passing. Another point in his favor. "You any good?"
A bit of flirty challenge there, a bit of a smirk hovering around his mouth.
"It's been a few years, but I think I can remember how," Kathy said with a smile of her own. She slid out of her beach chair, and was pleased to see his eyes drop to her bikini briefly before bouncing back up to meet hers. "Name's Kathy. Hi."
"I'm Ethan," he said and extended his hand to shake. "Let me introduce you to the rest of the gang before I order you that refill."
Maybe Kathy would play a few games of volleyball and then go back to her room. Maybe she'd continue to flirt with Ethan and see where the night led. Maybe he'd turn out to be a total creeper and she'd end up having to knee him one and tell him to fuck off. Who knew? But the important thing?
She was going to get to find out. No more small. No more boring.
She'd never taken a solo vacation before; had, in fact, been a little leery of them, but she was finding it to be a lot more fun than she expected. She'd been worried about being lonely - and, she had to admit, there were times when she was - but that was easy enough to ignore in favor of lounging on gorgeous beaches, exploring little shops and museums, and eating only at restaurants that served food she wasn't already familiar with. Today she'd gone snorkeling, fed stingrays, and took a guided tour along the ocean floor. Tomorrow, she'd be going to Blackbeard's Castle, and taking a pirate-themed dinner cruise, and the day after that?
Well, she wasn't sure yet. Maybe she'd fill it up with activities. Maybe she'd just chill and spend the day bumming around on the beach. Maybe she'd hit up one of the island's nightclubs. Who could say? Not her, that was for sure. Most people probably wouldn't understand why this unscheduled vacation was growth, but hey. At least she could recognize it.
Right now, she was watching the sun set over the white sands of the beach, sipping at some drink that was 3/4s sugar by volume, her dog by her side. This was...this was good. This was something she could tell Eva about without feeling ridiculous, like without outside influences, she was perfectly content to live a small and boring life...
A volleyball hit the ground near her, spraying sand. A moment later, it was followed by a guy, wearing a pair of board shorts and a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that," he said. "Couple of our players have more strength than finesse." He jerked his thumb behind him towards a group of other young twenty-somethings standing next to a beach volleyball net. "Did any sand get into your drink? I can ask the bartender to bring you another one as an apology."
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Kathy heard herself saying by reflex. "I was just waiting for--" She stopped. She wasn't waiting for anyone. Why shouldn't she accept the transparent offer of a drink, brought on by an equally transparent excuse to come talk to her? He was cute and polite, and smart enough to offer to have an employee of the hotel bring her drink over, not try to bring it himself. Three good reasons to say yes.
The only thing making her say no was...habit.
And habits made for small and boring lives.
"No problem," the guy was saying, taking her rejection easily. "In that case, sorry again, but--"
"Wait!" she blurted out. "You know what? I changed my mind. I'd love a refill." She nodding towards his group. "You looking for another person to play?"
The guy brightened. "Yeah, we'd be happy to add another player." He had dark chestnut curls and his skin was the warm bronze of someone who spent most of his time outdoors. He didn't resemble anyone she knew, even in passing. Another point in his favor. "You any good?"
A bit of flirty challenge there, a bit of a smirk hovering around his mouth.
"It's been a few years, but I think I can remember how," Kathy said with a smile of her own. She slid out of her beach chair, and was pleased to see his eyes drop to her bikini briefly before bouncing back up to meet hers. "Name's Kathy. Hi."
"I'm Ethan," he said and extended his hand to shake. "Let me introduce you to the rest of the gang before I order you that refill."
Maybe Kathy would play a few games of volleyball and then go back to her room. Maybe she'd continue to flirt with Ethan and see where the night led. Maybe he'd turn out to be a total creeper and she'd end up having to knee him one and tell him to fuck off. Who knew? But the important thing?
She was going to get to find out. No more small. No more boring.
