Chapter 6 No.6

Then I thought of someone else who I was totally hacked off with Lisa. How could my friend have done this to me? The little tart. I hated her, and I could feel the seething sensation ripple through me whenever her face popped into my mind.

So there was love involved, was there? She seemed to have thought so, when she announced to me that they loved each other outside of the church, and in front of all our friends and family. I really hoped my sister had punched her in the face for me. Homewrecker.

Imagine if I had gone through with the wedding? Would she have just stood there and smirked as we said our vows to each other, knowing what she had been up to with my own fianc��? And she was my bridesmaid! What a bitch.

She was gone for good from my life, and there was no way she would ever be forgiven for that. The betrayal hurt like hell, but a stubborn side to me was not letting me give in to the lump of upset that was reserved for her and lodged in my throat.

The main lodge of upset seemed to be reserved for Scott, and I couldn't bear to think of him. I wondered whether he was with her now, and that made me feel helpless. Maybe the best idea wasn't to run away, because here I couldn't do anything about the situation. Yet what was I planning on doing? Dragging the pair of them off each other? Yuck. I never wanted to see either of them ever again, and they were welcome to each other. I didn't deserve that sort of treatment, and I wasn't going to allow it to dictate my future.

Whilst I thought that, it was easier said than done. As I dried my eyes and took another look about the room, I wondered how long it would take my heart to heal. A part of me never wanted to have to heal, and wanted to get over it straight away to not waste a moment on the pair of cheats. Yet no matter how much I denied it, my heart was sore and did need time to recover.

It was no use to be staying in the room any longer I did need to get out for a little while, stretch my legs and clear my head. A walk would do me good.

Leaving the room and locking the door behind me, this place was so beautiful and perfect, that it seemed a shame not to utilise my surroundings as a form of therapy. Making my way to the reception area, I wasn't sure about needing a walk; I could've done with a stiff drink. Nevertheless, to clear my thoughts and relax, a little stroll around the outside of the hotel would do me wonders.

Giving a polite nod and smile to a couple of the hotel staff who kindly smiled my way, I navigated my way through the back of the hotel through the French doors and was met by the sight of the rippling blue hues of the pool, cushioned by sunshine and palm trees. This was heaven.

All was still, apart from the odd scattering of people in the distance, making their way to various places. The grounds were stunning, and arranged around the pool were some sun loungers, so quietly walking over to them, I decided to perch myself on one for a moment and take in the breath-taking azure sky.

Lying back on a lounger, I took in a deep breath and exhaled all of my cares. The universe was sat with me, cradling me in my thoughts of being in a state of bliss. The air was coconut warm and delicately touched my skin with its reassurance that all, eventually, would be okay.

Watching a small blanket of dusty cloud wash over a part of the translucent sky, this was how I wanted to stay. Still. Calm. Peaceful��

"Hello there," came the deep voice next to me.

Nearly jumping six feet into the air, the adrenaline raced through my bloodstream. So much for bloody relaxation! There, a couple of loungers away from me, was Jace, lying back and seemingly enjoying the view with me.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" I asked, feeling my heart beat through my chest.

He chuckled. "Sorry to make you jump. I didn't think you'd seen me."

Was I meant to?

"You can't jump up on people like that," I half-panted, catching my breath and coming back down to earth with a bump.

"I didn't. I was here first," he protested, slowly sitting up from his lying position.

I watched the tension in his arms as he steadily sat up where he was, and I couldn't help but watch the flex of his muscle in his controlled way of sitting upright.

"Yeah, well," I mildly sulked, sitting up straight and realising how exposed I was in front of him by lying down.

He leant forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. I could feel his intense stare penetrate my aura, and it was comfortable in an almost uncomfortable way. I felt naked under his stare, and I wondered whether that was my intense paranoia of him being a potential serial killer, at play. You heard about the likes of Ted Bundy good looking and charming and maybe this one was the same.

"I'm gonna go��" I began, standing up and gesturing back toward the hotel.

"Don't rush off," he spoke, standing up after me.

"I think it's best," I replied, wondering whether if I ran, it would look suspicious.

"I don't bite," he spoke, with a chuckle behind his tone.

Biting didn't concern me. Unless he was a cannibal.

"I think I need some rest," I replied, edging away from the scene.

Before I could get away, he was walking over to me, and I wondered what was coming next. It seemed my trust in men was well and truly up the creek without a paddle.

"Come and have a drink with me," he ordered, rather than asked, as he stopped in front of me and locked his eyes into mine.

A drink? I wasn't sure I needed one of those, because my knees were already like jelly. As much as I wanted to run away and use my better judgement, I was glued to the presence of him. He was even more beautiful than my surroundings, yet I realised what dangerous territory that was to be in.

"Er, I, er��" I mumbled, trying to think of any excuse to get away from him, yet I was coming up with nothing.

"One drink?" he asked, playfully grinning my way.

"Okay," I caved. "One drink, and then I'll have to get some rest."

"Great. Come on, cabin buddy. Let's go and get you something nice to drink."

And with that he set off back into the hotel. Perhaps he was only being nice to me, because he called me his "cabin buddy", and that wasn't the best pick-up line I'd ever heard.

Heading into the bar area of the hotel, I was still taken aback by the wonders that the place seemed to be inflicting upon me. With a luxuriously calm feel to the atmosphere, with crystal lighting and fresh interiors, I couldn't help but feel underdressed in my shorts and t-shirt.

Arriving at the bar and taking a seat at the plush seating area situated next to the open floor-length doors, he asked me what I wanted to drink, and I decided to opt for a glass of dry white wine, while he ordered himself a lager. It was actually nice to be sat with someone, as the people around seemed to be in couples or small groups. At least I wasn't a loner sat drinking wine by myself like some lush.