“That’s fine. No pressure.”
Part of me is wondering if Lincoln is just looking for an excuse to parade around in a bathing suit this afternoon. It all seems very convenient after Grace said she wants to sit by the pool all day.
As we were in progress of parting ways from Lincoln in the lobby, Grace and Macy waved goodbye, stepping in front of me to head over to the elevator. Lincoln grabs my elbow, keeping me in place for a moment longer. “Should I wear my speedo or board-shorts?”
I close my eyes and huff. “Should I wear my string bikini with a covered bottom, or a thong?” I reply.
“I can handle a thong,” he says.
“I can handle a speedo,” I tell him.
“Well, good. I’ll see you soon.”
My face is hot and my heart is racing as I walk off to follow the girls. He will be the death of me. I might as well just go strand myself back on Lover’s beach and call it a day.
I don’t have a thong bikini, but I saw one in the gift shop. “I’ll be up in two minutes. I just need to grab something at the shop really quick,” I tell Grace and Macy as the elevator doors open.
“Do you remember our room number now?” Macy asks with an arched brow.
“Yes, it’s 7401,” I tell her.
“Good.”
I glance over at the concierge desk as I walk into the shop, spotting Lincoln looking in my direction. I give him a wink and a quick wave while disappearing into the store. I spot the bikini I noticed when walking by earlier, and oddly enough, they have my size.
I collect my goods and hurry upstairs so the girls don’t think I’m up to anything else right now. I’m walking a fine line of selfishness this weekend and while I know Grace is encouraging a lot of these interactions between us and Lincoln, I don’t want her to ever look back on this weekend and recall me stealing the spotlight.
“What did you need at the store?” Macy asks as I close myself into our room.
“I had a tear on my bathing suit that I brought, so I wanted to grab another one really quick. I saw it when we walked by the window yesterday. It’s cute.”
“I bet it’s black and sexy,” Grace sings from inside the closed bathroom.
“Nope, it’s a one piece, full coverage, gray suit,” I tell her.
“Liar,” she counters.
Macy already has her bathing suit and cover-up on, and Grace is quick to offer up the bathroom after she’s dressed too. “I’ll just be a second,” I tell them.
The bikini luckily fits, more perfect than any bathing suit I’ve tried on in a dressing room. I call this a win. I’ve never worn a thong bikini before, but I’ve seen plenty of women walking around the pool deck with one on, so I shouldn’t stand out in any uncomfortable way. Thank God for the millions of squats I’ve done this year.
I slip on my jean shorts and t-shirt before leaving the bathroom. Macy and Grace will be less likely to poke fun at my skimpy bikini when we’re at the pool.
Macy is dousing herself with seventy SPF sunscreen, and Grace is applying five SPF with toner. I’ll spray myself when I get down to the pool. The room already smells like a tanning salon as it is.
The pool isn’t as packed as it was yesterday, but the sun also feels about fifteen degrees hotter. It’s lunchtime, so this is probably the peak heat for the day. Maybe that’s why.
“Do you think they serve lunch at the pool bar?” Grace asks as we walk through the pool gate.
“Yeah, I think I saw a few items on the menu yesterday,” Macy tells her.
I spot Lincoln almost as soon as we reach the area of lounge chairs. He’s shirtless, but still has on the same shorts he did this morning. He’s adjusting some scuba gear laid out by the pool.
It takes him a minute to notice me, which I notice out of the corner of my eye. I should act like I’ve been looking for him. That screams desperation.
Is that what I am? Desperate.
He doesn’t seem to care if I think he looks desperate as he waves in our direction.