Rialoves2cook: My heart broke as the speedboat pulled away from Koh Samet. I understand why everyone is already planning a return trip. The sun, the waves, and the dancing bring out a fun and carefree side of me I forgot existed, and I'm so glad to have it back. It also reminded me there are amazing people in my life who respect and value what I want and who I am.

To all my wonderful followers, you matter. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

#islandlife #Illbeback #friends4life #beachesfordays

Posted: November 17, 6:30 PM

YourOnlySunshine: <3 So glad you've found that feeling again <3 

***

Maria stared at the orange bikini in her suitcase with her hands on her hips. Was it too much? Would she be putting the wrong idea in Mitch's mind? She ran her fingers over her lips. Letting go had been thrilling: kissing his rough lips, running her hands over his chest and defined abs. His embrace erased the pain of relationships or hookups. Emma had been right.

Maria slipped into the bathroom to try on the bathing suit. As she gazed in the mirror, a confident woman looked back, one happy to wear whatever she pleased regardless of what people thought. When she returned to pack, a catcall echoed through the room.

"Looking good! Those poor guys won't know what hit them," Emma teased.

Maria smiled as she pulled Sunshine's cover-up and a sarong out of her bag. "How was your night?"

"About as fun as yours, you sly fox. How was it?" Emma grinned.

Maria raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh c'mon, I wouldn't have a dozen texts from Tom if you were a girl scout."

Maria's brow furrowed and her chest tightened. "What the hell would he know? He wasn't even out last night, and nothing happened."

"Ok, I'll rewind. So someone must have mentioned to Tom that you and Mitch were close yesterday and wandered off together."

Maria crossed her arms. "We were dancing, then we talked and chilled outside the bar, and he walked me here. If anything happened, Tom would have witnessed it."

Emma sat on the bed near Maria. "Sorry, I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I thought you'd want to celebrate since we had that whole hookup plan, and you were eyeing Mitch, but no worries."

The mattress bounced as Maria plopped down beside Emma. "I can't believe people think we slept together." Maria chipped polish off her fingernails. How many people would believe that and not talk to her again? Tom, Becca, all her friends? 

"It sucks to get caught in the gossip loop, and you're not the first. I spend a lot of time pretending not to hear what those women whisper about me. It means your life is more interesting than theirs. You know your truth. Fuck the rest of them."

Maria hugged Emma and sighed. "Thanks, Em. Did you have a good night with Leanne?"

Emma grinned. "Definitely. How was not sleeping with Mitch?"

"Good, he makes a decent dance partner and kept my mind off my ex."

Emma scowled. "Is that asshole still giving you grief?"

"He's out of my life as of yesterday. I couldn't have been clearer."

"Too bad you didn't celebrate a little."

Maria bit on her bottom lip to hide her smile.

Emma nudged her in the side. "You're totally hiding something. But that's cool, you do you."

They packed their sprawling items from make-up to rejected club outfits. Maria picked her yellow dress off the floor and folded it. As her hands brushed the cotton, Mitch's warm embrace invaded her mind, and she smiled. Emma was right; Maria could bury the memories of her ex with exciting new ones, even if she put the brakes on a full hookup.

"Do you think Tom will be mad?"

"He has no right to be. You're single and can dance with anyone you like."

Maria fought a grin. If it had been Tom yesterday, there'd be no way they could have just kissed and gone back to their regular lives. He'd planned a whole mini-adventure for her after just dancing, and even if she hadn't been dealing with the Kelsey and Adrian mess, she'd have felt weird about it.

"He seemed like he was more worried about Mitch taking advantage of you."

"For the bad reputation he gets, Mitch is actually a pretty considerate and consensual guy."

Emma smiled. "Consent is important when you're dancing."

"He is a very good dancer too." Maria bit her lip to fight her grin. 

"Lucky girl. Sounds like you had the night you needed, and I couldn't be happier for you." Emma gave her a big hug before they did their final sweep of the room and bid their lovely vacation home goodbye.   

When they arrived at the beach, Mitch and Tom were sharing a table at a beachside restaurant. Was that a good or bad sign? Mitch had promised to keep their kiss between them and Tom was smiling, so things couldn't be that bad, could they?

Mitch nursed a coconut and wore dark sunglasses. His muscled arms flexed as he waved at her and Emma, his grin widening as his eyes roamed Maria's crochet dress and the orange bikini visible through it. The action sent a thrill of excitement through her.

"How did you sleep?" Tom asked.

Maria shrugged and yawned. "Not long enough." She settled into the chair across from Mitch.

"I'd rather know how you dreamt." He winked.

She shifted in her seat, and her cheeks grew hot. "Don't remember any of them."

He grinned. "That's a shame."

Mitch's eyes wandered to the women passing in skimpy cover-ups and bathing suits. Maria urged the tension in her chest to disappear.

"Maria, are you ready to hit the water or did you want some breakfast first?" Tom said.

Her lips twisted into a smile at the thought of the refreshing ocean. "A swim sounds perfect."

"You coming too?" Emma's gaze darted from Mitch to Maria, but he was lost in a daze.

"Must be daydreaming about that girl who walked by," Tom muttered.

"Beach? You in?" Emma repeated.

Mitch shook his head, and Maria's shoulders slumped. Not that she wanted to spread more rumours, but she'd thought they'd spend more time together as friends. He must have different objectives today. Maybe whoever he spent the night with was meeting him here. Emma catcalled at Tom as he slipped off his t-shirt and his face went as red as his hair.

"Emma," Tom hissed.

She and Maria laughed and shed their dresses as he grabbed a football out of his bag. As they walked to the crystal clear ocean, Mitch watched her with a smile. He winked and continued sipping on his green coconut.

Tom approached the water at her pace and played with the football. "How was last night?"

"Fun, I definitely needed to blow off some steam after the year I've had." The sand was already warming up in the sun.

"I hear that." He held the ball with both hands. "Sorry I wasn't feeling up to it. I wish I had been."

"It happens. I feel the same about the sunset yesterday. You spent a lot of time organizing that, but life gets in the way sometimes and I didn't appreciate it as much as I wanted to."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

The cool water met her toes, just cool enough to be refreshing without making her cringe. "Nah, I've wasted enough energy on it."

"And last night was okay for you? Priya mentioned that you and Mitch..." His gaze darted to the horizon where only clouds marked the divide between water and sky.

"Danced?" The water tickled her shins.

"He didn't take advantage of you or hurt you, did he?"

"No, he respected that I'm not ready for anything romantic with anyone right now."

Tom's pace slowed as he reached his knees. "That's good. He said something, but I just wanted to make sure." Tom lined up to throw the ball to Emma who had to swim out to it.

Maria let them play catch as she wandered out further. She grinned at the sparkling waters as her toes squished through the fine grains of sand and the water kissed her hips. How could she ever have considered flying to Edmonton early? Despite her stress, adjusting to her job, and fighting with her ex, it was surreal to enjoy a gorgeous beach with supportive friends. She was finally living her life instead of working to the point she didn't have one.