Chapter 15: Good morning, Sunshine

**Chase**
“I could fall in love with that fireball,” Corey sighs, a wistful smile lighting up his face. He’s beaming from ear to ear, and I can’t help but raise an eyebrow, intrigued with his unusual behavior. “Which woman are you talking about, Corey? There are a few contenders in the mix,” I reply aloofly, leaning my elbows against the guard rail on our balcony. The late morning breeze tousles my hair, carrying the scent of salt and the sound of cackling frigate birds along with it. “You know who I mean!” he exclaims, his voice squeaking with excitement. I glance in his direction, and he giggles like a schoolgirl who’s just revealed their crush for the first time. “Katie, you dumbass! I mean Katie,” he barks, knitting his brows together. “It went well then?” I ask playfully, secretly assuming the worst from my dear friend. I lean further against the chrome railing, watching the waves crash rhythmically against the shore. The water shimmers like a blanket of aquamarine diamonds, and for a moment, I lose myself while waiting for Corey’s response.

“I didn’t fuck her, if that’s what you’re implying," he mutters. "We got Jordan back to her room, then stayed up for hours talking because Katie was afraid to leave her alone.” I nod, a little surprised he didn’t somehow manage to get in her bed, that’s his usual m.o. “You never came back to the room though. Did it... go well with Lena?” he questions lightly, curious but careful as to not over step. I run a hand through my hair as I recall our night. Did it go well? Our time together held so much promise but I don’t know. Some moments were full of laughter and undeniable connection, but the second it ended, she shut me out. I shrug. “Yeah, we had fun. Played a few card games before ordering her an uber back to the resort.” Corey stands from his lounger and joins me, facing the opposite direction as he leans back. “You didn’t ride back with her?” he asks, sounding surprised by my choice. I run my hands over my face in an attempt to erase the memories of Lena seeping into my mind. “I stayed on the boat. I was too fucked up to try and make it back,” I admit, doing my best to hide the resignation in my voice. “It was easier to just sleep there.”

“If you were playing drinking games, then I don’t blame you. That girl is a shark!" he remarks, remembering Lena’s insane competitiveness. “You’re not wrong,” I reply with a hint of playful admiration in my voice. “She kicked all our asses; also had me downing whiskey shots left and right after you left.” Small lie, but not entirely. “So, what’s the plan today? Are you meeting up with Katie?” I nonchalantly inquire, making an effort to mask my true intention of learning Lena’s potential whereabouts. Corey huffs a histrionic sigh and pouts, "I invited them out, but Kat mentioned something about an outing and dinner with the group they came with." Kat? He’s already given her a pet name?! I shake my head, holding back a laugh at the way he’s already become so attached. "Do you know what they’re doing?” I press, and Corey startles. "No... but I can find out!" he says quickly before running to grab his phone and typing out a message.

**Lena**

“GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!” A voice bursts into my eardrums, piercing through the fog of sweet dreams. WHAT THE FUCK?! I bolt up thanks to the adrenaline surging through me, my heart absolutely pounding out of my chest as I groggily rub my eyes. When I wipe away the sleep, there’s James, casually perched on the edge of my bed like the hideous gargoyle he is! His unwelcome presence catapults me directly into the pits of a waking nightmare! His unsettling demeanor blocks the natural light coming in through the window, casting a creepy shadow over my blankets. Did I wake up in hell?! “What are you doing here?” I manage to ask, my voice still raspy with sleep. James is hot in that slimy, off-putting kind of way. With his black hair, muscular build, and striking hazel eyes, he’s undeniably attractive; but because of his pompous attitude and the permanent con artist smirk that resides on his face, he practically screams narcissist, or psychopath, or both.

He slides closer, forcing me to shift farther to the left side of the bed. “Jasp and I are spending the day with you ladies! Didn’t he... tell you?” His tone is sickeningly sweet. I hide my confusion, trying to piece together the fragments of last night. My head fucking hurts. “Oh, that’s right… you were out VERY late,” he continues, his eyes watching me suspiciously. “He mentioned you messaged him past 3am. Where were you, Len?” His voice is oozing with fake concern, causing a knot to form and promptly tighten in my stomach. “I was with the girls, obviously. I passed out and got back to the room late," I say searching the room around me, for Jasper, for anything to use as a much needed distraction. "Where is Jasper, anyway? What time is it?” I reply, trying to sound casual despite the nervousness growing like weeds within. “Ah, he’s making coffee for the three of us to… discuss our plans. He said it was okay for me to wake his sleeping beauty,” James says, his smirk widening. "In that story however, it's done with a passionate kiss. What a shame." His gaze lowers, drifting to the gap in my robe and my exposed cleavage. A wave of nausea washes over me, and I hastily pull the blankets up, shielding myself from his beady little eyes.

“Come on Len Len,” he purrs and I wince at the stupid nickname. I'm definitely going to throw up. “Freshen up and come join us, we have much to chat about.” He paws at my foot under the covers before rising and strutting out of the room with that insufferable swagger. As the door clicks shut behind him, I collapse back onto my pillow. I throw a mini tantrum as I sink deeper into the sheets, kicking and flailing my arms like an unhappy toddler before getting out of bed. I throw my hair into a messy bun, slip on my readers and slippers, then hesitantly shuffle my way to the kitchen. As I enter, I find Jasper and James leaning against the counter in conversation. Jasper greets me with a smile, while James’s gaze feels more unbearable than usual. I sit at the bar stool across from them, and Jasper hands me a cup of coffee, “here you go. Cream, brown sugar, and a dash of cinnamon... Just how you like it.” Trying to ignore the way James’s eyes linger, I mumble “thanks.” I wrap my palms around the mug, the steam gently warming my face but instead of feeling comfort, a chill runs down my spine as James leans a little closer. “Nice to see you finally up. You girls have a rough night?” he says, his tone teasing but riddled with something I can’t quite put my finger on. I take a sip and smile, but I’m sure my face looks more contorted than I intend.

“So… what’s the plan for today?” I ask, placing my cup on the counter as I glance at Jasper, curious to hear what he has in mind. “Well, we could visit Chichen Itza,” he suggests. “You know? the Mayan ruins known for the El Castillo pyramid. We can take pictures on the steps and frame them if you’d like, I know you’ve been wanting to add more photos around our place.” I nod while he sips his coffee. “Or, we could hit the beach! We can rent some jet skis, go parasailing, get a golden tan going…” James chimes in, but Jasper is quick to interrupt. “We have three days to ‘hit the beach’, why not do something a bit more specific to Cancun?”Jasper continues as James shrugs him off. “We could go ziplining too. There are incredible parks nearby with stunning views of the jungle. Some even have unique natural pools you can cool off in afterwards.” I hum aloud, contemplating the choices before me. Being suspended from a harness, zipping between the trees and taking in the tropical sights and wildlife sounds like the winner in my book.

"I’m totally down to try ziplining, let me text Katie and Jordan!” I say while finishing up my coffee. I hand Jasper my mug and start typing out our plans in the group chat, but as soon as Jasper turns on the water, James leans closer. “Maybe we can check out the nightlife later too," he says in a menacing whisper. "There’s a club just a few floors down. Heard it gets... pretty wild. Just the right vibe for a couple of close friends, don’t you think Lena?” An evil smile spreads across his thin lips, while his eyes look my body up and down like a predator on the hunt. My stomach twists, and I can feel the bile steadily rising in my throat. Had he been there the other night? No way, that’s not possible! I can’t remember where they said they were going, was it the casino? His words hang in the air as he leans back with an obnoxious smirk, arms crossed confidently behind his head. My thoughts race, immediately landing on Chase and every detail of what we did last night. Panicked, I quickly excuse myself and pace casually to the bathroom. Don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious! Once safe, I splash some water on my face, trying to shake off the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. What exactly does James know?