Azmir and I hurried to our suite to shower and dress. We were back downstairs and in the restaurant twenty-five minutes later. Faces were tight, mainly Syn’s.
During breakfast, Petey tried to spark a conversation with me that would engage the ladies. “Yo Rayna, what you got planned for the day?”
“Ummm, I’m not sure. I want to hit the beach again. It was so relaxing yesterday. Do the ladies have anything in mind?” I hated to open myself up because the truth of the matter was, I preferred being alone. If I was to spend time with anyone it would be Azmir since he did pay for me to be there. I, of course, held my peace and assumed what was expected of me.
“Y’all don’t wanna go shopping or some shit?” Petey said, assuming that would spur interest because we’re women maybe?
“Yeah, man. The shops out here is a’ight!” Kid immediately followed up with.
“Oh, I thought you ain’t never been here!” Syn, Kid’s lady-friend, blasted.
“I was just ‘bout to say, ‘Right, Divine?’ See, you need to chill wit’ ‘dat shit, Ma!” he tried to clean up.
“Look man, Im’ma leave you wit’ a G. You can make somethin’ happen wit’ ‘dat, right?” Petey said, not really asking but subliminally stating what was going to be fact whether she liked it or not. His wife didn’t say anything and the next thing I saw was the other guys following suit.
I got the impression that Wop and his friend, Chanell, weren’t exactly a couple. I was wondering if she was like a jumpoff or something. He quietly asked her if she had any money and she shook her head, “no”. We got up from the table and Petey handed his wife keys to what I discovered later was be a rental car.
Azmir took me by the hand and discreetly walked me away from the group, “I left money for you upstairs in my nightstand drawer. Take what you need.”
As I looked in his eyes I wanted to tell him thank you for making me feel like I was spoken for, but I couldn’t. I had to snap out of that fantasy and remind myself that just because I was in a fairytale-like place didn’t mean I was in a fairytale. I thanked him and we parted ways.
All the women, including me, looked at the men as they trotted off like we were children lost in the park.
Chanell walked over to me and trilled, “Girl, where we going?” very friendly and familiarly.
I smiled, “I don’t know. Kim has the keys to the wheels!” Kim giggled.
We went back to our rooms and met in the parking lot ten minutes later. We drove into town with directions from the bus boy. I could see all the girls had “the element”, even Kim who was apparently older. They all seemed somewhat familiar with each other, which led me to believe they’ve been out together before.
In the car, Syn, who was in the front passenger seat as I was in the back, turned and asked, “So, how long you been wit’ Divine?”
I had to think quickly, I didn’t know who Divine was. Revelation hit and I was able to place the D in A.D. Jacobs. I also recalled hearing the guys refer to Azmir as Divine. I stumbled a bit because I’d only referred to him as Azmir Jacobs. I felt her question was intrusive and rude in delivery but I had to remember her element.
“We’re not ‘together’. We’re just friends,” I answered in what I felt was a polite manner. I didn’t want any trouble on my much needed vacation.
“Hmmmmmm!” she hummed as she rolled her eyes and turned back to the front of the car.
I wondered what that was all about and asked, “Is that supposed to mean something? It missed me.”
“Syn, don’t start ‘dat bullshit. You always on some drama type shit. You don’t even know shortie like ‘dat! Let it ride!” Chanell demanded confirming how childish Syn was behaving.