Chapter 2: Cancun
When Jasper and I arrive at the resort, I let out a squeal of excitement as I spot my best friends. Jordan, with her auburn mermaid waves and oversized silver shades, and Katie, sporting a short blonde bob and a chic sun hat, are at the front desk checking in. “JORD… KATE!” I shout, dropping my luggage and racing towards them. “WUD UP MY GUYYYYY!?” Jordan hollers in response, pulling both me and Katie into a huge hug. Katie wriggles a bit, trying to escape, but she stops when I squeeze us all even tighter. I’ve missed them so much! “Alright, alright, ladies!” Katie laughs, playfully pushing us away and smoothing out her yellow floral sundress. Jasper rolls his crystal-blue eyes as he strolls past us, mumbling, “I’m going to get us checked in.” The lobby fills with our delighted squeals as we explore our elegant room, our arms linked like we’re back in middle school. The marble walls stretch high, the peach and ivory floors gleam, and the decor is sophisticated, with subtle oceanic accents. Deep blue curtains, embroidered with white and gold seashells, frame a breathtaking view of the island. The white sands shine against the turquoise waters.
“What should we do first?!” Jordan’s gray eyes sparkle as they bounce between Katie and me. “Definitely the rooftop pool!” Katie suggests, tossing her unlimited drink pass into the air. “We’re on vacation!” she exclaims, doing a little dance.“You know ya girl is going to have the drinks FLOWINNN and the boys GROANIN, BAYBEEE!” Jordan shouts, waving her pass around.“JORD, EUGH!” Katie grimaces as I laugh, taking in the sight of my friends. It’s in this moment that I realize how tense my shoulders have been and they're finally eased enough to drop and relax. “Maybe we should grab something to eat first; I’m starving!” I whine, patting my stomach. Just then Jasper approaches us with the room keys in his hand. His gaze flicks between the three of us before settling firmly on me, and his gaze eliciting a shiver up my spine. In a flat, emotionless tone he says,“I’ll be in the room.” The words come out with detachment, empty, no warmth or enthusiasm. I grimace as he runs his fingers through his short blonde hair. Yes, he's handsome but jesus can he be anymore invalidating? Especially in front of my friends, at least pretend you're happy to be here with me.
After a brief pause, he continues with a breathy voice, “James is going to call when his flight lands. We’ll head out for drinks and figure out which activities we should plan together.” He hands me a keycard for our room, his fingers brushing against mine with a fleeting touch. I respond with a forced smile, attempting to bridge the gap between us, the distance that continues to build despite arriving in paradise. In return, Jasper offers a light kiss to my cheek. Actually no, not even a kiss, barely a peck. A kiss that says: this is more for show! Rather than a real, genuine expression of love; as if it's impossible to share a moment of sweetness. Jasper then shifts his attention to Katie and Jordan, offering them a polite nod before he turns and heads towards the elevator. I thought he would turn and wave before getting on the elevator. Then I hoped he would wave when the elevator doors were closing, but as the metallic doors slowly shut in front of him, I can only see him staring down at his phone.
Jordan’s reaction is immediate, certainly expected from my loudmouthed friend. She rolls her eyes dramatically and then turns to me, her frustration evident. “Motherfucker couldn’t even say hey, hello, how the hell are ya?! EXCITED FOR THE TRIP?!” she exclaims, punctuating her words with air punches aimed in Jasper’s direction. Meanwhile, Katie, who seems increasingly stressed by the situation, tries to calm Jordan down by trying to cover up her imaginary boxing match. “Alright, ALRIGHT!” Jordan declares, trying to regain her composure and strike a more polished yet sassy pose. Both Katie and Jordan look at me, with Katie raising an eyebrow in question, as if waiting for my reaction to the whole situation. I glance back at them briefly, then shift my focus anywhere else, trying to avoid making eye contact. I shrug, hoping the conversation will move on without needing a detailed explanation. Our issues are no secret, and are often a frequent topic in our group chat. They know what's goin on, and I don't want to spend the first 10 minutes of our trip discussing Jasper and I. Katie interupts my thoughts with a reassuring pat on the back and gently ushers all of us toward the elevator. She offers me a warm, encouraging smile that seems to soften the air around us. Her expression then hardens as she turns to Jordan, who is dying behind her pleading, questioning look.“There will be plenty of time to talk about it during the week.”she adds quietly before pressing the floor numbers for each of our rooms.
***
The girls and I agree to unpack and change before we set out to explore the resort. I open the doors to the suite, and it's absolutely breathtaking! Elegant but comfortable with rich hues of blue, ivory, and coral. I hop on the plush, overstuffed sofa sitting across from a pair of velvety, matching armchairs set around a sleek coffee table. I stretch before standing up and making my way to the bedroom with my suitcase, my feet to sinking into the soft rugs, allowing all the stress to unwind with each step. I open the bedroom door to reveal the goregous master bedroom, bathed in soft, natural light that filters through billowy curtains. I gasp when I see the gigantic, clawfoot tub peaking out from the bathroom and I can't wait to soak after long days in the sun. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to be here and I want to share this moment with Jasper, but I realize he is no where to be found.
I pull out my phone to text him, letting him know I’ll be meeting up with the girls on the rooftop pool. But as I hit send, I hear the familiar chime of this phone in the other room. I make my way back to the living quarters to find his phone abandoned on the entertainment stand. How did I miss it earlier? I briefly consider texting James directly to see if he has arrived but hesitate, feeling twinges of discomfort knowing he will also be spending the week here with us. Jasper and James, also known as JnJ, have only been friends for a year, and I can't fucking stand him. They met a few months after James landed a senior position at his company, and since then, they have been inseparable. Not only does James encourage the worst in Jasper, but he also never lets our engagement stop him from making a move on me when we’re alone. Jasper never believes me, of course, assuming I’m making it up or that I’ve done something to provoke the encounter. More often than not, I take my leave whenever the sleazeball shows up. Avoiding James during the trip will be difficult, but not impossible.
Instead, I decide to make the most of the solitude. I start unpacking my bags, carefully hanging up each dress to avoid any creases. The fabric of one of my favorite gowns drapes gracefully as I smooth it over the hanger, and I organize my shoes and accessories in one of the rattan style dressers. I walk over to the long, ivory curtains and pull them open more. The room is suddenly awash in a warm glow, more so than when I first entered the room. The city skyline stretches out before me, a dazzling tapestry of buildings against the beach and palm trees. Below, the sea glistens like a field of scattered diamonds as the waves gently lap at the shore. I glance up to take in the horizon, painted in vibrant shades of orange, pink, and purple. I take a deep breath, savoring the view before throwing on my swimsuit to meet up with the girls. I'll be damned if I don't make this the best week of my life!