I didn’t want to waste much time sleeping today. I woke up around nine, stepped out onto the porch of our cabin, took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, and headed straight for the kitchen to brew some coffee. Unfortunately, my plans hit a snag.
It turned out we didn’t have a single clean mug, spoon, or plate. The sink was overflowing with a mountain of crusty dishes. Maddie was supposed to have washed them last night, but as usual, her laziness won out. I knew if I waited for her to wake up and find the motivation to clean, I’d lose my mind before I got my caffeine fix. I decided to let her sleep. I grabbed a few mugs, the French press, and trudged toward the communal wash station. Suddenly, I tripped over a stray rock. The dishes went flying.
— Dammit! — I snapped, my temper flaring. — So much for a peaceful morning coffee.
I was fuming. It was Maddie’s turn, and because she couldn’t be bothered, I’d nearly broken my neck, shattered half our mugs, and ruined my mood. I leaned over to start picking up the shards when a man’s voice came from behind me.
— Rough start to the day?
I looked up and saw a guy—tall, with bright eyes, sandy hair, and a devastatingly charming smile. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. Must be nice not having to clean up after everyone else, I thought bitterly.
— You have no idea, — I replied gloomily.
— Let me help, — he offered. Before I could protest, he was on one knee beside me, gathering the pieces. Within a minute, the mess was cleared.
— The day just didn’t start right… — I said as we walked back toward the cabins with the one surviving mug. — But I still desperately need coffee.
— Well, why not just go to the bistro at the main lodge? — my new acquaintance suggested. — They make a decent brew and the pastries are actually pretty great.
— There’s a bistro here? — I asked, surprised.
— Of course! — he laughed. — It’s for the “lazy” guests who don’t want to cook on vacation.
— Perfect! — I was thrilled at the prospect of finally getting what I wanted. Five minutes later, we were sitting on the terrace, enjoying strong coffee, warm croissants, and easy conversation. We talked effortlessly, as if we’d known each other for years.
— If I’d known I could treat myself to this, I wouldn’t have bothered with those dishes! My day would have started completely differently, — I said with a smile.
— But if it had started differently, we might never have met, — he said, his tone turning a bit mysterious.
— True…
— By the way, we haven’t actually introduced ourselves.
— You’re right! We’ve been chatting for half an hour and I don’t even know your name. How ridiculous!
— Well then, allow me. The name is Darcy. Fitzwilliam Darcy, at your service, — he said with mock seriousness, bowing slightly in his chair.
— Elizabeth Bennet, — I shot back instantly, playing along with the Pride and Prejudice joke.
— I love that book! — he grinned.
— Me too. It’s a classic for a reason.
We spent the next fifteen minutes quoting our favorite lines and debating the best film adaptations.
— Anyway, my real name is Jack. Nice to meet you.
— Nice to meet you too, — I smiled. — I’m Chloe.
Our morning coffee turned into a marathon. We talked for over an hour. Jack insisted on picking up the tab and then offered to walk me back to my cabin. I didn’t mind at all. As we approached, I saw my friends—Maddie and Tess—sitting on the porch.
— See you later, Chloe! — Jack said, waving goodbye.
— Bye! And thanks again for the coffee and the save!
My friends were staring, their jaws practically on the floor.
— What was that?! — they demanded the second he was out of sight.
— Just a new friend, — I replied playfully. I really wanted to tease them, especially Maddie. Though… if she had done the dishes, I never would have met him.
— Spill! Where did you find a guy that hot? — they pressed.
— Where? By the communal sinks, — I laughed. — I met him while I was doing your job, Maddie. He noticed me while I was struggling with the broken mugs.
— Ugh, if I knew guys like that were hanging around the wash station, — Maddie sighed, — I would have washed those dishes three times over by now.
Right, I thought. She’s only willing to work if there’s a cute guy involved. Maddie’s indifference usually annoyed me, but today, I was too happy to care.
— Want some coffee?
— No thanks, I’m good. I’m going to go change for the beach. You guys should come too.
I spent the next hour soaking up the sun and the cool lake water. Eventually, the girls joined me. They spread out their towels, stripped down to their bikinis, and stretched out. I looked at Maddie… She had immediately struck a pose: lying on her side, arms behind her head. Her waist was tiny, her figure toned and perfect—she looked like a professional model. And of course, her bikini was barely there.
Lucky her, I thought, looking down at my own stomach. I wasn’t exactly flat; my curves were a bit more “generous.” But it was what it was.
I dove back into the water, enjoying the feeling of the waves. This is heaven, I told myself. The lake, the sun, the vacation…
I was just wading out when Jack appeared on the horizon with two of his friends. He was scanning the beach, and when his eyes landed on me, he waved enthusiastically.
— Hello again! — he cheered as I walked up to our spot. — Mind if we join you?
— Not at all! — Maddie chirped before I could even open my mouth. — I was actually just wondering who could help me put some tanning oil on my back…
Her blatant flirting made my stomach turn. I winced. She was looking directly at Jack, her intention crystal clear.
— I highly recommend my friend here, — Jack said, gesturing to one of his buddies. — He’s a licensed massage therapist. He’ll do a much better job than I could.
Maddie wasn’t expecting that. She blinked, momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered and handed the bottle to the friend with a flirtatious pout.
— Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got, — she said, though her enthusiasm had clearly dipped.
Meanwhile, Jack dragged a lounge chair right next to mine. He spread his towel and lay down.
— Just got out of the water? — he asked, looking at my wet hair. — How is it today?
— Amazing. Refreshing. Perfect for this heat.
— Want to go back in for a bit? — he asked, reaching out to take my hand.
— I do! — Maddie suddenly shouted. — Let’s go, Jack!
— But you just put oil on, — Tess reminded her.
— So? It’s waterproof, — Maddie snapped, walking over to Jack and practically pulling him up. — Come on! In case you need help, I’m a certified lifeguard. I give great mouth-to-mouth.
— She is unbelievable, — Tess whispered to me. — Just shameless.
— And gorgeous, — I added sadly, watching Maddie splash around with Jack, trying to “drown” him playfully. — Typical.
— Yeah… and a total brat, — Tess tried to comfort me. She knew I liked Jack, and she knew Maddie was only doing this to prove she could.
Maddie never had much of a filter. When she saw a guy she wanted, her common sense just evaporated.
— She’s magnetic, — I continued. — She promises…
— Promises what? A headache from all her drama?
I just sighed. I knew Maddie wasn’t the easiest person, but she was stunning and fearless. She moved from one romance to another with zero effort. Maybe that’s exactly what Jack wanted. Watching them play in the water, I decided to bow out of a game I couldn’t win.
However, Jack had other ideas. He kept seeking me out. Every morning, he took me to the bistro for coffee; on the beach, he was always by my side. He tried to ignore Maddie—sometimes quite pointedly—but she either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Her constant interruptions and attempts to touch him were driving me crazy. I couldn’t tell if he was secretly enjoying the attention or not.
He’s probably flattered, I thought. What guy wouldn’t be? She’s beautiful and she’s throwing herself at him. Easy prey.
One afternoon, the whole group went to lunch. Maddie, of course, squeezed in right next to Jack. I sat across from them. It would have been a normal lunch if I hadn’t dropped my fork. As I leaned under the table to grab it, I saw it: Maddie’s hand was resting firmly on Jack’s knee. I sat back up and looked at him. He just shrugged helplessly, as if to say it wasn’t his fault. My heart sank. As we were leaving, Jack caught my hand and whispered:
— It’s not what you think. She’s relentless. I can’t shake her…
— You don’t have to explain yourself to me, — I said quietly, turning to catch up with Tess.
That evening, we all gathered by the guys’ cabin for a barbecue. The boys were busy with the grill, and we were tossing a salad. I forced a smile, pretending I didn’t care about the “happy couple.” In reality, I didn’t want the food or the company. I just wanted to be alone.
Unlike me, Maddie was on fire. She’d dressed up in a sundress with a plunging neckline and let her hair down. Strangely, Jack didn’t say a word about her outfit. But he did notice me.
— You look beautiful tonight, — he whispered in my ear. — Truly stunning.
— Thanks… — I replied, blushing. An hour later, we were eating burgers, drinking beer, and sharing stories. Maddie was performing, as usual.
She had a funny story for every topic, doing everything she could to keep the spotlight on herself. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I told everyone I was going back to the cabin to grab a sweater because it was getting chilly. Honestly, I took my time. I didn’t want to go back and watch her climb all over him. But I couldn’t leave Tess alone with them forever, so after ten minutes, I headed back. To my horror, Jack and Maddie were both gone. I tried to act like I hadn’t noticed.
— Looks like someone’s having a wild night, — one of Jack’s friends joked.
— Talk about a fast mover! — another added.
— What happened? — I whispered to Tess.
— I don’t know. Maddie just kind of threw herself at him, said she was dizzy, and he ended up walking her back to our cabin. Didn’t you see them?
— No. I must have missed them. I stopped by the restroom.
I felt a sharp sting of betrayal, even though I knew I had no claim on him. We weren’t “together,” but I felt discarded. To keep from crying in front of the guys, I made an excuse and bolted into the darkness. I found a small gazebo by the lake, sat down, and finally let the tears fall. At least no one can see me, I thought. Then, I felt hands on my shoulders. I spun around. It was Jack.
— Chloe, hey. What’s wrong?
— What are you doing here?
— Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize this was a private club, — he joked. — Do I need a ticket to get in? — Without waiting for an answer, he stepped inside and knelt in front of me. He gently tilted my chin up. — Are you crying?
— No.
— Your eyes say otherwise… Come on, what happened?
— I told you, nothing!
— So Tess wasn’t lying when she said you were jealous, — he stated.
— Me?! That’s ridiculous.
— Then explain why you ran off and started crying right after Maddie faked being drunk so I’d have to walk her home?
— Did she want you to stay?
— She did.
— So why didn’t you?
— Because I wasn’t about to waste my night on her. I was in a hurry.
— In a hurry? For what?
— To find you, — he said, with such genuine tenderness that my heart skipped a beat. He leaned in and kissed me—softly, carefully.
We stared at each other for a moment. I couldn’t have spoken even if I wanted to; my heart was drumming against my ribs. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close. This time, the kiss was deep and hungry. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. Though, deep down, I’d felt that spark from the very first moment at the sink. His hand stroked my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.
It looks like I won’t be getting much sleep for the rest of this vacation. But then again… sleep is a waste of time anyway.
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