My new novel, Lyfers, will be released Tuesday, February 9. Until then, here’s a preview!
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three
Jade
After the safety demonstration, the crowds dispersed either to their rooms to primp for the show that evening, or to the stage set up near the pool area to claim a spot. Veteran cruisers Jade and Oscar opted to head to the stage. The couple shouted greetings and blew kisses to crew members as they floated through the frenzied crowd as if walking on water. Former model Jade held the brim of her floppy straw hat with her index finger and thumb while her pinky stood at attention. A filmy teal and gray sarong was slung low on her shapely hips, covering the bottom of her black monokini.
“Have a drink ready for me, Julio! My usual!” Oscar called to a bartender behind a tiki-themed bar. His black 4 Lyfe T-shirt with the sleeves shorn off revealed a strip of belly as he lifted his arm up to wave. He tugged it back down with impatience.
“Mango colada. You got it, Mr. Oscar!”
Jade released her hat and held up two fingers. “Make it two, Julio! Make mine zero calories.”
The rush of people had pushed them out of earshot, so Julio responded with a cocked smile and wave.
Jade dug into her giant tote bag and drew out her phone in one swift movement, and her thumb darted across the screen.
“Jade, girl, you’re obsessed.”
“Oh whatever. Take a selfie with me.” As they maneuvered through the crowd, they leaned their heads in together. Jade tipped her chin down, pursed her lips, and held the camera out in front of her. Oscar balanced his salt-and-pepper goateed chin on his extended index finger and thumb to frame the bottom of his face. “Besides, you can’t tell me you’re not gonna check your phone and do work every second of this cruise.”
“I can’t disappoint my clients. Good lawyers never rest.” He mimed flipping his nonexistent long hair over his shoulder. Jade cast her eyes up to the bottom of her hat.
*****
The lido deck teemed with rabid fans. A stage was set up with multiple runways snaking off and ending in platforms. Fans filled the space, surrounding each of the platforms and lining the sides of the runways and the front of the stage. Some teetered near the pool, trying to press up against the people in front of them so that they wouldn’t fall in. Few were in bathing suits
yet. The sun was just beginning to set. By the time the guys went on stage, it would be kissing the horizon.
After they had secured their drinks from bartender Julio, Oscar and Jade laid their towels on the edge of the pool right under one of the platform extensions. They let their feet dangle in
the water while they waited for the craziness to begin and listened to the island music coming from speakers hidden in the straw roof of the tiki bar.
“We should go sit by the bar,” said Jade.
Oscar stirred his blended drink and shook his head. “You won’t be saying that once Markus is shaking his junk in your face. Just keep drinking.”
“That I can do.” She tipped her glass back.
Once the crowd had filled in, Jade pushed through to the bar to get a refill while Oscar held their spots. Had the fans all gotten younger since the last cruise? They all looked fresh out of diapers. She couldn’t have gotten that much older in a year. “Julio, can you believe this mess?” Jade nodded to the throngs of people with their eyes glued on the stage waiting for their idols.
Julio replied in his hint of a Venezuelan accent. “This is the third cruise like this I’ve worked, and it surprises me every time how crazy these girls get.”
Jade leaned her elbows on the bar and surveyed the scene. “Yeah, me too. I think I’m getting too old for this.”
“Old? What are you, 30?”
“Ha!” The comment caught her off guard, and Jade had to wipe some of her beverage before it dribbled down her lips. “You are too much. Would you believe I am 42 years old?”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
She pointed in his face. “Believe it.”
“How old is Oscar then?”
“Oh, he’s real old.” She flicked her wrist, and her armful of bracelets jangled. “He’s 45.”
Shrieks cut through the middle of their conversation as the stage lights burst on. It wasn’t quite dark yet, but it would be soon. Jade’s heart rate quickened, but she didn’t let the excitement show on her face.
“Aren’t you going to join the crowd?”
Jade took another sip of her mango colada. “Nah. I’m cool here.”
Over the loudspeaker boomed a familiar voice to Jade’s ears. “Do we have any Lyfers in da house?”
Jade squeaked and peeked over her shoulder at Julio to see if he had noticed her outburst. At the sight of Markus on stage, she slunk back into the sea of people.
Julio chuckled as he wiped down the bar area. “Enjoy the show, chica!”