Beach Side Romance

Chapter 3: Dancing and Dinner

Olivia POV

I looked over to see Julian back from gathering his things, and noticeably exchanged his casual golf shirt, to a white short-sleeve button down shirt. I looked at Lizzie who was surprised as I was, and Luca who was smirking. “That’s settled then. Luca, let’s go. Dinner’s at our place just beside the resort - in case I lose you, Olivia. You can approach the Front Desk, they’ll be able to guide you” she confirmed as she pulled Luca towards the crowd. “How did Lizzie meet Luca?” I asked curiously as Julian sat down beside me. “Oh, they’re childhood best friends. Dare I say they’ve been in love with each other since they were little? Lizzie’s always been very friendly, as you may have noticed - but she always gave Luca special attention.” He said as he stood up and offered his hand again. I was hesitant to take it, and I feel like he noticed “don’t worry, I’m not a good dancer, but I’ll make sure you won’t fall on your butt.” He chuckled and I rolled my eyes but I took his hand anyway.

He led me in the middle part of the dance floor that was set in the overlooking covered in twinkling lights. As we settled into a space he twirled me around and fixed one of my hands on his waist and another on his shoulder, and him mirroring the same on me. “The beat is a bit fast, it’s not a Hawaiian song contrary to what Lizzie made this theme of, but it’s Spanish. All you do is put your right foot forward, then back twice, then cha-cha-cha, then on your left foot, twice again, then cha-cha-cha and then sway side to side. Got it? Okay count of twos.” He smiled, and I nodded to his instruction and tried to wrap my head around it. Soon enough we were dancing and talking about what he does for a living, and I exchanged the same information. We briefly talked about my family, and where they are. It turns out we both lived in the city, Bridgewood City.

As the music slowed down, the routine wasn’t fitting anymore so he discreetly switched the hand placements so that mine were wrapped around his neck, and his were both on my waist and we were just swaying now and him twirling me now and then. “So, Olivia, are you staying here long?” He asked. “I uh… am not so sure. Work has been very generous, giving me shorter working hours, and I’ve only been here for over a week.. but..” in between, I sighed and tried to hold back my tears, “I.. I really don’t know.” I looked away to the coast, to see the stars twinkling through the reflection of the water. “I didn’t mean to offend, Olivia. I’m sorry.” He whispered. It forced me to look back at him. I gave him a weak smile and nodded. “I hate seeing girls cry, you know. But I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow what you’ve gone through.” He added. I was about to speak again when Lizzie walked towards us and said 

“dinner’s ready, let’s go?” 

Julian POV

I initially drove to the resort with the intention of just taking some time away to breathe, and Sandy Beach Point was a safe haven for me. The past months haven’t been easy, especially with Karen showing randomly in front of my office, or my apartment door commanding herself like we were still together when I’ve made it clear that I didn’t want anything to do with a woman who considered that she needed options when it came to men and she wanted to hold on to that choice without any further thoughts on what it meant for me. When I arrived and saw Lizzie, she told me about this girl who looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown when they first met, and she was sitting before my eyes looking at the water and sipping a drink. When I first approached her (to Lizzie’s persistence) she was hiccuping and I had a feeling she was crying. Her brown eyes were sparkling from unshed tears, but her beautiful face despite crying spoke to me. It just took that one look at her beautiful face, and I already knew she had me.

Sitting down at the dining table with Lizzie, Luca, Dad and Olivia actually felt oddly familiar. It felt warm. Dad was talking to Olivia about what she does for a living, and Luca and I were catching-up on the latest about sports. Lizzie had her own world designing a vacant room in the resort on her iPad that she wanted to make into a small bakeshop. Olivia looked quickly at what Lizzie was doing, “oh, Lizzie, is that a bakeshop?” She inquired making Lizzie a little more excited than she originally was. “Yes! You know anything about it?” She asked. Olivia had a smile on her face, one I haven’t seen since I met her earlier, “a little, I’ve taken some baking classes and interior designing classes a few years back. I can help you if you’d like, given if I’ll be around long enough” she offered. “Olivia, sunshine? Until when will you be staying here?” My dad asked, and to my surprise, she stiffened to the question. I guess she never told dad why she was here initially. “Oh, I’m staying here indefinitely, Jerome. I needed to get some time away from the city ‘cause of.. uh.. recent events. So, yeah..” she answered followed by a gulp of Sangria that my dad prepared for us. I pulled out my phone to quietly text Lizzie

Me: Liz, have you been keeping tabs on how many drinks Olivia has had since you guys met earlier?

Liz: Nope. But I would take a guess, she’s had 6 Moscow Mules earlier, and this is her 2nd glass of Sangria. Why?

Me: I’m not sure if she’s fit to drive tonight. 

Liz: She only lives a few houses away, just a 2 minute drive. It’s only been a few hours though, can I take it that my persistence earlier reaped even by a little bit?

Me: … you’re crazy Liz. I’m just looking out for her, it seems like she’s in a lot of emotional pain.

Liz: That she is. She was all puffy eyed when I first met her a few days back, then she told me a bit of what she left in the city. Pretty shitty if you ask me.

I quickly put back my phone into my pocket and immersed myself again into a conversation with Luca. Dinner seemed to have gone by fast, and by the time we were all full, it was almost midnight. I haven’t touched the Sangria I was served when Lizzie nudged me and gestured that I was eyeing Olivia’s glass too much. I shrugged it off, and took a sip from my own glass disturbing myself from my own thoughts about why this beautiful lady, who seemed sweet and caring, was one to receive a bitter pill from her own boyfriend and bestfriend. 

Luca stood up from the table first, “I must excuse myself first, I’m getting very sleepy and I have to wake-up early for that beach workshop we have for the resort kids tomorrow.” My dad nodded and waved goodnight as Luca turned to his room. Lizzie soon followed and went up to hers. “I think I must go, too.” Olivia stated as she stood up and smiled at my dad. “Thank you for having me over Jerome, it was a lovely dinner you’ve prepared. I’ll see you Thursday for lunch?” She confirmed and my dad nodded. “Of course sunshine, you’re welcome into the resort, and here at home anytime.” He greeted, “Julian, do you mind walking back with Olivia to the resort? I think her car’s parked there, and Olivia, are you sure you’re keen on driving? I know it’s a short distance but still..” before she could answer what came out of my mouth surprised me, “I’ll take her home instead, Dad.” My dad gave that goofy ‘oh you’re up to something’ smile at me, and Olivia suddenly got awkward “there’s no need really Julian, I’m well enough to drive.” She protested. “Now, now, sunshine, it would give this old man some peace of mind.” He patted his chest, and I couldn’t believe she straight up agreed already.

“I’m sorry that you still have to take me home, really I’m fine” Olivia protested again as we walked back to the resort. “It’s okay really, how many have you had to drink tonight?” I asked, hoping not to offend her. “Well, I think I had 6 or 7 Moscow Mules, and around 4 or 5 glasses of Sangria? I didn’t really keep tabs.” She shyly admitted. I opened the car door for her before heading to the driver’s seat to buckle up. “I’m not used to this,” she whispered to herself. “Not used to what?” I asked before starting the car “oh.. uh.. kind gestures in general. The only ones who do that are usually family” she said as she sunk lower into her seat. “Olivia, I know I’ve only met you a few hours ago. But in that time since, I’ve only seen you as a girl who needs to be treated well.” I said driving out of the resort.

I opened the door for her when we got to her place. It was big for one person, but it had a calm vibe to it. “Thanks for driving me, I’ll pick my car up tomorrow from ‘Aha,” she said getting out. “No problem, have a good night’s rest Olivia and it was nice meeting you today,” I said. She smiled at me brighter than earlier today at the beach, “you too.” I saw her go inside before driving back home.