Forever (Time for Love Book 1) (12 page)

But at the same time, holding back and not giving them another chance was killing her. It certainly didn't make it easier when other women had designs on him. It was hard enough to swallow Vicky's flirtations, and when total strangers threw their hat into the ring, it rattled her even more.

Sarah excused herself to go to the bathroom, and she decided to follow.

"You okay?" Sarah asked

"Sure."

"You seem... preoccupied."

Rebecca should have known nothing would get past Sarah's observation skills. "Do you think that woman who tried to pick up Zach was really pretty?" she asked.

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, she was really pretty. Why?"

She shrugged. "No reason."

"Well, I think it was good that Zach had company. He looked lonely sitting by himself," Sarah said.

"Hmm," she answered noncommittally.

Rebecca occupied an empty cubicle. She came out at the same time as the person in the next space, and was bemused to see that it was that woman—the one who dared sit at Zach's table.

"Hi!" the woman said in a surprisingly friendly tone.

"Hi," Rebecca responded in a less exuberant voice.

"I'm Nicky," Miss Friendly said as they washed their hands. "I was sitting with Zach earlier for dinner."

"I'm Rebecca," she answered, not understanding why the woman felt the need to tell her that.

"Um, do you mind if I ask you something?" Nicky asked.

"Sure," she answered hesitantly.

"You're not with Zach anymore, right?"

"Why do you ask?" Rebecca couldn't keep the suspicion out of her voice. She was starting to see where this was going. This woman wanted to make a move on Zach.

"Curious, I guess."

"We're on a break. We're trying to sort things out," she answered. That was true. And she sure as hell wasn't going to encourage anyone to continue flirting with her man. Yes.
Her
man.

Nicky nodded. "Do you think you'd need a long time to do that?"

Rebecca frowned, intense dislike starting to grow for the woman in front of her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Nicky said hastily, noticing her reaction. "I'll shut up now."

Rebecca busied herself with drying her hands, not trusting herself to speak when all she wanted to say was something like 'leave Zach alone, you bitch.' But she wasn't into catfights.

Even so, Rebecca found herself holding Nicky back with a hand on the girl's arm as she prepared to leave. "I want you to know that Zach wants us to get back together," Rebecca said in a no-nonsense voice.

"Oh, I know that," Nicky said, smiling. "What I want to know is if you'll take him back. Zach isn't sure, you see. I kind of feel sorry for him. He seems like a nice guy, and right now he's really hurting seeing you with someone else. I wanted to help him, so I thought I'd ask you a few questions. I guess it came out wrong."

"Oh," was all Rebecca could say.

"Anyway, he said he was going back to his room to drown his sorrows. You might want to rescue him."

Rebecca smiled at Nicky, her eyes watering. "Thank you."

"No problem. Good luck," Nicky answered before walking out of the ladies'.

Sarah turned Rebecca around to face her. "Zach told you he wants to get back together?"

"Yes," Rebecca replied. "Can we talk about this later? I want to talk to him."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was upset, and Alix was around. He told me when we were in the pool area."

"Why were you upset?"

"I was scared that he might only be feeling that way because we're in this romantic setting, that he'd change his mind again once we're back in Sydney," she whispered. "But I think I'm just being ridiculous. I have to go to him, Sarah."

Sarah sighed. "Great. Now you leave me to deal with Alix. What am I gonna say?"

"Tell him Magda called for me. I'll tell him the truth tomorrow."

Rebecca hurried out, catching up with her heart, which had already left the bathroom to fly to Zach.

*****

R
ebecca knocked on Zach's door, her heart pounding so loudly in her ears it rivalled the sound of her knuckles rapping on the wood.

No answer. She knocked again and waited a while, but soon enough it became apparent Zach wasn't in his room. Could he have gone to one of the bars instead?

She didn't want to wait until tomorrow to talk to him. After everything that had happened, she wanted to make things well between them. Now.

She rang his phone, but only got his voicemail. Where could he be?

She made her way back to the level where most of the bars were, hoping she'd spot him having a drink somewhere.

After poking her head in most of the places she thought he could be, Rebecca had almost given up when she saw Vicky waving at her from one of the last lounges she was going to check.

"Hi Vicky."

"Heeyy! How's it going?!"

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. Vicky was slurring. How much had she drunk? And who was she with?

Then he appeared. Zach. Holding a glass of water in one hand and a beer in another.

"Bec," he said with surprise as he handed Vicky the glass.

"Zachy, I don't want water. I want another drink," Vicky said with a pout.

"This is a drink," Zach said dryly.

"I want another cocktail," Vicky complained.

"I think you've had enough alcohol," Zach said.

"Oh, aren't you sweet, looking after me," Vicky purred, running her hand over Zach's chest.

Rebecca narrowed her eyes, wanting to swat Vicky's paws away from Zach.

"Wanna join us, Rebecca?" Vicky asked brightly.

"Sure," she answered, taking a seat. Not that she wanted to be Vicky's next drinking buddy. But she didn't want the woman alone with Zach.

"Darling, you should get Rebecca a drink," Vicky said to Zach. "Get her one of those nice cocktails I was having earlier."

"Is that what you want, Rebecca?" Zach asked, his expression unreadable.

"Uh, yeah, thanks," she said, bothered that Zach had called her Rebecca, not Bec. What did that mean?

"Zach's so yummy, isn't he?" Vicky asked, swooning and slurring, as they watched Zach go to the bar.

"Yes," Rebecca answered, trying to stamp down her jealousy. She was glad Zach had made Vicky stop drinking—that was what any responsible friend would do—but she didn't like how he'd shown care to the woman.

"God, he is sooo hot," Vicky said, fanning herself with her hand as she continued to stare at Zach. "I can't wait to have sex with him again. And I will. Soon. Very soon."

Rebecca felt the heat rise to her face as she stared at her companion in shock. "Are you and Zach... sleeping together?"

Vicky gave her a smug, secretive smile and nodded her head sagely. "I'm sleeping with Zach and Marilyn is sleeping with his brother Jeff," she whispered conspiringly, leaning close enough that Rebecca could smell the alcohol on her breath. "No one knows, so don't tell anyone, especially our grandmothers. They'll be all over us like a rash if they knew. Actually, I don't mind if they find out, but Zach will get angry. I don't want Zach to get angry with me. I want him to sleep with me again. And again."

Rebecca found it hard to breathe, but she forced herself to relax. The woman was drunk. She could be making it up for all she knew. But she couldn't help asking, "How long have you been sleeping together?"

"Let me see. What's today?" Vicky looked comical as she silently counted days—or weeks or months—in her head. "Zach and I have been having sex since... two months ago," Vicky said before leaning close to her again. "Rebecca, could I have some of your cocktail when Zach gives it to you?"

"Don't you think you've had enough? I think Zach's right. Water would be better for you."

Vicky pouted. "I'll have a sip of his beer," she declared.

"You must have been here for a while now," Rebecca observed.

"Yes. Marilyn and I started drinking early. We love cocktails."

"Where's Marilyn?"

"She went to the bathroom. Oh, there she is!"

Rebecca looked at where Vicky was pointing. Marilyn was indeed making their way back to their table.

"Hi Rebecca."

"Hi Marilyn," she answered, surprised that Marilyn looked totally sober.

"Zach's getting a cocktail for Rebecca," Vicky said to Marilyn, grinning. "But I'll have a little sip of it."

Marilyn rolled her eyes. "Remind me to never go drinking with you again. You have no self-control, woman!"

Vicky laughed. "Yes. I also don't have any self-control in bed. That's why I give Zach the time of his life."

Rebecca froze at the picture that popped into her head.

"Vicky!" Marilyn cried, giving her friend a warning look.

"Don't worry. Rebecca already knows about me and Zach, and you and Jeff."

Marilyn whipped her head toward Rebecca. "How did you know?"

"She just told me," Rebecca responded dryly.

Marilyn shook her head as she rolled her eyes again. "Don't tell anyone, please, Rebecca? The brothers are very set on keeping their personal affairs quiet. They don't want their private lives plastered all over the magazines."

"Then someone has to make sure Vicky doesn't go drinking with loose-tongued people," Rebecca said, trying to contain her snark as she stood up. "I'm gonna head off now."

"What about your cocktail?" Vicky whined.

Rebecca was about to say 'you can have it' when something occurred to her. By leaving now, she was effectively saying that Vicky could have Zach. Damn it, no. Zach was hers. He'd said he wanted her back.

"You're right," she said, sitting back down. "That cocktail's mine."

"A sip for me?" Vicky asked cutely.

"No. Not even a taste," she answered, not talking about the drink anymore.

"You're mean," Vicky complained.

"Why is she mean?" Zach asked, placing the cocktail in front of Rebecca and sitting next to her.

"I want some of it," Vicky said with another pout.

"Sorry. All mine," Rebecca said, taking big gulps of the delicious drink. She felt ridiculously juvenile, but she was beyond caring.

"Hey, slow down," Zach said, frowning at her.

Marilyn sighed. "Yeah, Rebecca. We don't want to end up with two drunk wo—" Marilyn got cut off by her ringing phone.

Vicky grinned. "Maybe that's Zach's brother. Oops," she said, covering her mouth with her hand. "Don't worry, our secret's safe with Rebecca, Zach," she whispered loudly.

"What secret?" Zach asked ominously.

"Shhh," Vicky said with a giggle.

"Zach, did you know that that one can't keep her mouth shut when she's drunk?" Marilyn asked before walking away to answer her phone.

"Bec?" Zach asked, his eyes worried and pleading.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Rebecca answered coldly, wondering if Zach would ever have told her about him and Vicky if she hadn't found out by accident.

"That's not what I mean," Zach said in a low voice, placing his hand on her knee.

"What do you mean?" she asked, looking at him with challenge in her eyes.

"She's already promised, Zach," Vicky interrupted. "I did make you promise, didn't I, Rebecca? Hmm. I can't remember. Anyway, it's really important that no one knows I'm sleeping with Zach and Marilyn is sleeping with Jeff so promise you won't tell anyone?"

Zach groaned and dropped his head on the table.

"Don't worry, Zach. No one else will know," Vicky said anxiously. "I'm sure we can trust Rebecca. Can't we?"

"Vicky, when was the last time we slept together?" Zach asked, lifting his head.

Rebecca prepared to get up, not wanting to listen to this particular topic of conversation. But Zach grabbed her hand from under the table and squeezed tight.

"It's been a long while, Zach," Vicky whined. "I miss you."

"So when was the last time?" Zach repeated insistently.

Vicky made a face. "At least a month. Far too long, Zach."

"You know that was just a casual thing we had, Vicky. And the reason why it hadn't happened again in a long time was because we're done."

"But I really like you," Vicky slurred, leaning across the table and almost knocking out both Rebecca's and Zach's drinks. "You're really hot."

Zach shook his head in frustration. "I think it's time you went back to your room, Vicky."

"With you?"

"No. Never with me again."

Vicky pouted, folding her arms across her chest with a huff.

"There are plenty of single men on this ship, Vicky," Zach said. "Sarah's friend knows a few of them."

"Really?" Vicky asked, perking up. "Good. Maybe they won't be as hard to get as you."

"Yeah. That's right. I'll make sure Sarah introduces some to you. Now, why don't you go back to your room before you get yourself in some kind of trouble?"

"You can't ask her to go by herself, Zach. She's too drunk," Rebecca said.

"Take me to my room, Zach," Vicky said sultrily. "Make me scream again, like you did before when you licked me down here," she said, pointing to her crotch.

Rebecca shook her head, covering her ears. The whole situation was so absurd and yet so hurtful she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"T
hat's it," Zach said angrily, jumping up from his seat. This was turning into a nightmare. If Rebecca completely shut him out of her life because of this, he'd wring Vicky's neck.

"Where the hell is Marilyn?" He looked around and found the other woman walking back to their table. "Marilyn, you need to take Vicky back to her room now."

Marilyn raised her eyebrows. "Me? Oh right. The grandmas might see the two of you together. Let's go, Vicky."

Vicky stood up, stumbling and giggling. "I'll see you tomorrow, darling," she said to Zach. "And Rebecca. Remember. Shhh."

"How did she get that drunk?" Rebecca asked Zach as they watched Marilyn escort a staggering Vicky.

"I don't know. I was just passing by when I bumped into them," Zach answered, then turned to face Rebecca. "Bec, you do know there's nothing going on between Vicky and me, right? It was only a handful of times we slept together and they were weeks ago."