Chapter 452 - Still in His Life

Chapter 452: Chapter 452 - Still in His Life

Roxie had to admit that getting up early was worth it.

The boat was gorgeous, with a spacious upper deck, comfortable lounge chairs, and shaded areas where guests could escape the sun. Music played from the speakers while the staff welcomed everyone aboard with drinks, and beyond the railing, Lake Como stretched between mountains dotted with villas.

She followed Karen and Angela toward a group of empty lounge chairs, adjusting her sunglasses when the breeze blew several curls across her face.

Angela immediately claimed the chair closest to the railing.

"Move," Karen told her.

"Why?"

"Because I want that one."

"There are two more."

Roxie laughed as she dropped her beach bag onto the middle chair. "Are we seriously fighting over chairs already? We haven’t even left the dock."

"Tell her to move," Karen complained, looking at Roxie.

"Why me?"

"Because she listens to you."

Angela laughed. "Since when?"

Roxie shook her head and slipped off her cover-up before settling onto the cushion. She’d chosen a black bikini with a plunging neckline and high-cut bottoms that hugged her curves, paired with a sheer black cover-up that barely reached her thighs. She’d felt particularly sexy when she checked herself in the mirror that morning, especially with her long red curls falling past the middle of her back.

She’d spent nearly forty minutes getting her hair ready, and so far, the curls were holding up nicely despite the moisture in the air. She hoped they’d stay that way for the rest of the afternoon.

Karen eventually sat beside her, although she continued complaining about how Angela always managed to get her way whenever the three of them went somewhere together.

"You’re the one who took forever in the bathroom," Angela reminded her.

Roxie turned toward Karen. "Speaking of which, what were you doing in there? I thought you’d fallen asleep."

"My hair wasn’t cooperating."

"Your hair is five inches long."

"It’s longer than five inches, Roxie."

"Fine. Six."

Karen gave her the middle finger, making Angela laugh as she stretched out on her chair.

Roxie leaned back and let the sun warm her skin. The weather was beautiful, the music was good, and there was an entire day ahead of her with absolutely nothing she needed to accomplish.

Across the deck, several men from the wedding party were gathered near the railing. Some were already wearing swim trunks, and one had just removed his shirt while talking to another guest.

Angela lifted her sunglasses.

"Oh, hello."

Roxie followed her gaze and smiled when she realized what had caught her friend’s attention.

"Angela."

"What?"

"You’re staring."

"I’m looking around."

"At his chest?"

Angela laughed and settled back into her chair. "We’re on vacation. Let me enjoy myself."

Karen glanced toward the men before looking at Angela. "You realize some of them can see you, right?"

"That’s why I brought sunglasses."

Roxie burst out laughing, and Angela grinned at her before pointing discreetly toward another man standing near the bar.

"Okay, who’s that one?"

Roxie looked, trying to place him among the people she’d greeted the previous evening.

"I think he’s one of Kyle’s friends from college."

"Really? He’s cute."

"Go talk to him, then," Karen suggested.

Angela immediately shook her head. "No, thank you. I’m happy over here."

Roxie laughed at that.

Karen picked up her drink, smiling to herself.

"What?" Roxie asked.

"Nothing. I’m just wondering how long you’re both planning to spend doing this."

"Until we get bored," Angela answered, tilting her head toward another group of men who’d just appeared on the deck. "Oh, and there are more."

Karen followed her gaze and laughed. "You’re hopeless."

Angela shrugged, entirely unbothered, while Roxie settled back against her chair. She was beginning to think this trip was exactly what she needed after the mess waiting for her in New York and last night’s awkward reunion.

The boat’s engine started a little later, and Roxie sat forward as they slowly pulled away from the dock. Several guests moved toward the railing to take pictures, and she joined them briefly, taking a few photographs of the hotel and the villas along the shoreline.

By the time she returned to her chair, Angela had already started talking about another property they’d passed. Roxie listened for a while, asking a few questions about the enormous balconies overlooking the water before a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Morning, ladies."

She looked up to find Mason standing beside them in navy swim trunks and an open white shirt. His blond hair was slightly messy, and he held a glass of orange juice in one hand.

"Hey, Mason."

He smiled at her, then looked her over.

"Damn, Roxie. You look great."

She grinned. "Thank you."

"Seriously. That swimsuit suits you."

Roxie lowered her sunglasses to look at him properly.

"Mason, careful. People are going to get the wrong idea."

She almost glanced toward Karen but stopped herself. She’d already teased her enough the previous evening.

Mason laughed. "I’m complimenting you, not flirting."

"I know. I’m just saying, if you keep this up, someone might think you’ve got a crush on me."

"Can’t have that."

"Exactly. Think about my reputation."

Mason shook his head, smiling as he reached for an empty chair nearby.

"Mind if I sit?"

"Go ahead," Karen answered.

He handed her the glass without speaking and Karen took it with a raised brow.

Oh Roxie wanted to look at Angela but she forced herself not to move or say anything. It was hard.

"So, are you enjoying yourselves?"

"Very much," Angela said. "There are tons of entertainment around here." She grinned looking at Karen.

"I can see that." He smiled. "I was standing over there earlier. You three weren’t exactly being subtle."

Angela laughed while Karen turned toward Roxie.

"I told you."

Roxie shrugged. "We were looking around. There’s nothing wrong with that."

"Sure," Mason answered, glancing toward the men again. "Anyone interesting?"

Angela immediately pointed at him.

"See? You want to know too."

"Maybe I’m curious."

"Well, I’m not telling you. You’ll go tell them."

Mason chuckled. "I probably would."

They spent a while talking about the trip and the previous evening’s reception. Mason mentioned that Kyle had already called him several times that morning, and Angela wanted to know whether something had gone wrong with the wedding preparations.

"Nothing serious," Mason answered. "He just keeps remembering things he wants me to do."

"Well, you’re the best man," Karen said.

"That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I thought best man gets the best of everything."

Roxie smiled as he shook his head.

It was nice talking to Mason. He’d been one of the few people who’d managed to keep a conversation going during her disastrous greeting with Zac last night, and she appreciated that he’d acted normally afterward.

She’d caught him looking a little uncomfortable during the exchange, though.

God, even Mason had seemed more affected by the reunion than Zac himself.

The thought irritated her again, but she pushed it aside as Mason turned toward Karen.

"You look good, by the way, Karen."

She nodded, giving him a small smile. "Thanks. You too." Her hand was frozen on the drink he gave her.

A few minutes later, Kyle called Mason from near the stairs.

Mason sighed as he stood. "Well, apparently I’m needed again."

"Good luck," Karen told him.

"Thanks."

He smiled at the three of them before heading toward Kyle.

"How’s the juice?" Roxie immediately asked her as soon as Mason was gone.

Karen put down the drink and glared at her. "Careful. I can be as bitchy as you."

Roxie and Angela laughed as they settled back to their chairs.

Olivia appeared on the upper deck a little later, carrying a beach bag and a pair of sunglasses.

Roxie spotted her coming up the stairs and immediately noticed how beautiful she looked in the morning sun. She wore a cream-colored swimsuit that complemented her olive skin, and her long hair had been gathered loosely behind her head.

God, she looked good.

Roxie glanced down at her own pale legs before looking back at Olivia.

She’d felt perfectly confident in her black swimsuit that morning, and she still liked how she looked. But standing beside a woman with that beautiful golden complexion was enough to make her briefly conscious of how little color she’d managed to get during her tanning.

"Hi, Roxie!"

Roxie raised a hand. "Hey!"

Olivia approached their chairs. "Mind if I join you?"

"Sure. Come on."

She placed her bag beside an empty lounge chair and settled into it, looking relieved to finally sit down.

Roxie gestured toward her friends. "By the way, I haven’t introduced you properly. This is Karen, and that’s Angela."

"Hi, I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you both."

Karen smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Angela raised her hand. "Hi."

Olivia settled more comfortably into her chair and looked toward the mountains, admiring the view for a moment before reaching for her sunglasses.

"So, you’re Zac’s girlfriend?" Karen asked.

Roxie turned toward her.

Jesus, Karen.

She could have at least waited until the woman had gotten comfortable.

Olivia looked slightly surprised by the question, then smiled.

"Yeah."

"Oh," Angela said. "How long have you two been together?"

Olivia adjusted her sunglasses on her lap, looking a little shy now that the attention had shifted toward her.

"We’ve been seeing each other for a while."

Roxie smiled politely.

Well, good for them.

Karen smiled.

"Well, that’s nice."

Olivia nodded before glancing toward the stairs, apparently noticing someone approaching.

Roxie followed her gaze.

Zac had just come upstairs.

He wore dark swim trunks and carried a towel over one shoulder, with his sunglasses pushed back into his hair. Without his suit from the previous evening, Roxie could finally see how much ink he actually had.

The tattoo she’d noticed along his neck extended down his right arm, forming a large black-and-gray design of an angel with a raised sword standing over a fallen figure. The wings spread across his upper arm, while the rest of the design continued toward his forearm.

And across his right pectoral was a dragon.

Roxie’s gaze lingered briefly on the detailed scales curving across his chest toward his shoulder.

Well, she’d certainly missed a few developments.

She’d seen Zac in photographs over the years, but usually in his football uniform or wearing a suit. She hadn’t realized how extensive the tattoos were, and she had to admit they suited him.

Annoyingly enough.

She stopped herself from looking further, remembering how he’d behaved the previous evening. A handsome face and an impressive collection of tattoos didn’t make him any less of an asshole.

Angela leaned slightly toward her, apparently about to say something, but Roxie gave her a look before she could open her mouth.

Angela smiled to herself and returned to her drink.

Zac stopped beside Kyle near the railing, talking to him for a moment before looking around the deck. When he spotted Olivia, he headed toward their chairs.

Roxie reached for her drink as he approached. She wasn’t particularly interested in another round of painfully polite small talk, especially after he’d made it clear the previous evening that they were practically strangers.

"Olivia."

Olivia turned and smiled. "Hey."

Zac stopped beside her chair, resting one hand against the back of it.

"Ready?"

"For what?"

"We’re stopping for a swim."

Olivia glanced toward the lake. "Already? I thought we were doing that later."

"Kyle wants to stop here first."

"Oh, alright." She turned toward the girls. "Are you coming?"

"Probably," Angela answered. "I’ve been waiting to get into the water."

Karen shrugged. "I’ll see."

Olivia looked at Roxie.

"How about you?"

Roxie glanced toward the lake. "I might. Depends on how cold it is."

Olivia smiled. "That’s what I was thinking too."

Zac looked toward the other women.

"Karen. Angela."

Karen glanced up from her chair. "Hi."

Angela gave him a brief nod. "Hey."

His attention moved to Roxie.

"Roxie."

She straightened slightly at the sound of her name, although she kept her expression perfectly normal.

"Zac."

He nodded once before looking back at Olivia.

Roxie reached for her drink.

There it was again. That lovely conversation between two people who apparently had absolutely nothing to say to each other.

At least this time she hadn’t bothered walking across an entire terrace to experience it.

"Give me a minute," Olivia told him. "I need to put my things away."

"Alright."

She gathered her bag and stood before looking toward Roxie and the others.

"It was really nice meeting you both. Hopefully we can talk more later."

"Sure," Karen answered. "Enjoy your swim."

Angela smiled. "See you."

Roxie raised her hand. "Have fun."

Zac gave them a brief nod before walking away with Olivia, who slipped her hand around his arm as they headed toward the stairs.

Angela watched them go before turning toward Roxie.

"Well, that was a little awkward."

Karen took a sip of her drink.

"A little?"

Roxie laughed, although there was a small part of her that still wanted to curse Zac for making every encounter feel so unnecessarily uncomfortable.

"Can we please go back to enjoying ourselves?"

Angela adjusted her sunglasses.

"Gladly."

She looked toward the men gathering near the rear of the boat, where several guests were getting ready for the swimming stop.

Roxie watched them for a moment before deciding she might as well see how cold the water actually was. She’d brought a swimsuit, and it would be ridiculous to spend the entire afternoon sitting on a lounge chair without at least getting her feet wet.

"I’m going to check the water," she told her friends, getting to her feet.

Angela looked toward the men gathering at the back.

"Tell me if it’s cold."

"Why don’t you come with me?"

"Because you’re already standing."

Roxie rolled her eyes before picking up her sunglasses and making her way toward the rear of the boat.

There were several people gathered near the swimming platform, some sitting along the railing while others argued about whether they should jump in. Roxie walked past them, looking for a clear spot where she could check the water without getting splashed by someone attempting to impress the entire wedding party.

She was beginning to feel better now that she’d gotten away from the lounge chairs. The breeze was cooler near the back of the boat, and she could hear several people laughing as one of the men tested the water with his foot.

Someone called for a towel, and another guest complained that the water looked freezing.

Roxie smiled, considering whether she should return to Angela and tell her she was absolutely right to stay in her chair.

She was approaching the stairs leading down to the lower deck when she heard a familiar voice.

Zac.

He was somewhere below, speaking on the phone.

Roxie would’ve continued walking, but his tone caught her attention. He sounded irritated, speaking more firmly than he had while joking with Kyle and Mason earlier.

"Tell them I’m not signing anything if those are the terms. We’ve already discussed this."

She slowed slightly, glancing toward the stairs.

Apparently, even Zac couldn’t get away from work while on vacation.

She was about to move on when he spoke again.

"I don’t care what they promised. Just handle everything, Dylan."

Roxie stopped.

Dylan?

Her fingers tightened around the railing as the name registered.

For a moment, she wondered whether she’d heard him correctly.

Dylan Martinez?