"NIALL! SHIRLEY! GET UP, YOU LAZY BASTARDS! BREAKFAST'S ABOUT TO CLOSE!" Harry roared, slamming his fist against their door. He was starving, and thirty minutes was all that remained. "I'm tired, Haz. I'll hit the late breakfast menu." Niall's voice was muffled through the wood. Harry rolled his eyes. Day one, and his friends were already testing his patience. He grabbed his bag from the floor and headed toward the restaurant, snagging an omelet with cheese and a slice of bread, then found a spot overlooking the sea. He ate in silence, savoring the peace. Harry didn't mind the solitude. He needed it sometimes. After thanking the waitress for clearing his plate, he stood up and gathered his things. The sun was blinding, and Harry fumbled for his sunglasses in his bag while walking toward the pool.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" A voice cut through his thoughts. He bumped into someone, a woman with dark hair, and she was… stunning. He recognized her, but the memory was just out of reach. "I'm Kennie, part of the entertainment crew. You must be a new guest, judging by the skin tone." She grinned, her light blue t-shirt and white sports skirt crisp and bright. A white name tag on her right side confirmed it. That's where he remembered her from—the folder. "Hi, I'm Harry. Sorry too. Should have been watching where I was going. Yeah, heard about the skin tone thing. I'm heading to the pool for a tan." For some reason, Kennie's casual mention didn't grate on him like the bathroomdude had. "Hey, you should come play bingo with me at 10:30. It's fun!" she offered. Harry shook his head. "Sorry. First day, need to hit the bar, order a cocktail, find a sunbed, and then stay glued to it. Maybe another time." He managed a polite smile. "I'll let you off the hook because it's your first day. I'll see you later, Harry. Find me at the entertainment box—right in front of the main pool." He gave her a nod, then headed toward the bar.
The bar was next to the entertainment box. It was only 9:50, and according to the folder, the entertainment crew was launching their first activities at 10. A boy with black hair was already inside, likely the DJ. Harry ordered a mojito and scanned the pool area, searching for three sunbeds. He wasn't early enough to snag a prime spot. The only option was a trio next to the entertainment box—a disaster waiting to happen with a speaker blasting music just meters away. Harry sighed, but he tossed his towel on one bed, his bag on another, and his flip-flop on the third, staking his claim.
He finally settled onto the sunbed, pulled out his phone, and connected to the hotel Wi-Fi. Instagram was the first thing that popped up—a picture of Caroline, radiant in a red dress. A handsome guy with black hair and greyish eyes kissed her cheek, her hand entwined with his. Jealousy flared. He bit his lip, scrolling past the caption.
'Never loved someone like I love you. Derek and I are officially a couple.'
Harry wanted to hate her for cheating, but she hadn't. She'd been too polite, too careful, breaking things off before getting tangled with him. Caroline was perfect, and Harry was almost certain he'd never find anyone like her. She'd even broken his heart with grace. Maybe if she'd cheated, he'd feel something other than this aching emptiness.
"Good morning, everyone around the pool! This is Tommo speaking! Hope y'all are doing alright. I'm asking you to all stand up for our clubdance. No better way to start the day. Come on, ladies and gentleman!" People started abandoning their sunbeds, moving toward the pool. Harry's eyes drifted back to the screen, but he couldn't ignore the blue-shirted crew. Kennie spotted him and waved. He smiled back. He was amazed at how many people actually left their beds to dance with the entertainment crew. The song was catchy, Spanish, and the dance moves were simple. People seemed to be having a blast. His eyes landed on bathroomdude. Same outfit as Kennie—white shorts, a little too high on his knees. His shirt highlighted the color of his eyes. And… WTF was he thinking? When Tommo caught him staring, he grinned and winked. Harry quickly returned to Instagram, scrolling through pictures of his ex. Anything to avoid imagining bathroomdude checking him out. Because he wasn't.
Just as the song ended, Niall and Shirley strolled toward the sunbeds, both munching on sandwiches from the late breakfast menu. Niall was vibing to the music, doing a weird little dance as he walked. Shirley watched him fondly. "Hey guys," Harry smiled at them. They snatched his stuff from the sunbed and replaced it with their towels. "Hey, Haz. Sleep well?" Niall asked. Harry was about to answer when a voice, too enthusiastic, cut him off. "Hi! I'm Tommo. You probably know me as the guy Harry peed on—as Harry very nicely phrased it yesterday in reception." The boy winked, and Harry felt his face burn. "Hey, I'm Niall. This is my girlfriend Shirley." Shirley extended her hand for a shake. "So, you're Harry's friends?" Tommo asked. They both nodded. "Yup, sorry about that idiot peeing on you. He's potty trained, I promise." Shirley joked. Harry stared daggers at her, but everyone ignored him. Tommo laughed loudly. "That was a good one. Hey guys, today I'm doing sports. Fancy some volleyball?" Tommo's eyes flitted between Shirley and Harry. "Not going to happen," Harry mumbled. "Speak for yourself! I love volleyball!" Niall exclaimed. "Come on, Haz. You like playing too." Shirley tried to coax him. "Not today, maybe tomorrow." Harry answered. "But then I'm not doing it!" Tommo whined. A smile tugged at Harry's lips. "Even more reason to play tomorrow…"