Page 17 (1/2)

Much More than Friends

"I think I'lass down on the bar counter, "Uno mas," she swept her blonde hair back from her tanned forehead and looked at Victor to see his reaction What would her favorite Cancun barman say to that?

Victor raised an eyebrow as he refilled her lunchtime tequila Tall, handsome and well built he was used to attention from the ladies and he'd seen this play out thousands of times before in the bar Girl on vacation, a little party, a littleyou know a little baby He tidied up behind the bar as the beautiful girl with the great body transformed into the latest train wreck in the bar If only she wasn't a wild tourist, he thought, what a waste, she was stunning

Lisa burped and continued, "It was a ht, three of us ended up in bed Me, Jack Daniels and souy That's about all I remember But today I feel a bit weird I should have known better"

Victor wiped down the bar in front of her "Don't worry In a few days you'll be back in Boston and this will all fade aith your tan Everyone needs to let their hair do and again That's what Cancun is for That's e all love it here so ht Trust me chica"

Lisa's red eyes watered and she sighed as she sluht Your life is good here You work at the beach, everyone is so friendly here and you're always sle and I don't want to go back to work next week It sucks Really, it does

"And today I woke up, hungover again and alone and Ithe rest ofto h and it doesn't work Look at the state I' a people pleaser doesn't work"

"It's not so bad Lisa You're just having a bad day Go work on that tan and enjoy a good siesta You'll feel much better The sea is beautiful today Go take a swiently lapping the shore line

"Maybe you're right I love talking to you VictorYou're always so kind and decent I always feel soto you I don't knohat it is about you All week I've been popping in here and I've hardly been to any of the other bars I just keep co back here to see you Crazy eh?" Lisa looked Victor up and down and enjoyed the now faht white linen shirt He looked fantastic with that brilliant white against his dark tan and his short black hair and his stylish white linen trousers flowing down to his bare feet in the sand If only

"We are good friends now Lisa Maybe next year you coain or maybe two years from now and we'll talk like it was yesterday We've talked about a lot of different things, you and I, and it's always interesting Always I look forward to seeing you when you call in This town is full of party girls but you're not like the rest of them For me, you are a friend, a friend for life And I hope we can stay in touch after you leave"

"Oh, ill, don't worry, I'll send you photos of dull and dreary Boston You don't knohat you're hed

"Okay Lisa, I need to get going now that Maria has finally turned up Only 20better See you later guapa"

Lisa watched as Victor made his way barefoot from the bar across the sand and past the other beach bars He stopped again and again to greet people and after a round of handshakes and hugs he stepped up onto the paveht

Lisa wondered where her gay friend was going and when he would be back What a lovely guy A true gentle his job and sh life

He said he was 46 but he looked yuys don't ood And he was alell dressed, very well dressed for a barman Victor was always dressed in the very best linen trousers and fashionable shirts and he was extreroomed with never a hair out of place

Maria ambled over to Lisa, "Hola, Lisa, how are you today?"

"Good, how are you?" Lisa smiled, happy for the chance to talk to someone

"Very good," she s to drink?"

"Water would be good"

"Water? Are you sure? You feeling okay today?" Maria joked