daydreams and magical creatures, I must have been more wasted than I’d realized.
After trying to drown myself in a cold shower and brushing the rotten taste from my mouth, I entered back into the room to see my buddy Marcus throwing off his covers.
“What the hell was up with you last night, mate?” Marcus asked gruffly, adjusting himself as he rose, eyes still half closed. “I almost shat myself when we ran out of the pub and saw you wading in the water. Must’ve been freezing!”
“It was,” I answered absently as I got dressed. I buttoned my jeans, wincing when the fabric hit the gash on my hip. I turned to Marcus and asked, “Are you sure you didn’t see anyone else in the water?”
“Just you, Josh, fully clothed and drunk as shit,” Marcus chuckled and walked towards the door. “I’m going to hit the shower. Meet you downstairs for breakfast?”
“Sure,” I responded.
Once I was dressed I went downstairs to see if anyone else was up and beg Mrs. O’Connell for some coffee.
I had to duck my head to walk into the tiny kitchen where the B & B owner was whistling as she cooked. “Morning, Mrs. O. Would you happen to have any coffee on hand?”
Mrs. O turned, her face kind and happy, and lifted her hand to gesture toward the dining room. “Go ahead and have a seat at the table, I’ll bring you a cup and some breakfast straight away.”
I murmured my thanks and walked into the other room to find Kyle and Debra, the other two members of my group, already seated and eating.
“I’ll just hang out here and read,” Debra was saying. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be happy as a clam. You guys go and have fun. You know I’d be miserable on the boat.”
“I don’t want to leave you behind, Deb, this is our first vacation together,” Kyle responded.
“Mornin’ guys,” I broke in as I took a seat on the end.
They both looked up at me and smiled. They were a cute couple. I guessed they’d only been going out a few months, but things seemed to be going well. Kyle, Marcus, and I had all gone to school together, and had gone our separate ways after graduation. Although we’d just graduated university a few months ago, we’d been eager to get together again for this mini vacation. Neither Marcus nor I had minded when Kyle asked to bring Deb along. It was nice to see him happy.
“Good morning,” Deb said sweetly as she nibbled on a piece of toast.
“How’re you feeling this morning, Josh?” Kyle asked seriously. “You scared the shit out of us last night.”
“Sorry ‘bout that,” I replied with a grimace. “I don’t know what got into me, but I’m sure as hell paying for it today. My head hurts like a son of a bitch!”
“I’ve got something that’ll fix you right up,” Mrs. O said as she came in the room. She put a steaming mug of coffee and two aspirin in front of me.
“Thanks,” I responded, smiling gratefully up at her. “Do you happen to have a first aid kit, Mrs. O? I cut my hip last night and would like to clean it out so it doesn’t get infected.”
“Sure thing,” She responded. “You just come see me once you’ve finished your meal and I’ll get you fixed up.”
I inhaled deeply as I brought the cup to my lips, closing my eyes and grinning unconsciously before taking my first sip.
“Damn,” Deb said with a chuckle. “I wish you looked at me the way he’s looking at that cup of coffee.”
Kyle laughed softly, “Yeah, if only Josh could find a woman to put that look of pure lust on his face, maybe he’d finally settle down and be happy.”
“Shhh,” I said with a grin. “I’m having a moment.”
“Argh,” Marcus moaned as he plopped down into the chair next to mine. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it fishing today, mate. I just want to head back up to bed and crash. Or maybe crawl into that nice hammock I saw outside.”
I put my cup down and turned to him, “No worries man.” Then I looked at Kyle and Deb, “And you guys can