Rum Punch Regrets by Anne Kemp Read Free Book Online

“I have no idea how to handle this or what to do. I just hope we can figure something out and make it so it works for everyone involved.”
    Ben was eyeing her, looking into her eyes as if trying to read her mind. He seemed nice enough, but what if he turned out to be the roommate from hell?
    “I know this isn’t your fault, Abby,” Ben said thoughtfully. “Look, I’m just under a lot of pressure for the next six weeks.”
    “You only payin’ half price, mon. So no complainin’.” Ziggy had suddenly shown back up and was plopping himself down next to Cutty at the bar, handing him a joint as he lit one for himself. Abby noticed he was minus one hot, mysterious, rugged stranger.
    “Thanks, Ziggy,” Ben sighed and stared at the beer in his hand. “Leigh has always treated me like I was one of her own, taking me to dinner when she was here visiting, or sending me supplies as I needed them from the States. I want to help, and I will. But I’d be a liar if I did it with a smile on my face and said it was going to be okay.”
    Abby nodded and threw back her third drink, getting her fourth from the cup Miss Charles was already refreshing for her. Damn, this rum punch is great! Abby had made friends in the stickiest of situations. This one was tough since she had no true upper hand here, and she needed time to decide her course of action. Until then, I guess I have to take any bullshit this kid dishes at me, she mulled.
    Ben had grabbed a menu off the bar and pointed to an item, asking Miss Charles if he could have “that.” Abby, feeling light-headed and a little buzzed, thought she saw Ben play with his fingers nervously like she did in tense situations. Deciding she was seeing things, she recognized she needed to get something in her stomach and fast, or Ben would witness “Puking Abby” in a few hours.
    She guessed Ben was a gentle enough guy, but not one to piss off. Everyone seemed to like him, too. They were like a dysfunctional family in the middle of the Caribbean . If that’s the case, I should begin to feel more at home any day now, Abby thought. Of course, Ben being pissed won’t help my case, but I can win him over. I know I can. Plus, he reminds me of Leigh’s boys . . . same age, same mentality. And I get along with them.
    Miss Charles looked at Abby and nodded toward the menu.
    “Girl, you want anyting before I throw de order in? Or do you plan to drink your dinner?” She grinned big and crazy at Abby, wiggling her eyebrows and laughing.
    Jesus, Abby thought drunkenly, these people are either really happy about life or just plain nuts.
    “What’s the best thing on the menu? Do you have a nice salad?”
    Cutty snorted with a laugh so hard that beer flew out of his nose, causing a ripple of laughter among the ragtag crew.
    “No, girl. You Americans and your ‘salad’ . . . Conch fritters. You like dem. I get dose for you.” With that, Miss Charles flounced up the steps to the kitchen that was housed in the main hotel perched on the cliff just above them, overlooking the same view of the Caribbean across to the neighboring island of Nevis.
    Abby sat down at the bar on the other side of Cutty. The order at the bar now was Ben, Cutty, Abby, and Ziggy. Meeting of the minds, Abby thought sarcastically in her drunken state, as she leaned back to let Ziggy and Cutty pass their joint back and forth.
    “You want any?” Ziggy asked.
    “Ah . . . Nah. I don’t really do that anymore. But thank you for the offer.” Abby had no clue what the hell they put in their weed and was not about to even begin examining it. Not when she was already feeling floaty and light from her rum punch consumption.
    “Ben, may I talk to you alone?” Abby felt if she could get Ben one-on-one for a bit maybe she could begin the slow charm of winning him over so they could make things right.
    Ben nodded and pointed to a picnic table that sat on a deck overlooking the water. He grabbed his Carib and began to lope over the