Dream tossed Night’s wallet aside after rifling through it and started digging in his front pockets. When he found Night’s room access card he cried out, jumped up and ran past them on his way to the stairs.
He passed his brother on the way up and La’Shia called out for Thomas to follow him. He glanced at Rochelle who nodded and he rushed after his younger brother. Rochelle spotted Night’s body then she rushed down to join them.
Everyone was talking at once and Ben’s face was turning red. “ENOUGH!” he yelled. The lobby went quiet and he had everyone’s attention. “Rain, tell them what happened.” All eyes turned to her.
Rain nodded nervously and squared her shoulders. “Night attacked me down by the beach shower when we got back from the beach. Ben was still on the beach when I rinsed my sandals. Night hit me,” she showed the bruise on her cheek. “He had a knife,” she pointed to the knife on the floor next to his body. “and was about to slash me when Ben stopped him.” She looked at Ben who was looking at his hands while flexing his right one.
“Ben disarmed him and threw him down. We walked back to the lobby and were drying our heads when Night jumped up to slash me again. Ben pulled me away and Night slipped on the wet floor and hit his head.” She held up her towel and everyone got a good look at the tear. “This was over my head when he slashed at me. If Ben hadn’t been there…” She stopped when she realized she was leading him right back into his issue with being called a hero. He looked up at her and she mouthed ‘thank you’ to him and he smiled faintly with a nod.
“You can speak to the staff who witnessed the attack. I didn’t touch him… here in the lobby.” Ben glowered and nobody felt the urge to argue with him. He looked at Rochelle’s relieved expression then noticed Trish wasn’t there. He gave Rochelle a curious look and she came over to sit down on the couch next to him.
“Trish is upstairs with a nasty headache. It’s more than a little possible that the dead man over there was the man who attacked her earlier today down by the beach shower and tried to drag her into the bushes.”
Ben surged to his feet but the guilty party was already dead so he let Rochelle and Rain tug him back down to the couch. He looked at Rochelle. “How- how badly hurt is she?”
“She’s got a nasty cut on her temple, probably from the ring her attacker wore, I’ll take a picture of Night’s ring momentarily, just for proof. There is a bad bruise there as well and we think she might have a concussion.” Rochelle looked for injuries on Ben.
“What?” he asked.
“Where did he cut you?”
Ben blinked at her. “He didn’t cut me.”
Rochelle grinned at Ben. “Well that’s a change for the better! Everyone who’s attacked you before left their mark.”
There was a commotion by the entrance so Rochelle stood up and moved away to take the picture of Night’s ring.
The police cleared the lobby of the guests and interviewed the witnesses starting with the staff. By the time the police were done, satisfied that the death was merely an accident, the ambulance had taken Night’s body away and it was too late for dinner so Ben and Rain made their way back up to the room.
Ben hadn’t seen Rochelle, La’Shia or any of the others once they’d headed off to dinner. He wasn’t even sure if Dream or his brother had returned at all.
He opened his door and Rain went in first. They found Trish asleep on the bed so they just went into the bathroom and got ready for bed. On went the finger brace.
Ben was exhausted from the day’s events. His confession to Rain had been especially draining so he said his good nights, slipped under the covers and began to nod off immediately.
“Ben?”
“Hmmah?” he grunted as he surfaced.
“Could- could I sleep in your bed tonight?” Rain asked tentatively.
“Hmmmyup,” he managed before he began to slip back into slumber. He was vaguely aware of Rain carefully slipping under the covers. She snuggled in against his side and Ben was out.
“Hey sleepyhead! You ever gonna get up?”
Ben cracked his eyes open and stretched with a big grin on his face. He’d slept so deeply! He hadn’t felt this well rested in… months! Trish and Rain were standing at the end of the bed and he could see they’d already been out running.
“How’s your head?” he asked.
“Just a little achy this morning. Nothing a run on a beautiful beach couldn’t fix. I heard the story of your run in with that thug last night. I can’t believe he’s dead!”
“Yeah,” Ben grunted. “Stupid accident.”
Rain nodded and smiled at him. He smiled back.
“We were just going to take a shower if, you know, you felt like joining us.” Trish said with a coy grin.
Ben shook his head but threw back the sheets and climbed out of bed. With a little spring in her step Trish moved to take her damp runners out to the balcony and Rain took the opportunity to whisper in Ben’s ear. He nodded and moved quickly into the bathroom. He dropped his boxers and stepped into the shower to get the water going. He quickly soaped up his body as Trish and Rain finally entered the bathroom struggling to get out of their tight running gear. Rain was giggling as she prevented Trish from pulling her top all the way over her head. Ben nodded to her so she let go. Trish scowled playfully at Rain as they tugged their running shorts off.
Trish looked over at Ben’s wet muscles and smiled hungrily. He’d finished rinsing the shampoo from his hair as they finally stepped in.
“I’m done,” Ben said.
“What?!?” Trish exclaimed.
Rain was hiding her grin. From their conversation during the run she knew Trish was aching for a little Ben time, much like she’d been when he’d massaged her ass the day before. “See you downstairs?” she asked with an innocent smile as she stepped under the spray.
“Sure, I’ll get us a table,” he said as he stepped out and toweled himself dry. He walked out of the bathroom and allowed himself to smile as he’d helped Rain get her revenge. He’d caught the look in her eyes yesterday and Trish’s smug little grin. He knew exactly what she was up to when she’d whispered her request. Besides, he’d give Trish what she wanted, just later.
He slipped on his board shorts swimsuit, a black wicking t-shirt and his sandals. Then he went downstairs to fill his empty belly.
The front desk clerk caught his attention and handed him a sealed envelope with his name printed on it. He opened the letter on his way to the restaurant and saw it was from Susan. He found a chair and sat to give the note his full attention.
“Dearest Ben,
I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to you, Trish, and Rain this morning but our flight home was an early one and the taxi took us to the airport at the crack of dawn.
Ted is flying home with me and has finally agreed that our divorce is for the best. Not that he really has any choice but at least he isn’t being a pouty nuisance.
I wanted you to know how much I treasure the moments we had together and how important you and Trish are to me. I know I’m no longer a young woman but it feels like I’ve been given a new lease on life. I will always be grateful to you for that! You are truly beautiful people and I love you both dearly.
Take care of yourself and each other.
Love, Susan.”
Ben smiled to himself, thinking of the lovely woman and the odd way she had come into his life. He hoped she found happiness in her future. The letter went back into the envelope so he could show it to Trish later.
The restaurant wasn’t very busy yet so he got his pick of tables. He found a nice one by the windows and ordered some fruit juice from the waitress before he made his way to the buffet. Once more he was careful about filling his plate as his hunger was trying to get him to overfill it.
He sat at the table and sipped his juice, enjoying the feel of the sunlight on his face.
“May we join you?”
Ben opened his eyes and looked towards the voice. It was La’Shia and several of her friends. “Sure, just leave these two seats for Trish and Rain please,” he said pointing to the two seats across from him. He was looking at La’Shia as he said it so she would know Rain was his guest. She nodded having received the message. The women settled in and the waitress arrived to get their drink orders, teas and coffees.
Killah arrived with his lady and they said their good morning’s to Ben and the group. They pulled a table up to the end of Ben’s table. More of Dream’s group arrived and they also greeted Ben and the group.
Ben looked over at La’Shia and saw she was smiling at his awareness of their inclusion of him in their group.
“I want to apologize for bringing our drama into your life. You came here for a relaxing vacation and we’ve interrupted that with danger, violence, and trouble,” she said. Ben smiled and nodded his acceptance. She smiled in return.
Rochelle arrived with Thomas. She looked at the two open seats and noticed Trish and Rain were missing. Two of La’Shia’s friends moved down two seats, pulling over an additional table so Rochelle and Thomas could sit closer to the center of the now very long table.
“Where’s Dream?” Ben asked.
La’Shia gave him a sad smile and tilted her head. “He went back to L. A. last night. Or rather, he went to the airport to catch a flight back this morning.”
Ben looked at her in surprise. “The wedding!”
“There isn’t going to be one,” she said. “His behavior this trip has been eye opening and we can’t be a couple if he’s keeping secrets from me. Whatever he was trying to find on Night’s body and in his room last night he didn’t find it. He won’t talk to me about it. He won’t trust me with the truth.” She shrugged though her eyes remained sad. “Maybe one day our paths will cross again,” she said with a forced smile.
Trish and Rain arrived and took in Ben’s position at the center of the long table. They took the two open seats across from Ben and Trish gave him a pout.
Ben leaned forward to whisper to her. “You’ll survive until tonight.”
That earned him an impish smile. “Unless I can get you alone earlier,” she replied.
Ben blushed as Trish wasn’t even trying to be discreet and eyes turned in his direction. He found something interesting to look at on his plate as Trish enjoyed his reaction.