Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Thirteen
Zoey
I walk out of the lobby toward the pool, where most of my family members have probably gathered. At least most of them. If not, they’re at the beach, which means I can go to my room to regroup before meeting them.
I look up at the hotel and see the balconies that overlook the beach, knowing all of them have been rented for our family. The family vacation started before I can even remember. Since most of my family was in hockey, the only time everyone was officially off was in June, so all family vacations were done during that time. It was a time everyone always dreaded, but once we were there, it was always, and I mean always, the best time. The kids would run on the beach or go to the pool, and the teenagers would always be in some type of war with one another, competing and playing games to see who was far superior. Then leading to the adults getting involved to negotiate, but slowly, it would end up with the adults included in the game.
I see a server coming out from the side with a tray filled with mixed drinks. “I’ll have one of those.” I hold my hand up as he walks my way, wearing his uniform of blue pants and a Hawaiian shirt.
“This is the specialty drink—” he says, handing me a napkin.
“Is there booze in here?” I ask as I take one of the tall yellow drinks off his tray. The wetness from the glass feels good against the heat of my hand.
“There is tequila—”
“That’s all I need to hear,” I say, taking a sip of it. The cool slush concoction hits my tongue, and the sweetness follows. “This could be trouble.” I hold it up to him. “I taste no tequila.”
He smiles at me. “Trust me, there is lots of tequila. But if you want, I can bring you more so you can add it.”
I look at the drink, then look up when I hear voices. “Last time I drank tequila, I ended up married.” I laugh nervously before taking another sip. “So I might take you up on that offer.”
He nods at me and hightails it away from me. “Wait, did he think I was going to marry him?” I ask myself as I see him stopping next to my mother and my aunts Allison and Zoe, who I’m named after. All three are wearing black bikinis, not identical, but all with white linen cover-ups. Each of them is wearing a straw hat to hide the sun from their face with sunglasses. I hope when I’m older I have the confidence they have and also their style. I mean, it’s normal for my mother since she’s the stylist to the stars. She started working as a personal shopper when she was younger, then started Zara’s Closet. Now she’s one of the most sought-after stylists in Hollywood. She even has a staff of fifty working for her.
Neither of them sees me yet, but it’s as if my mother knows I’m nearby because she quickly looks my way, then puts both her hands to her mouth. I wait for it, knowing the soft and sweet Zara isn’t going to stay for very long. “In three.” I take a sip of my drink. “Two.” The minute I say two, her hands fall from her face, and she whips off her sunglasses. “One.”
It takes Zoe and Allison a minute to look my way, and their eyes go to me when they do. Zoe’s face mimics my mother’s, while Allison rolls her lips, trying not to smile in my direction. My mother makes her way to me like a bull chasing the red flag in Spain. “Jesus.” I look over to see my cousin Zara walking my way, wearing a bikini top and cover-up around her hips. “Prepare to be hung out to dry,” she mumbles quickly before the women get here. “The plane ride here was so much fun.” She grabs the drink from my hand. “Thanks for that.”
“Zoey Allison Richards,” my mother says between clenched teeth.
“I don’t even think that’s your middle name,” Zara shares, “but you were often compared to her, so she might be confused.”
“I thought my middle name was Parker.” I make the mistake of speaking, and my mother’s eyebrows pinch together even more.
“Don’t you start with me,” she huffs. “Do you know what we’ve been through these past two days while you were radio silent?” She leans in.
“I wasn’t radio silent.” I hold up my hand. “I spoke to Dad.”
“Oh, trust me, I know. Who do you think had to tame his ass?” She folds her arms over her chest. “Who do you think had to talk him and your uncles from signaling the phone chain, followed by getting on a plane and tracking you down in Vegas?”