Sunkissed (14 page)

“You look beautiful,” Riker said as Trista walked out of the bathroom. After a half day of spa treatments, including a body scrub and heavenly massage with ginger and mango oils, she glowed from head to toe. She wore her favorite maxi dress, a simple, white chiffon dress with a plunging neckline and a glittering, sequin gold band around the waist. The dress reminded her of something a Greek goddess would wear. All she needed were the olive branches in her hair for decoration. She pulled her hair into a loose bun with several tendrils framing her heart shaped face. A swipe of lip gloss, a touch of blush, and a coat of mascara were her only makeup. Her tanned skin glistened from her favorite vanilla-scented body lotion.

“Thank you,” Trista said twirling around for a dramatic effect. “A day at the spa was just what I needed.” She kissed him on the cheek. “You look ravishing too.”

“I clean up pretty well.” Riker was wearing pressed khaki slacks and a black polo shirt. His dark hair hit just below the collar and was still wet from the shower. The crystal blue color of his eyes really stood out against his tan and dark shirt he wore. He was so handsome that it took Trista’s breath away. She gave him a hug, relishing the way he smelled of her favorite men’s cologne, Bulgari. “You better stop that or we won’t be on time for our dinner reservations,” he teased.

She could feel him hardening against her thigh as she giggled and took a step back. “I think we should take our desserts back to the room after dinner.”

“Great idea,” he agreed with a wink.

Dinner was a five-course affair with crab-cake appetizers, coconut lobster bisque, grilled swordfish and mango salsa for her, coriander-crusted elk for him, and key lime pie and chocolate Kahlua cake to go. During their dinner, Trista wanted to bring up the play in New York but couldn’t bring herself to do it just yet. She settled on waiting until they went back to the cottage.

They paid the check and headed to the cottage. “I’m going to need a workout after all this delicious food,” Trista said, opening the door. Riker had secretly arranged for turn-down service. The housekeeper had already come by and lit candles all through the cottage. Rose petals were scattered over the bed and around the floor. A bottle of champagne was chilling in the ice bucket.

She gasped with appreciation. “Wow, I’m beginning to think I’m never going to leave this place.” She set down the Styrofoam containers that held their desserts and picked up the champagne. “Dom?”

“I say we get started now with a little warm-up.” He took away the chilled bottle of Dom and pulled Trista into his arms, kissing her.

Trista tried to pull away. It was now or never. She couldn’t keep putting off telling Riker about New York. “I have something I want to talk to you about.”

He held her tightly with one arm and used his other hand to work the zipper on her dress. “No talking. It can wait.”

“No, it can’t wait. I need to—”

Riker covered her mouth with his. His tongue hungrily explored her mouth. While he kissed her, he carried her to the bed. Staring at her nude body in the candlelight, he whispered, “Wow. You look amazing.”

Trista started to speak again, but realized it was useless. Once Riker got into sex mode, nothing could stray him. He stepped out of his clothes and got into bed with her. “Let’s make this a night to remember,” he said, running his hands down her body. Trista closed her eyes as his mouth sucked on her nipple and his fingers found her wet and ready for him. After two hours of delicious love- making, and three intense and memorable orgasms, she felt herself drift off.

At midnight, Trista woke up thirsty. She looked over at Riker, who was softly snoring, his sexy, nude body half-covered with a tangled sheet. She tiptoed into the bathroom and filled a glass with tap water. Her throat was parched; she greedily drank the water in one long gulp. Returning to the bedroom, she found Riker awake, sitting up in bed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Just thirsty. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

He patted the bed, and she sat down next him. Stroking her hair, he said, “I can tell when you’ve got something going on in that pretty head of yours. What’s up?”

“We do need to talk.” Trista pulled the covers over her body.

“Okay.” He sat up straighter. “If this is about your sister. I’d like to talk to her—”

She interrupted him. “It’s not about that. I am moving to New York.”

“What? When?”

Taking a deep breath, she continued. “I got a job offer to star in a leading role for
Love Potion #9
. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. The play starts rehearsals soon, and then we’re slated to do a six-month run on Broadway.”

“When do you leave?”

“Next week.”

“How…
when
did all this happen?”

Trista told him about the call from her agent. The quick trip to New York to read for the director. And the call she’d just received from her agent telling her the good news.

“So you’ve known all this time that there could be a possibility of a job waiting for you in New York? While we were in Key West and I was making plans for us to move here?”

“Wait a minute. I never agreed to a move to Key West. I only said that I would accompany you to take a look at the bar.”

“Yeah, well you never said
anything
about New York.”

“I wasn’t sure it was even going to happen until today. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure.”

“So you’re taking the job?” Riker studied her face.

She nodded slowly.

“I guess there’s nothing else to talk about then.” He jumped off the bed and pulled his suitcase open. He pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt then started to throw the clothes he’d worn to dinner in the bag.

Trista tried to touch him on the arm, but he pulled away from her. She said, “I don’t understand why you’re so upset. We can still see each other.”

“When?”

She started to say, “On the weekends,” but she realized that this job would be a full-time commitment. Daily rehearsals with evening performances. Weekends were not an option. This would be a six- or seven-day-a-week job with little time off until the play closed or she moved on to something else.

“You knew that I was looking for other work. This situation has always been temporary.”

“Which situation? You and I?”

“I meant me living in Florida. It was never a permanent thing.”

“You never told me that.”

“You never asked.”

Riker slammed his suitcase shut. “Then I guess there is nothing left to talk about. It seems that you’ve made up your mind.”

Trista watched as Riker grabbed his toiletry bag and headed for the bathroom. “Can you please quit packing and sit down and talk to me?”

Riker kept walking to the bathroom. “There is nothing left to say. It sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Commuting to and from New York is out of the question.” He turned when he got to the door and stared at her. “It’s over Trista.” He slammed the bathroom door shut.

Trista sat on the couch, stunned. This was her career. Her life. Why she should give up her dreams?

***

The next morning Trista woke up before sunrise. Riker was still asleep. After their argument, he spent the next two hours on the front deck drinking beer. She pretended like she was asleep when he came back inside, drunk and stumbling into furniture. She was already packed and ready to go. She had arranged for a private car to drive her to the Miami airport. The chauffeured ride had cost her a pretty penny, but it was worth it. The last thing she wanted to do was ask Riker to drive her. She knew that his plane didn’t leave until three that afternoon. She hastily wrote him a note on the Little Palm Island stationery.

Riker,

I booked a flight out of Miami to New York for eight thirty this morning. I wish things would’ve turned out differently. My feelings for you are strong, but you know that it’s important to me to put my career back on track. I hope that you’ll understand why I had to go.

Love,

Trista

She left the note on her side of the bed, where Riker would see it when he woke up. With tears in her eyes, she left him sleeping. She put her overnight bag on her shoulder and left the cottage. Walking down the steps of the bungalow, she saw the Key deer waiting by the porch, hoping for more apples. She smiled, remembering Riker throwing the fruit to the deer. Walking down the path to the dock and her waiting boat, she thought about the great time she had spent here with Riker. But she never looked back.

“Trista, you better hurry up if you’re going to make curtain call!” Nicolette yelled through the intercom system.

Trista was in her room putting on the finishing touches of her makeup. She had just flown in from New York. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it in time for dress rehearsals, but she had called Michelle and explained her situation. “No problem. I can cover for you. Just get home in time for opening night!” Michelle had told her over the phone. “And congratulations on the new job!”

Trista was nervous about seeing Riker again. He hadn’t called her since she left him in the Keys. When she got home last night, she told her family about the job in New York. Her father was happy. Nicolette seemed to be truly happy for her. Everyone was happy for her it seemed…except Riker.

Putting on a pair of her favorite gold hoops, Trista stood at the French doors and watched the quiet surf. She realized, as much as she loved the city, she was going to miss the peace and calm of living at the beach. And seeing Riker. She wished things had turned out differently. Even though they weren’t seeing each other anymore, she still needed to tell Nicolette about their relationship. She wanted to clear the air with her sister and try to start fresh before she moved to New York. After tonight’s performance, she planned on doing just that.

It was a full house at the Blue Mountain Beach Children’s Theatre. Trista escorted her father, Madeline, and Nicolette to the front row before she went backstage to meet with the kids. There was a nervous excitement backstage and complete pandemonium. Kids were running everywhere, some dressed in their costumes, other frantically putting on their costumes, and some going over their lines again. Trista found Michelle, who was talking to Amelia, who was one of the lead characters in the play. Already dressed in costume, Amelia was blowing her nose with a tissue.

“Amelia, are you okay?” Trista asked, looking at the child with concern.

“Amelia thinks she is coming down with a sinus infection and sore throat,” Michelle answered for her.

“I’m a little hoarse,” Amelia said. She looked cute with her blue gingham dress and brown hair in braided pigtails. A smattering of freckles dotted her nose and the top of her cheeks. Amelia reminded Trista of herself when she was that age. But nothing ever stopped her from performing in school plays. When she was ten, Trista was the lead in
Cat in the Hat
. She had a bad stomach bug the night before the play opened. She could’ve stayed home and let her understudy do her part. Instead she filled up on the pink liquid stuff and performed in the play.

“Do you feel like going on tonight?” Trista asked her.

Amelia nodded.

“Great. How about some hot tea to soothe your throat? That always helps me when I have a sore throat.” Trista grabbed Michelle by the arm and headed to the back of the stage where there were dressing rooms and a small kitchen. She put a mug of water in the microwave and pushed a button to start it.

“We go on in thirty minutes.” Michelle plucked a teabag from a box of Celestial Seasonings. “All we have is chamomile.”

“That’s good.” Trista removed the mug from the microwave and put the teabag inside.

“What’s going on with you and Riker?” Michelle asked. “I mean, I know it’s none of my business but—”

Trista froze in place. “How did you know about me and Riker?”

“It’s pretty obvious, Trista.” Michelle stirred the teabag around in the mug. “Like I said, I know it’s none of my business, but I can’t stand to see anyone get hurt.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve known Riker a long time. He’s been volunteering at the theatre for three years. I’ve never seen him unhappy. For the last two days, he’s been sulking. He hasn’t been himself. Usually you guys are inseparable around here. I haven’t seen you say two words to him tonight.” She handed the mug to Trista. “It’s about New York?”

Trista nodded. “He doesn’t want me to take the job.”

“I doubt that. I don’t think Riker would want you to hold anything back because of him.”

Trista thought about that for a moment. “I didn’t tell him about the job until after I decided to take it.” She told Michelle about her secret trip to New York. “Riker and I went to the Keys this past week, and I finally told him what was going on. He didn’t take it too well.”

“If I know Riker as well as I think I do, he is probably upset that you kept it from him. More than he is that you took the job. Do you love him?”

“Yes,” Trista answered quickly. “I do.”

“Then you need to tell him that. Nothing gets in the way of true love. Not even two thousand miles. You can make it work.”

Trista grabbed a paper towel and wrapped it around the mug. “Thanks, Michelle.”

“Now let’s get out there and give our audience a great show!”

As they walked out of the kitchen, Nicolette was standing in the hallway. Trista bumped into her and splashed some tea onto the tiled floor. “Nicolette! I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you standing there.”

“I was just coming by to wish you good luck.”

Trista wondered how long Nicolette had been standing outside the kitchen. How much did she hear?

“It doesn’t seem like you need any luck though,” Nicolette continued. “How long, Trista?”

Michelle looked over at Trista with a surprised look on her face. She took the mug out of her hands. “I’ll just take this over to Amelia.”

“I can’t talk about this right now. After the show.” Trista tried to walk away, but Nicolette grabbed her arm.

“I want to know right now! How long have you been sleeping with my boyfriend?” Nicolette’s voice grew louder as she spoke. Once she got mad, it was hard to get her to calm down. Two boys were playing in the hallway, and they both stopped and stared at the two sisters.

“I can’t believe I didn’t figure this out sooner,” Nicolette continued. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I just didn’t see it.”

“Nicolette, keep your voice down. It’s not what you think.”

Nicolette pursed her lips together in thought. She started to pace back and forth in the tight hallway. “The other night when we went to the Liars Club. Riker fixed you a drink without asking what you wanted. How did he know you liked margaritas on the rocks? No salt? Then Crazy Jack said he remembered you from the other night. That was the first night you had come in town. Did you fuck my boyfriend then? Or was it the night of his surprise party? I saw you two walking up from the beach. You were walking very close to one another. In deep conversation about something. You both tracked a lot of sand into the house. Did you fuck him that night too? After that you both started volunteering at the theatre. Lots of late nights together. Let’s not forget your attempts at setting me up with other men, like Brent, so you could have Riker to yourself.” Nicolette’s tone continued to rise with each accusation. People began to walk toward them to see what the commotion was about.

“Please lower your voice. We can’t talk about this here,” Trista said through gritted teeth.

“Tell me the truth,” Nicolette persisted. She stopped pacing and stood right in Trista’s face.

“We met the first night I came back to Florida.” Trista clenched her fists, her fingernails cutting into her palms. “I didn’t know you two were dating. I swear. And when I found out that you two knew each other…the night of the surprise party, Riker told me that you were not a couple anymore.”

“I just can’t believe this! So you
were
with Riker before the party?” Nicolette’s face turned all kinds of shades of red.

“Like I said, it was a random thing. I stopped by the Liar’s Club on my way into town. He needed a ride home. One thing led to another.”

“You’re a fucking whore,” Nicolette hissed.

“Nicolette, please.” Trista turned to the kids who had gathered just behind Nicolette and told them to go back to the stage. She turned her attention back to her sister. “It wasn’t like that. I just…”

Nicolette slapped Trista across the face. “You are not my sister! Sisters don’t betray each other like this! You’re dead to me!” She turned and stomped down the hallway.

Trista was trembling by the time she made it to the stage. Riker was talking to Michelle, and they both turned as she walked by. He started to come to her, but Trista waved him off. She rubbed her cheek, which she knew had a huge red handprint across it, and put a smile on her face.
As the saying goes, the show must go on
. Pushing Nicolette’s accusations out of her mind, she addressed everyone.

“Listen up!” Trista gathered everyone in a large circle. “This is it! Everything that we’ve worked hard for these last few weeks. Remember your lines. If you forget anything, just keep the dialogue going like we rehearsed. Help each other out when you can. Most of all, let’s have fun!”

“Okay, places everyone!” Michelle said. “We go on in two minutes!” She shot Trista a concerned look.

Trista just smiled brightly and gave Michelle a thumbs-up. She stepped off stage when the house lights started to flash off and on, signaling to the audience that the play was about to begin. She took a deep cleansing breath and said a little prayer. The curtain rose slowly. From her position at the back of the stage, she could see where her father and Madeline sat. Beside Madeline was an empty chair, where Nicolette should be. For the rest of the night, the chair was vacant.