A Lesson in Passion (2 page)

The drive to the airport was uneventful. With
the 202 clear straight to their exit, it only took minutes to get
there. They decided to park off site since Ginny had a coupon. Lisa
was always amused by Ginny's cheapness. Lisa liked to live in the
moment, where Ginny was a planner and saver. Again, it was a wonder
they were such good friends, but they shared some pretty hairy
moments growing up that cemented their relationship.

On the shuttle to the airport, Lisa kept
talking about her latest failure in the romance department. It was
always refreshing to know that Ginny wasn't the only one who
couldn't hold onto a lover for very long.

“She was so clingy. And she always
insisted on making the bed. Who gives a crap if the bed is made or
not. I'm just going to mess it up later that night
anyway!”

“I don't know what to tell you and
I'm certainly not the one to go to for advice on love. Oh, and I
never make my bed either,” Ginny said.

“Good for you. Let's make a vow,
right here and now to never make our beds!” Lisa stated
triumphantly while holding her hand over heart.

“Here, here! To never making our
beds and to not settling for crappy relationships!” Ginny dutifully
placed her hand over her heart as well.

“Let's just try to see how many
times we can get laid in one week while on vacation. Do you
remember your special name?” Lisa asked referring to their secret
identities for lustful one night stands. Not that Ginny had ever
had the chance to use the name, nor could she even remember the
last time she'd had sex.

“Was it Lola?” Ginny
asked.

“I was Lola because it was close to
Lisa. You were Penny,” Lisa said.

“I don't like Penny. I want
something new and exotic. How about Sheila?” Ginny asked, trying to
keep a straight face.

“Sheila, huh? You kind of look like
a Sheila,” Lisa stated matter-of-factly.

“What exactly does a 'Sheila' look
like?” Ginny wondered aloud.

*
*
*

They arrived at the airport and checked in
their luggage, then waited for twenty-five minutes in the Post 9/11
TSA party zone. Ginny always worried that Lisa would do something
to get them pulled aside and strip searched. Once she asked Lisa if
she would request a male officer to search her so she wouldn't get
turned on during the search.

After arriving at the gate with thirty minutes
to spare, Lisa went off to buy some magazines and a snack. Ginny
gave her money for a bottle of water. While Lisa is gone, Ginny
pulled out one of the novels Holly gave her.

Desire in the Highlands
was the first one she grabbed. She was reading it
as Lisa walked back with her booty.

“What... the hell... is that?” she
asked, spotting the overly sexy couple on the cover.

“Holly's idea of relationship
advice. She thinks that these will cure my desire to be alone. I
will never again find something wrong with any man,” Ginny replied
tartly.

Lisa just stared at her. Ginny knew she had a
litany of things to say on the subject of Holly and the “perfect
marriage,” but decided that it was better to refrain. She knew that
Holly was a close friend of Ginny's, although she couldn't figure
out why.

“I understand why Holly reads
those, but I never took you for a 'romance novel' type.”

“I forgot to pick up something else
and these were free,” Ginny knew what was coming next.

“You make a good salary, Gin, you
can pluck down ten dollars for a goddamn book that won't embarrass
me on this trip.”

“These embarrass you? Oh, well, now
I'm going to read the whole lot while basking on the beach next to
you,” Ginny was really enjoying this. “Anyone who asks is going to
hear that you authored them.”

“You suck so bad!” Lisa was not
someone you wanted as an enemy. Her ability to humiliate and shock
was way out Ginny's league.

Not long after, the airline announced
boarding. Off to the perfect beach vacation. Ginny couldn't
wait!

• * Chapter 2 *
  

Ginny had never been to Jamaica before and
Lisa swore that the resort was both beautiful and boasted the best
nightlife. They arrived at Montego Bay without any issues only to
be carted onto a bus for their resort in Negril. This was probably
one of the most harrowing bus rides in her life. Much of the road
was along a high cliff above beautiful crystal blue water.
Unfortunately, some of this same road was practically one lane, so
the bus driver would honk to let any other traffic know he was
coming. Ginny wondered what would happen if the other traffic
didn't hear their warning.

It took nearly three hours to reach their
resort. The ride could be both breathtaking and heartbreaking. The
views of the ocean and high cliffs were incredible, a real
testament to God. That was overshadowed by the extreme poverty of
some of the small towns along the way. When the bus would stop for
a red light, people would crowd the bus to sell their wares or
children would beg for money. Ginny, always the champion of the
underdog, immediately would buy something and turn around and give
some change to the kids.

Lisa could never understand how Ginny would
fight over being overcharged fifty cents at the grocery store, but
then turn around and give anything she had to anyone who would ask.
Lisa had to admit it was one of the things she loved best about her
friend, even if she didn't get it.

Finally at the resort, Ginny and Lisa were
ready for a shower and dinner. It was an all-inclusive resort,
including unlimited alcohol. They both had plans to let their hair
down and meet as many interesting individuals as
possible.

The resort was impressive. The lobby was
filled with all Caribbean colonial furniture, dark woods,
elaborately ornate with colorful cushions. A large counter, located
on the left side of the lobby, was staffed with three hotel workers
waiting to assist the large bus load of passengers. Ginny and Lisa
walked over in the hopes of securing their room key as soon as
possible.

Brenda, the first available front desk
employee they reached, was a dark skinned beauty with her hair
pulled severely back in a bun. Both Lisa and Ginny were admiring
her smooth, flawless skin and incredible white teeth, although for
different reasons. She kept stealing glances at Lisa and Ginny
began to wonder if after only five minutes at the resort, Lisa
already had a love interest.

With key in hand, they followed the detailed
directions to their room.

"Damn, you work fast," Ginny said with both
annoyance and admiration.

"What are you talking about? I was just
admiring her beauty. Don't tell me you've never admired a pretty
boy face before."

"Of course I have. But I never seem to have a
shot of 'admiring' said face up close and personal," Ginny
laughed.

"What can I say: when you got it, you got it!"
Lisa said with her usual smirk.

The room was the usual, with a lot of
Caribbean flare. The beds were covered in brightly colored and
flowered bed spreads, and floral prints adorned every wall. The
bathroom was utilitarian, with one of those underpowered hairdryers
and small vanity that would barely accommodate one girl's stuff,
let alone two. The best part was the balcony overlooking the ocean.
It cost them extra, but waking up and being able to hear the ocean
and enjoy the view seemed worth it.

Ginny stepped out and inhaled the salty air
and listened to a steel drum band playing in the distance. She
really needed this vacation. She had been putting in extra hours
and covering for some of the other PA's lately and needed to
deflate. Ginny was scanning the beach for some potential love
interests when a banner caught her eye: Welcome Gay and Lesbian
Alliance Members.

Ginny had been to many resorts that were
hosting conferences for certain groups. She began to wonder how
many non-gay vacationers would be around. Lisa joined her on the
balcony, wearing a towel from her quick shower.

“Lisa, this resort isn't only
hosting the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, is it?” Ginny could care less
about a person's sexual orientation, but would like to meet guys
who liked boobs.

“Of course not.” Lisa said. “My
friend Ted told me about this and said that he only knew a handful
of people coming.”

Ginny covered her head in her hands. “Does Ted
know every gay man and woman who like vacationing in the
Caribbean?”

“Relax... I'm sure there will be
plenty of straight available guys around. You'll be even more
sought after with all the unavailable women around,” Lisa said with
a smile.

*
*
*

Well, as it turns out, the entire resort was
hosting the Gay and Lesbian Alliance. As Ginny and Lisa walked by
the beach to check out the party, there wasn't a straight
vacationer to be seen. Lisa, who is quite adept at picking straight
from gay, couldn't find one single heterosexual male in the crowd.
While Lisa was gone checking with the hotel management, Ginny went
to the bar and ordered a beer.

Ginny wasn't really that disappointed. After
all, she was at a beautiful resort, with unlimited alcohol and
incredible views. She didn't really expect to meet anyone special
anyway. Ginny could make the best of it and still have a good time
dancing and partying and sunning herself.

“Well, I checked with management.
It seems that the entire resort was booked by the GLA. I'm so
sorry, Gin. I really had no idea,” Lisa was clearly
upset.

“Don't sweat it, Lisa. There are
worse places to be and not have any available men around. I can
still party and drink and lay on the beach,” Ginny put on her best
“who gives a damn” smile.

“Gin, you're the best. If you want,
I'll pretend we're together and we can both be celibate this
week.”

“No way. At the very least, I
intend to rip apart your choice in mate. Don't take that away from
me!” Ginny said looking around at the potential.

“You may want to do a little
experimenting this week. You never know what lurks in your psyche,”
Lisa was always jokingly trying to recruit Ginny to play for the
other team, but alas, you can't chose your sexual
orientation.

“Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick
with the stick,” Ginny said eliciting a face from Lisa.

“How do you deal with that
thing!”

The night was, from Ginny's point of view,
very interesting. There were people from all over the US and the
world. Ginny was talking to a group of guys from Portugal. They
were very excited not to be judged and to let their hair down. They
found it very funny that Ginny was not gay and spending the week at
the resort.

Dinner was quite an affair. There was a huge
buffet set up in the main dining room. Long tables with everything
from fish to chicken to goat were laid out in huge chafing dishes.
There were rice and pasta dishes as well as an enormous array of
desserts. Cakes, pudding, cookies, and fruit tarts were arranged on
the last table in the line. Ginny realized that she would have to
work very hard not to gain an enormous amount of weight.

Ginny filled up her plate and sat next to Lisa
at a big round table that seated ten. Immediately, Lisa introduced
Ginny as her “straight” friend who was very understanding. Ginny
smiled embarrassingly as the others at the table said how great she
was to be such a good friend.

The table was mostly women, with one male
couple to balance the estrogen. The conversation mostly revolved
around their real lives, occupations and hobbies. One woman, who
was drop dead gorgeous with long blond hair and clear blue eyes,
was telling the group about her work with troubled teenagers. Ginny
watched her as she spoke. The woman was clearly exaggerating her
perfection, so it was easy not to like her. It was even easier not
to like her if she wasn't exaggerating. Ginny just sat and listened
as she ate her dinner.

Ginny dug into her buffet feast. She decided
that if she couldn't suck face with someone she would either later
forget or want to forget, she could at least try some of the local
cuisine. She chose “some kind of stew” with meat that she couldn't
identify. It was actually quite tasty and not at all gamey. She
finished it up, along with various side dishes and two
desserts.

After dinner, Lisa and Ginny went to the dance
club. The alcohol was flowing and the music was blaring. Ginny
could feel herself beginning to unwind as she got up often to dance
to her “favorite song.” In other words, anything with a beat. Lisa
was already mingling heavily, but would often join Ginny to dance.
Ginny had always loved music. Her parents brought her up in Classic
Rock, her older siblings had her grooving to all things 80's, and
she had recently acquired a taste for alternative. One thing she
couldn't stomach was anything by those lip syncing artists:
Brittany Spears, Christina Aguillera, those annoying boy bands and
especially any singer chosen on American Idol.

Of course, after several shots of “whatever,”
one could dance to anything, look foolish, and still have a great
time. Ginny was getting funky to some kind of rap, when a couple of
guys began sandwiching her in between them. Ginny hardly noticed
and cared even less. She could not be stopped. She finally had to
sit down or fall down.