I glanced at him and forced a smile. I wasn’t sure I liked him much. He had made several comments about my body that embarrassed me. “Thanks,” I said, standing up.
“That’s a nice view,” he said as I turned my back to him. I cringed at the idea of him staring at my bottom.
I didn’t respond or react. It was best just to ignore Chad’s comments. I headed for the break room where I had left my lunch box this morning. I had been here for three hours, but I was starving.
When I walked around the corner into the staff-only section, I heard footsteps behind me. Glancing back, I saw Tripp and stopped short. What was he doing?
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” I replied, but it sounded like I was asking a question. Which I kind of was.
“You on break?” he asked.
I nodded, still not sure why he had followed me.
“You have something to put on over your suit?”
I nodded again.
This time, he grinned. “Put it on, and let’s go eat.”
Let’s go eat. He wanted to eat. With me. “OK,” I said obediently. Like I was going to say no to this.
“I’ve already got a pizza waiting for us and a reserved room. I handled that when I got here.”
Oh, wow. OK. I reached into the bag on my shoulder and pulled out my cover-up and put it on. “Ready,” I said, and he held out his hand.
“Come on. I’m starving. I know you have to be.”
Again, I just nodded. I was so confused.
Tripp led me to the back entrance of the pool café and to a back room reserved for private parties. One table was set with a pizza and two drinks waiting for us.
“I just got regular Coke. If you want something else, just let me know, and I’ll have Crystal get it. She’s the one who set this up for me.”
“Coke is good,” I replied, stupidly.
“Did I take you away from lunch plans?” he asked, looking concerned.
I was acting like an idiot. I needed to snap out of this. I shook my head. “No. I was going to eat in the break room. I packed a lunch, but it’s just a turkey sandwich and an apple. This is so much better.”
Tripp grinned again and pulled out a chair for me. “Good.”
I sat down, and he took the chair across from me. “How’s the job going?” he asked, reaching for a piece of pizza and putting it on my plate.
I was beginning to think I may have passed out from heat stroke and this was some crazy dream I’d worked up. “I, uh, it’s OK. I mean, I like it.”
Tripp got a piece of pizza and put it on his plate. “I was right about the suit. You make it look good.”
I blushed and ducked my head to hide my stupid reaction.
“Been to any wild parties this week?” he asked in a teasing tone.
I laughed and shook my head. “No. It’s all work and no play,” I told him, and picked up the pizza. It smelled delicious, and my stomach was now growling.
“I left off the olives. I love olives, but I wasn’t sure you liked them,” he said as he watched me take a bite. I wouldn’t admit it, but I would have eaten anything he put on this pizza. Just because he got it for me. No guy had ever bought me food before.
“I like olives,” I said after I swallowed.