Chapter 2

For the first time in my life, I'm glad that I'm not working. I pick up the phone and call Vaughn.

"Hello?"

"Joey's Pizza," I say sarcastically.

"Ha ha ha. Very funny." He replies.

"Guess what?"

"What?"

"We're going to Santa Barbara for the week."

Vaughn doesn't reply.

"Hello?" I ask, drumming my finger on the counter top, waiting for a reply.

"Are you kidding?" He asks. I can't tell whether he is shocked or sarcastic.

"No I'm not. Francie made the reservations last night to the Montecito Inn. We have two suites. One for us and one for them."

"I can't wait!"

"Good. We're leaving tomorrow morning at 9. Come by my apartment."

"How are we gonna get there?"

"In style."

* * *

I stood outside of my apartment, tapping my foot, and waiting for Vaughn to come. I saw a black car drive up and stop on the curb and saw him get out.

"Hey gorgeous!" He called to me.

I ran into his arms and gave him a kiss. "Hey handsome!"

You get me

When nobody understands

You come and take the chance, baby

You get me

You look inside my wild mind

Never knowing what you'll find

And still you want me all the time

Yeah, you do

Yeah, you get me

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I led him up to the front door of my apartment.

"Do you realize that this will be the first time I will set foot in your apartment?"

"Yeah I do."

I opened the door. There wasn't much of a surprise for me. He took a long time looking around the living room and kitchen.

"So this is where you live?"

"Yeah. This is where I live."

I put my arms around him and drew him into a kiss. A few seconds later, I heard a noise behind me. I pulled away from him to see Will and Francie standing behind us, watching.

"Michael, we've been caught!" I said mischievously.

He grinned as we pulled apart. "Guys," I said to Will and Francie. "This is Michael. We work at the bank together."

"Nice to meet you!" Francie said, vigorously shaking his hand.

"You too!" Vaughn said.

Will stepped up next. "Hey!" He said, winking. I knew that they already knew each other from work that Will did for Vaughn on Project Christmas.

"You guys ready?" I called, breaking the silence.

All three of them nodded.

"Good. Our ride's gonna be here any minute."

Will and Vaughn grabbed all of the luggage and headed out the door.

"You're right." Francie said.

"I'm right? About what?" I asked.

"He's hot cute. Definitely not goofy cute!"

I giggled. I remember that I told her about Michael a few months ago, and said that he was hot cute, not goofy cute. Somebody who is goofy cute, would be Marshall, He's cute in a goofy sort of way. Michael, he's definitely hot cute. Very hot.

Vaughn jogged in. "Syd, there's a limo outside. The guy says that he's picking us up."

"Yeah. That would be our ride." I pulled out a 100 dollar bill from my wallet. "Can you go give this to him? Please?" I gave him the puppy eyes.

"Oh alright!" He quickly kissed me and ran back out the door.

"He calls you Syd?"

I glared at Francie then smiled. "Race ya out to the limo!"

I ran out the door, closing it and locking it after me. I looked over at Francie, who already had a good head start. I ran as fast as I could to try and catch up with her, but she already got to the limo.

"Darn it!" I cried sliding in next to Vaughn.

"So what are we gonna do once we get there?" Vaughn asked, pulling me closer.

"I dunno. Let's go hit the beach!"

Will pulled out four cans of soda as the car began to move.

"Ok!" Francie cried, opening her soda. "I can use my new bikini!"

"I'd like that!" Will said, his eyes dancing mischievously.

"I bet you would!" Francie replied, socking him in the arm.

I lay my head on Vaughn's shoulder, breathing in his cologne.

"Did you know I love you?" I asked.

"Yeah. It was kinda obvious!" He laughed, planting a kiss on my forehead. "Did you know I love you?"

I laughed and put my arm around his shoulder.

We all laughed and talked on the way there. Once we got to the hotel, we unloaded our luggage and took it up to our rooms. Will and Francie were sharing a suite and Vaughn and I were sharing one. I had one room and he had the other.

I quickly changed into my red bikini and stuffed sunscreen, sunglasses, a novel, my cell phone, and a towel into my beach bag. I went over to Vaughn's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" He called.

I opened the door to see him standing there in a white tank top and a green, white and black swimsuit.

"Red is really your color."

"Thanks! And green is yours!"

"Should we go?" Vaughn offered his arm to me.

"Yeah! Let's go find the others so we can hit the beach!"