Liv is justas surprised about Gabby’s breakfast sandwich as I was.
“Thank god your sister doesn’t hate me anymore. I was starving. And this is delicious.”
“Yeah, she’s a really good cook. I don’t know what I would eat if we didn’t live together,” I reply.
“You’d live off wine and cheese like I do,” Liv offers, a wide smile stretching from her lips. Last night was the third time we’ve shared wine and cheese together. She calls it “girl dinner,” whatever that means.
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” And it doesn’t, if it always includes her.
“So tell me what I need to know about flying with you,” she says, turning to me in the back of the car. “You take medicine, right?”
This catches me off guard, but I guess I did tell her about my motion sickness a couple weeks ago. The truth is that I get migraines. I can’t tell if they make the motion sickness worse or if it’s the motion sickness that sets off the migraines. Either way, it isn’t pretty.
I don't love the idea of Liv seeing me in my weakest state, but with a four-hour flight ahead of us, I don’t have much choice.
“It’s no big deal,” I lie, wanting to downplay it as much as I can. “I have some pills I’ll take before we leave that help a lot.But they make me pretty sleepy so don’t be surprised if I zonk out right away.”
“I can handle that,” she says with a cheery expression. I definitely appreciate the optimism.
Maybe Liv hassome magical powers because the flight does go well. I sleep the whole time and only wake up once to find myself leaning on her shoulder. This medicine knocks me out hard. I really hope I didn’t drool.
I’m still drowsy as hell when we get off the plane in Puerto Vallarta, and we still have another hour ride to the resort in Punta Mita. I’m not looking forward to more moving vehicles, but at least the medicine is still doing its thing.
My van nap is woken up by my favorite voice and a squeeze to my bicep. “We’re here.”
Liv helps drag me out of the van and we enter the nicest resort I’ve ever seen. It looks like our budget went up from last year. The St. Regis lobby mimics a tropical castle more than a hotel, and we’re all handed freshly made margaritas while we wait to check in.
After a few sips, she nudges me. “Do you mind if I go find a bathroom while you check in?” She starts bouncing with her legs squeezed together. “I really gotta go.”
I laugh and let her know it’s no problem. And moments after she escapes, I’m called to the front desk.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Scott,” the receptionist says, eyeing my passport. “I see you’ve requested a room with two queens.”
I hear someone snicker behind me and turn to find Ian and Vaughn. “Guess someone’s not getting laid,” Vaughn mumbles to Ian, but it’s more than loud enough for everyone around us to hear.
Turning back to the front desk, I loudly say, “There must be some confusion. I called to confirm that we had a king bed.”
“No, Mr. Scott. I have the notes right here and it says?—”
“Your notes must be wrong.” I feel like an asshole right now, but Ian and Vaughn are still giggling behind me like a couple of high school mean girls. I think about switching to Spanish, trying to explain the situation, but with all of Ian’s fancy degrees I wouldn’t be surprised if he could understand me.
“I’m sorry sir. I’m sure we can accommodate the change. Just let me get a manager.”
By the time Liv gets back I’ve secured a room with one bed, as well as a free upgrade to their beachfront villa with a private pool—for the trouble they caused.
I really am an asshole.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, as we leave the main building. There’s no tower at this hotel, just tons of winding paths to take you to your villa. Since ours is right on the beach it’s the furthest away.“Wow, this place is beautiful,” she adds, distracted by the views.
“Well, I’m glad you think so. I got us an upgrade, one of their nicest suites.”
“Really? You’re awesome.” She nudges my shoulder. “But how?”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
We find our villa and itisawesome. The entire thing is an indoor-outdoor space with a full living room and separate bedroom. The bathroom is massive with a deep soaking tub and oversized shower and looks fancy as hell with marble tile everywhere.
The living space opens straight into the private pool which faces the ocean, and there’s an enclosed outdoor shower as well.
