Chapter One: Ellie

Chapter One: Ellie

As a military brat, drug all over God’s green earth every ninety days or less, I abhor traveling. The first few times I really remember going to far off places, it felt like an adventure, but the older I got….

Well, the more it sucked. Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing to see wonders of the world, but for me, the process of getting there is about a bitch with my motion sickness.

I know that the only reason Annette insisted we take a train was because I’d said that it was the one way I’d never traveled in the past. No way am I going to correct or complain to a woman who granted me my first real vacation in what seemed like years.

Annette is a family friend, and she and her husband have always been close with my parents. I don’t dissect or judge the relationship they had, but in some ways it does make me feel a bit…. divided.

See, my parents were swingers. Meaning that Anton would sleep with my mom and Annette would sleep with my dad whenever they swapped. We met at a summer club, that both our families attended each year.

I can say I understand the alternative lifestyle logically, but never could accept it emotionally. I am far too jealous a person. What’s mine is mine.

However, many people in the community swear by it and are happier than most ‘vanilla’ couples I’ve ever met.

I could probably talk for hours about what goes on behind closed doors in any relationship, but not my monkey, not my circus. In so many ways, being raised the way I was improved me as a person. In others, it has made me completely oblivious.

Believe it or not, the environment is a super close-knit community. Perhaps more protective of children than any other. There were sports, social events, and every other amenity you’d find in any other family themed country club to do.

What was less normal was the after hours click no one under twenty-one was invited to, where the debaucherous parts of the lifestyle happened.

I also know that at close to thirty, I’m no longer protected in that realm, and where we are going there are no family-friendly games. Indulge is no country club.

It's a clothing optional Hede resort with sex, sex, and more sex. I worked in a nudist setting for a long while during college. Even if clothes were optional for the staff, I'm numb enough to it that nudity doesn't equate to sex anymore.

The bare human body is all how you perceive it. I also have come to appreciate the wild feel of walking outdoors or swimming without a stitch of clothes on.

The other, more reserved part of me is still nervous and shaky about taking this on. I know all I have to say thank you for your interest, but I'm not interested.

Redundant, but still the polite way to turn people down. Believe me if there were any other rooms available on the entire island, I'd be staying in one of those.

The main reason I'm going is because my brother-in-law wants to expand our real estate ventures in the Keys, and this is the only time I have to make such an extended trip.

After making the initial offer to come with them, Annette guaranteed me there would be a ton of what they jokingly called competition that I wouldn't be bothered unless I wanted to be.

It is worth it to be as far away as possible from the prick I gave my rebounding heart and the last two years of my life to. The other part of the equation, and a forget the asshole gift.

Fucked up as it sounds, part of me agreed to this for the hopeful ego boost I might get after my lying, cheating, sleeze-ball of an ex left me for a toddler.

Lyrin may be eighteen, but not all the girls Ben hit on behind my back were. I appreciated that Ben and I got along. Had so many similar interests. We could talk and spend time, so him having ‘E.D.’ was something I tried to respect.

At least until I caught the thirty five-year-old man sleeping with teenagers when he was supposed to be watching my son….

Adding insult to injury, the only cheap apartments in the area where I was renting when I left him, happened to be the only thing in the new couple's budget, since Ben's father cut him off.

I never thought I had self-esteem issues until him.

No, I’m not gorgeous, but I’m a nice average who can clean up well. It was bad enough for me, but having my son Danny in the mix…..

Not the pervert’s thank goodness.

Unfortunately, I lost Danny’s father in a motorcycle accident before I even knew I was pregnant. His family has been amazing and still considers me part of theirs.

They are aware of my parents’ lifestyle, and don't judge. Still, it's something we all keep from their mother. Well, everyone really. I may have needed the money getting through school, but as an elementary school teacher in a tiny community, it's not like I could go there even if I were interested.

My parents, though no longer with Anton and Annette, remain friendly. So when they happened into the club I was working part-time at to get my teaching degree, it felt like a reunion of sorts.

So me being completely oblivious to the fact that the hugest event of the naked people’s year landed on the time I carved out had Annette offering me a room at hers and Anton’s hotel.

One that we’ve finally gotten to, and I’m trying not to drop my jaw at.

My parents were middle class, well off, but Anton and Annette….. Billionaires. Obviously, by the welcome packet, if not the grand entrance itself, making me wonder if I’m walking into a hotel or palace.

The two of them are close enough to me, but do have a separate space from my all-inclusive suite. “This is incredible,” I reach out to the curly haired woman for a hug. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re the daughter I always wanted,” the beautiful six-foot something redhead squeezes me close. I know Annette's been through her own share of ups and downs since we reconnected.

The kid I used to ‘babysit’, during our parent’s out evenings, was probably my best, if not only, real friend until eighteen when I could stop moving.

To hear that Dom has completely cut Annette out of his and his child’s life for some gold digger. Yeah. Not happy about that. I realize I haven’t seen Dominic in years, but we did chat in passing on social media or through our families.

Being honest, even as a teenager, Dominic made more sense to me than people my age. We spent hours playing card games and talking about everything in life.

Then he went the way of drugs, both of us stopped going to the club, and that was that I guess.

I’ll still ring his ear if I ever see him again.

Reconnecting like we did, in some ways, Annette's closer to me than my own mom. Well, geographically speaking. Both of them have been included in the drama, I've dealt with the past five years like I have theirs.

I can only hope that when Dad finally retires, they'll be closer to me.

And yes.

That the four of them will get back together again. They were happy, and we felt like family. It's probably weird to other people, but as possessive as I can be, I don't judge love in all its shapes, types, and sizes.