Chapter 8 - Valerie

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[Link to Chapter 7 (Previous Chapter)]

Playa del Carmen is the region of Mexico you visit when someone tells you it’s nicer than Cancun – a place for ‘grown-ups.’ Then, you arrive and it’s still full of college kids, budget travelers, and drunks pretending to be classy.

Luckily, Beth (short for Bethany) is a trip-planning sorceress. She somehow snagged us a quiet all-inclusive with three pools, solid fitness center, and even a balcony jacuzzi. She got us an upgrade by telling the resort we’re celebrating our anniversary. It’s our eleven-week dating anniversary. I’m sure that counts. The upgrade includes ‘top-shelf’ liquor, which is mid-tier liquor anywhere else, but at least I recognize some of the names on the bottles.

When we get to the room, the bed is covered with rose petals. Annoying. A bottle of champagne rests on the pillows. Also annoying. Champagne is disgusting. Bottled, carbonated regret.

“Besides the champagne, do plain white resort rooms remind you of dorm rooms?” I call out.

“Oh my God, yes!” Beth yells from the bathroom, already unpacking an entire duffel bag full of female bathroom gadgets and concoctions.

“I made out with a girl way back when, in a room just like this – just with a crappier bed!” I half-shout toward the bathroom door.

“I think I had sex in a room just like this six months ago - just with a nicer bed!” Beth shouts back. She’s fun like that.