After Rhys applied the sunscreen to her back, Heather watched him stride towards the far end of the pool, a mischievous glint in his eyes, his movements betraying a hidden agenda.
She took a deep breath, preparing to swim, unaware of his little prank, her strokes fluid and graceful.
As she reached the end of her lap, she surfaced, expecting to see an empty expanse of water, the shimmering surface reflecting the azure sky. Instead, Rhys was standing right there, a wide grin plastered on his face, his eyes sparkling with playful anticipation.
Startled, Heather inhaled sharply and accidentally swallowed a mouthful of chlorinated water, the harsh taste filling her mouth. She sputtered, coughing and gagging, her face contorting in disgust, her eyes watering.
"Ew!" she choked out, her throat stinging, her voice raspy.
"You okay?" Rhys asked, his eyes widening, a flicker of genuine worry crossing his face, his playful grin fading.
"Uh, no! You made me drink pool water," Heather retorted, her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and revulsion, her chest heaving.
Remembering the taste, she covered her mouth and gagged again, a shudder running through her. "Help me up."
The stairs were on the other side of the pool, and Heather had no desire to swim through the chlorinated depths again, the thought of it sending a shiver of disgust down her spine.
Rhys reached down, pulling her out of the pool, his grip firm and reassuring. As soon as her feet touched the tiled edge, she turned and sprinted towards their room, her wet swimsuit clinging uncomfortably to her skin, her footsteps echoing on the poolside tiles.
Rhys, a bit worried, grabbed her cover-up from the chaise lounge chair and ran after her, a mix of concern and amusement in his eyes, his footsteps quickening.
"Look at Rhys following after Heather. He looks like a father running after his child," Emmett laughed, watching the scene unfold, his voice echoing across the pool area.
The others joined in the laughter, their voices echoing across the pool area, their amusement adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.
Inside the room, Rhys stood patiently in front of the bathroom door, listening to the muffled sounds of Heather retching, the sound of water splashing against the porcelain sink. After about a minute, he heard the toilet flush, and Heather opened the door, her face slightly pale, her eyes still watering.
"You okay now?" he asked, handing her the cover-up, his voice laced with concern.
Taking the cover-up and wrapping it around herself, Heather nodded, her movements slow and deliberate. "Yeah," she said, her voice still a bit strained, her throat sore.
"But, seriously, aren't you acting a bit..." Rhys hesitated, unsure if his question would offend her, his brow furrowed in thought.
Heather glanced at him, her lips twitching into a small smile, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Overreacting?" she finished, her voice laced with a playful tone. She then opened the door and walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing on the tiled floor.
"I know. But I can't help it. I'm like this every time I accidentally drink pool water," she explained, a shudder running through her, her shoulders tensing.
"Oh," Rhys said, unsure how to respond, his eyes filled with understanding. "I see."
They walked back to the pool area, the sound of splashing water and laughter filling the air, but this time, Heather headed straight for a chaise lounge chair, grabbed her towel, and covered her damp hair before lying down, her body sinking into the soft cushions.
"Not going to swim?" Rhys asked, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with concern.
"Later. You go have some fun," Heather replied, her voice muffled by the towel, her body relaxing.
"Okay. Then I'll go ahead first," Rhys said, joining Emmett and the others at the second adult pool, his footsteps echoing on the poolside tiles.
Heather watched him go, then spotted his sunglasses lying on the other chaise lounge chair, their dark lenses gleaming in the sunlight. She grabbed them, slipping them on, the dark lenses providing a welcome shield from the sun and the prying eyes of others, a sense of anonymity washing over her.
It would have been better if I had a big hat that could cover my whole face. Should have bought one when I went to the mall last time, she thought, sinking into the cushions, her body relaxing. Perfect. Now I can finally relax.
The gentle rustling of the palm trees, the soft whisper of the breeze, and the distant chatter of the other guests lulled her into a light sleep, a sense of peace washing over her.
A while later, Rhys, having swum several laps and chatted with his bandmates, his laughter echoing across the pool, noticed Heather's absence from the pool, a sense of concern stirring within him.
He scanned the area, his gaze landing on the chaise lounge chair under the shade of a large tree, its leaves casting dappled shadows.
When he reached her, he found her fast asleep, her chest rising and falling rhythmically, her breathing soft and even. The lower left side of her cover-up had slid down, exposing her left leg to the sun, her skin glowing in the sunlight.
Rhys sighed, a mix of fondness and exasperation washing over him, a gentle smile playing on his lips. What am I going to do with you? he thought, his eyes filled with affection.
He gently adjusted her cover-up, ensuring her leg was shielded from the sun's rays, then used his dry towel as a makeshift blanket to cover her legs, protecting her delicate skin from the sun's rays.
As he was about to leave, Heather stirred, her eyes fluttering open, her lashes brushing against her cheeks. She groaned softly, stretching her limbs, her body awakening from its slumber.
A few seconds later, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her movements slow and deliberate, and noticed Rhys standing near her, his gaze soft and gentle.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Not long. I was about to go back to the guys," Rhys replied, his gaze softening, his eyes filled with warmth.
"I'll go with you," Heather said, standing up, her body feeling refreshed. She removed Rhys's sunglasses, placing them back on the chair with the towel, and followed him, her footsteps echoing on the poolside tiles.
Emmett and the others were at the second adult pool, near the kiddie pool, along with Riza's group and some producers and managers, their voices mingling with the sound of splashing water. Her uncle, Tony, was also there with baby Dave, his laughter echoing through the air.
Heather walked straight to her uncle and baby Dave, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Uncle, let me take care of Dave so you can have some fun," she said, her eyes sparkling, her voice filled with warmth.
"Are you sure?" Tony asked, handing Dave to her, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Yes," Heather replied, cradling Dave in her arms, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Where's Auntie?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe in the room?" Tony replied, his brow furrowed in thought.
Heather nodded. "I'll play with Dave at the kiddie pool."
The kiddie pool was only a few steps away, its shallow water inviting playful splashes. Heather removed her cover-up, placing it by the side, and slowly stepped into the shallow water, the cool liquid reaching her mid-thigh, a refreshing contrast to the warm air.
She carefully sat Dave down on the second step, keeping a watchful eye on him, her movements gentle and deliberate. Dave giggled, splashing his hands in the water, sending droplets flying, his laughter echoing through the air.
Heather laughed, playfully splashing him back, her laughter mingling with his. The sound of their laughter mingled with the gentle lapping of the water, creating a soothing melody, a symphony of joy.
The producers and managers watched Heather and Dave, their expressions softening, their eyes filled with warmth.
"She's really good with Dave," one of the managers commented to Tony, his voice laced with admiration.
"Yes, he's definitely taken a liking to her," Tony replied, his voice filled with affection, his eyes filled with pride. "You guys should have seen him when Heather was staying at the GY Hotel."
"Why, what happened?" asked one of the producers, his curiosity piqued.
"Well... there were times when we couldn't make him stop crying. And whenever we visited Heather at the hotel and it was time to go home, he wouldn't let go of her," Tony chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. "You would have thought Heather was his mother and we were the babysitters."
They all laughed, sharing stories of their own children's attachments, their voices filled with warmth and nostalgia.
"Well, that happens," said another manager. "That also happened with my youngest daughter. She was so attached to her eldest sister, always following her around and would cry whenever her sister left the house."
Some of those with kids agreed with the manager, sharing their own experiences, while those without kids nodded in understanding, their eyes filled with empathy.
When Heather heard Dave's stomach growl, she laughed, her eyes sparkling with affection.