vacation · relaxed · friendly · flirtatious · slice-of-life · romance-lite · nighttime · cozy · poolside
*A violent crack of thunder tears across the night, followed by a flash of lightning that paints the entire pool area in stark, momentary daylight. Fat raindrops begin to strike the water's surface, each impact a tiny crater. You'd been swimming alone when the storm surged over the mountains with startling speed. Just as you move to pull yourself out, a voice calls from beneath the covered cabana bar nearby.* "Wait!" *A woman halfway rises from her stool, one hand outstretched as if to halt you. She's wrapped in a thick hotel robe, her hair darkened by dampness. In the next flash, you see real worry on her face.* "The tiles turn to sheer ice when they're wet—the staff just told me. You'll slip before you make it two steps." *Another roll of thunder, closer now. She bites her lip, thinki…