The guest of honor.

Emma returned to Robyn and Larry with ciders for the girls and a beer for Larry. She too was able to make out Derek’s arrival.

“God! He’s so fucking hot,” Emma practically drooled over the professional surfer as she was being set upon by a hoard of well-wishers.

Robyn just arching her eyebrow to Larry over Emma’s comment and Robyn’s previous statement.

As the surfer continued pressing the flesh with people in the crowd, Larry excused himself from Robyn saying, “I’ll be back in a moment. I’ve just got to see about a few things.”

“Come, Rob, let's see if we can go and talk to him,” Emma said to her friend.

Robyn didn’t like their chances. Derek Britedeck was surrounded by a near-impenetrable wall of adoring fans already, plus his management team was ensuring that only the most import of VIP’s got to say more than a few words to him. “Eer, I’m not so sure Em. He’s already got people all over him.”

Still, Robyn knew how much it would mean to Emma so they did their best to join in with the rest of the crowd. Just as Robyn suspected they only succeeded in being jostled so that they didn’t get within ten feet of him.

It was just as Robyn had been ‘accidentally’ elbowed in the boob by a tall model looking women, Robyn was almost certain it wasn’t anywhere near an accident, that she felt a firm pull on her shoulder. Feeling harassed Robyn spun around ready to lash out if it was another ‘skank’ trying to mess with her only to see if was Larry signalling, she should step away from the crowd. Robyn held out her hand for Emma pulling her over to Larry as well, the disappointment clear on Emma’s face.

“It’s no use. We’ll never get through that crowd,” Emma said with a sign.

“Just have a watch,” Larry said cryptically.

The girls watched as a nerdy-looking guy with a camera approached one of Derek’s entourage. The spoke for a brief minute before the manager inserted himself into the crowd and got Derek’s ear. Unbelievably, they saw as Derek thanked the crowd for their time and heading in the direction of the photographer. Linking up with the cameraman the group made a beeline for Robyn and Emma.

“Derek,” the manager explained for his talent, “we’ve got the winner of the amateur women’s surf competition as well as the joint winners of the bikini competition. Surfer magazine wanted to get some pictures of you all together. Derek, meet Emma and Robyn.”

Robyn felt like her heart was going a million beats per second so she could only guess at what Emma’s must be doing at the moment.

“Congratulations on your wins girls,” Derek said speaking to the two of them.

“Thank you,” Robyn said in return when she realised Emma had lost the ability to talk.

The handsome surfer developing a small smirk at the tongue-tied Emma. “And you won the amateurs as well?” he said the words to Robyn but his eyes were very much on Emma.

“Yes,” Robyn said coyly, her words almost deserting her that a professional would be interested in something she did.

“Well, I might see you on the pro tour one day.”

Did you hear that!

The photographer stepped forward then after their introductions, “ok if I can get you with your date,” indicating Robyn and Larry, “and Derek, why don’t you get in close with her. We can get a couple of photos of all four of you together.”

Robyn and Larry linked their arms around each other’s waist as Derek and Emma did the same. Larry, Robyn, Derek and Emma. All four of them in the pictures together. Two and twos together as couples. Robyn was all smiles standing between Larry and Derek, her hand sliding back to grab hold of Larry’s butt as they possessed for the camera. In between picture’s Robyn could see that Derek was leaning down to whisper something quietly in Emma’s ear for just her to hear.

The photographer got the photos he wanted before asking for one more of just the two girls and Derek, Larry happy to step away to the side for the three surfers to get a photo taken together.

The whole process taking only a couple of minutes but it was one Robyn and, certainly, Emma would remember for the rest of their lives.

Afterwards, the three of them really began to let their hair down at the cocktail party. Several more drinks flowed and the DJ got the crowd jumping. Derek and his crew remained for approximately ten more minutes before having to leave for another sponsor commitment that night. Larry protested he couldn’t dance but the combined pleading of both girls got him out of the dance floor until he coated in perspiration. When he broke off from them saying he needed some water Robyn continued dancing with her best friend.

Robyn hugged her close feeling so incredibly alive. She’d been dying to ask Emma what Derek had said to her and had waited until Larry was gone to find out.

“So, what was it Derek was whispering to you?” Robyn asked, holding Emma tight so she could hear over the loud music.

“Nothing!” Emma said with a massive grin on her face.

“You are such a lying tart!” Robyn told her.

“Well if you must know he said he’d wished he’d seen me in the bikini,” Emma began.

“Your wearing one now,” Robyn retorted. They both were from the hotel’s boutique shop.

“Yeah but not the winning one,” Emma’s eyes twinkling before she continued, “and if I wanted to show it to him later, he gave me his room number!”

“Oh my God! You're going to fuck him, aren’t you?”

“Any way shape I can!” Emma confirmed.

“You’re such a slut!” Robyn teased as she spun Emma around on the dancefloor.

“Like you aren’t thinking of doing the same thing with Larry tonight. This way you get the room to yourself to do whatever you want.”

As they had talked Larry was returning with two bottles of water.

“Oh, I’ll be needing that,” Emma said talking the water from him before saying goodnight to Robyn and then Larry.

“She’s leaving?” Larry asked Emma as she walked off from the cocktail party.

“Yeah she’s got another party to go to tonight,” Robyn said. A party in Derek’s pants.

“Oh. Are you leaving too?” Larry asked. Robyn could tell he was disappointed by the idea.

Robyn needed to give Emma a little bit of time to get ready before heading upstairs herself. “I could stay for a bit longer if I had someone to keep me company.”