“Yeah.”
“Because it isn’t. Beth, this is a nudist resort.”
“What?!” I screamed.
“I thought you knew that. THAT’S the reason I didn’t bother asking you at first.”
A light went off in my brain. “And THAT’S the reason Brenda didn’t want to come, right?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Why would you think I would want to come?” We were still driving forward and I wanted Pete desperately to put it in reverse.
“I didn’t think you would want to come, Beth. I just said that.”
“But I had no idea this place was a nudist resort! You didn’t tell me!”
“I told you it was Autumn Springs. Everyone in the damn state knows Autumn Springs is a nudist resort. It’s legend.”
Dan and Frank stayed quiet but were obviously entertained by the conversation. I guess, as lawyers, they knew when to shut up and just watch things unfold. “Pete, I moved here like two years ago and I had no idea what this place is. You have to go back!” The very idea of being naked in front of my colleagues terrified me. I could state a thousand reasons why, from professional to personal. “Now!”
Pete glanced over to Dan and Frank who were still being unresponsive. He wasn’t going to get any more support from them than I was. “Uh, Beth, I am not driving us all the way back. You can stay in the cabin or something.”
“Pete, why didn’t you realize? I mean, why would I pack a whole damn suitcase full of clothes if we didn’t need them?”
“I have no idea what you packed! And everyone else had bags, too.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Come on, I can’t go to a nudist resort with you guys! I don’t want to see that!”
“Well, that’s rather insulting,” said Dan, finally chipping in.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “It’s just… it’s, well… you know. It’s not something I’m comfortable with.”
“Don’t get naked then,” scoffed Frank. “I mean, what’s the point of being at this resort if you don’t take part?”
“Uh, maybe because I had no idea it was a nudist resort!” I screamed. I tapped Peter again. “Come on, man. You need to take me back… or let me take the car back! I’ll drop you off and pick you up Monday morning.”
“No, Beth. I sincerely apologize for not providing more details, but I didn’t even think to. It’s an understandable mistake. As I said, if you’re uncomfortable, stay in the cabin.”
“Fine,” I huffed. “I know I won’t be getting naked! I didn’t even bring a bikini, just a one piece. And that’s because I knew you guys would be around.”
“Now you’re really insulting us,” said Frank. “What? Are we going to rape you because we see you in a bikini?”
“No! It’s just… not something you do with your professional colleagues.”
Dan chimed in again. “Okay, Beth. Now I’m actually kind of offended. I’ve been in law for almost twenty-eight years. Four firms before starting this one. On several occasions, we vacationed together. It was never a problem.”
“What? You went to nude beaches or something at your old firms?”
“Not a nude one, but the first place I worked we annually vacationed in Daytona. Several women came with us every year and yes, they wore bikinis. This was back in the day when thong bikinis were the fashionable choice, too. I’d say the ladies were from twenty-five to fifty-five, and none of us cared whether they wore bikinis or not.”
“Maybe so, but that’s still not the same as going naked!”
“Yet you infer even a bikini is something we would be uncomfortable with.”
I paused, closing my eyes. “It’s not you. I mean… it’s me. I’m just not comfortable with it.”
“Jesus Christ, Beth, we’re not fourteen,” Frank said, in the same sarcastic tone I had used on him earlier. “Get over yourself. If you don’t want to get naked, don’t, but don’t judge us over it. I’ve never done anything like this and now that it’s come up, I discovered it’s something I’d like to try. I assumed the same for anyone who was coming.”
“Maybe I just don’t like my body, okay?” I huffed, kicking the seat in front of me. I didn’t necessarily hate my body, but I could throw a little guilt around.
“Huh, if you hate yours, wait til you see mine,” Frank joked, again sarcastically. I let it pass.
Even without my colleagues around, the likelihood of me ever going to a nudist resort was pretty close to zero. I know I am conventionally attractive. I’m not dense. But like many girls, I’m not confident with everything about my body. My tits are far too big for my frame and I intend to get a reduction one day. I just haven’t done it because gravity hasn’t yet ruined what I have. And I won’t lie, when I go clubbing, they draw attention. That’s kind of fun, but I haven’t gone in a long while. My ass is round, but not as firm as it used to be and honestly, with the way my top half looks, it would be nice if my hips were a bit wider. I’d at least have that classic hourglass figure thing going. Even if I had everything I wanted, I would probably still find something to bitch about. I turned to Dan, “Do you think they will mind if I wear my swimsuit?”
“It can’t hurt to ask,” he said. There was a hint of disappointment in his tone.
I bit my lip and laid back. No sense whining. Pete wasn’t turning back. Worst case scenario is I call for a very expensive Uber ride.
We arrived at the front gate just after 11 a.m. The narrow road became so rough and winding we didn’t drive faster than 45 for the last fifteen miles. I was beginning to suspect no one was out here, until we finally reached the parking area. At least three dozen or more cars and campers were in the main lot and more were in another, off to the side of a large, log cabin welcome center. Still, there was plenty of parking left available.
I knew to expect it but the sight of naked people was shocking. One couple was talking at a nearby picnic table. A man came out of the welcome center just as we were pulling by and another was getting out of a car that was parked in a handicapped spot. Maybe it was coincidence, but of eight or nine people I saw, only one was female. I wanted to sink into my seat. Disappear.
“Can I just wait out here while you guys get us settled in?” I asked.
Dan shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself. Pete, you arrange the schedule with the owner and the board members, if necessary. I know they have volunteer officers and members and maybe they should be up to date on our findings.” Pete nodded and Dan continued. “Beth, I’ll ensure you get your own cabin, too.” I was grateful but said nothing. I didn’t want to cause any more rifts.
After my colleagues left me in the car alone, I fished out my sunglasses, hurriedly putting them on. If I was going to be exposed to naked men walking by, I didn’t want to risk appearing I was checking them out. I was bound to look, out of curiosity more than anything. I hadn’t been sitting in the car five minutes when another car parked nearby. Two men got out, stripping off outside their vehicle. Once finished, they walked toward the building. It was an unusual thing to see, as one looked like a bodybuilder and the other was scrawny and small. Paradoxically, their packages seemed like they had been switched at birth. The scrawny guy’s junk swung between his legs, halfway to his knees, while in contrast I could barely make out what the bodybuilder had. “Strange world,” I whispered to myself. Not long after, a van carrying five more men arrived. They stripped before leaving the lot and I wondered how my coworkers were doing in there, considering they had stayed dressed.