conversation centers on sports. Figures.
“Frisbee, soccer and football. Universal language of men, I guess.”
“So,” Finley says. She’s unpacking plates and utensils. “What’s going on with Bikini Mom. Why are you so worried about it?”
“Why? Are you kidding?” I ask. “I’m screwing a te enager. It may not be illegal but if word gets around I could lose my job.”
“Just relax. You heard her. Her marriage is a mess and she wanted Carter to be her little fling. She doesn’t know you’re together but she sure can’t get his attention like she wanted.”
“I guess.”
“Plus you have the body she paid for. That probably pisses her off more than anything.”
“Probably. It’s just not really worth it to lose my job over sex, you know.” I glance over at Carter, who’s running across the field full speed to catch the Frisbee. He leaps over a couple eating dinner and crashes to the ground. We both cheer when he stands, dirty and covered in grass stains, but holding the disc up in victory. I roll my eyes. “Really good sex. But still just sex.”
“There’s nothing more between you guys?”
I stop what I’m doing. “Why would you say that?”
“You t wo just look pretty happy, you know? I thought maybe things had progressed beyond fuck buddy.”
“I like him. He’s fun and smart. We have a good time together, but what? I’m going to his frat parties this fall? I’ve already lived that life once.”
Carter and Ryan walk our direction. I notice how Carter’s hair keeps getting blonder from the days in the sun and his skin has turned an ever darker brown. I rarely see him in nice clothes. Usually, it’s either bathing trunks or a sloppy T-shirt. Or naked. But tonight he has on a clean white button down and plaid shorts. Red, white and blue for the occasion.
The guys approach the blanket and Carter sits next to me, leaning over for a kiss. A real kiss. The PDA kind I’m not used to with him. I pull back a little, only giving him a soft peck. The disappointment and confusion is clear on his face but he doesn’t say anything.
Finley, of course, does.
“Really? The first time you guys go out in public and that’s it?” she asks. “Come on, kiss her like you mean it.”
My cheeks flush h ot and Carter raises a sly eyebrow. He’s not afraid of her but for a brief moment I’m afraid of him because he’s not one to back away from a challenge. I don’t know much about him but I do know that.
“You don’t have to— ,“ I start, but he cuts me off with that mouth of his. Jesus, that mouth. He goes for it, tongue and all and I melt like a stick of butter at a picnic on the Fourth of July. For once he smells like soap instead of sunscreen and if he tried to take off my dress I’d probably let him, right here, right in the middle of the park.
Thank god one of us is the mature one in the relationship and stops. Carter politely removes my fingers from his hair.
“Nice,” Finley nods in approval. “Now that you’ve gotten that out of your system, can we just act normal now? No need to hide. No weirdness. No awkward crap, okay?”
Easy for her to say. After that kiss I’m like a dog in heat. Since I can’t do anything about it, I eat six deviled eggs and four pieces of pie and wait for the night to be over.
*
The first crack of lightning comes just after dark but before the first firework. It’s loud and scary, zigzagging over our heads. The four of us look at one another and Finley shouts, “Grab the stuff and run!”
Everyone gets a handful. I pick up the blanket while Carter gets the basket. Finley and Ryan shove the rest into t heir bags. We scream goodbye as fat drops of rain start to fall. Carter’s hands slips into mine—dragging me through the storm.
I’ve never been caught in a storm like thi s, with huge drops of rain and booming thunder and lightning. It’s so heavy I can barely see three feet in front of me. Carter shouts, “Over there,” and we
“Frisbee, soccer and football. Universal language of men, I guess.”
“So,” Finley says. She’s unpacking plates and utensils. “What’s going on with Bikini Mom. Why are you so worried about it?”
“Why? Are you kidding?” I ask. “I’m screwing a te enager. It may not be illegal but if word gets around I could lose my job.”
“Just relax. You heard her. Her marriage is a mess and she wanted Carter to be her little fling. She doesn’t know you’re together but she sure can’t get his attention like she wanted.”
“I guess.”
“Plus you have the body she paid for. That probably pisses her off more than anything.”
“Probably. It’s just not really worth it to lose my job over sex, you know.” I glance over at Carter, who’s running across the field full speed to catch the Frisbee. He leaps over a couple eating dinner and crashes to the ground. We both cheer when he stands, dirty and covered in grass stains, but holding the disc up in victory. I roll my eyes. “Really good sex. But still just sex.”
“There’s nothing more between you guys?”
I stop what I’m doing. “Why would you say that?”
“You t wo just look pretty happy, you know? I thought maybe things had progressed beyond fuck buddy.”
“I like him. He’s fun and smart. We have a good time together, but what? I’m going to his frat parties this fall? I’ve already lived that life once.”
Carter and Ryan walk our direction. I notice how Carter’s hair keeps getting blonder from the days in the sun and his skin has turned an ever darker brown. I rarely see him in nice clothes. Usually, it’s either bathing trunks or a sloppy T-shirt. Or naked. But tonight he has on a clean white button down and plaid shorts. Red, white and blue for the occasion.
The guys approach the blanket and Carter sits next to me, leaning over for a kiss. A real kiss. The PDA kind I’m not used to with him. I pull back a little, only giving him a soft peck. The disappointment and confusion is clear on his face but he doesn’t say anything.
Finley, of course, does.
“Really? The first time you guys go out in public and that’s it?” she asks. “Come on, kiss her like you mean it.”
My cheeks flush h ot and Carter raises a sly eyebrow. He’s not afraid of her but for a brief moment I’m afraid of him because he’s not one to back away from a challenge. I don’t know much about him but I do know that.
“You don’t have to— ,“ I start, but he cuts me off with that mouth of his. Jesus, that mouth. He goes for it, tongue and all and I melt like a stick of butter at a picnic on the Fourth of July. For once he smells like soap instead of sunscreen and if he tried to take off my dress I’d probably let him, right here, right in the middle of the park.
Thank god one of us is the mature one in the relationship and stops. Carter politely removes my fingers from his hair.
“Nice,” Finley nods in approval. “Now that you’ve gotten that out of your system, can we just act normal now? No need to hide. No weirdness. No awkward crap, okay?”
Easy for her to say. After that kiss I’m like a dog in heat. Since I can’t do anything about it, I eat six deviled eggs and four pieces of pie and wait for the night to be over.
*
The first crack of lightning comes just after dark but before the first firework. It’s loud and scary, zigzagging over our heads. The four of us look at one another and Finley shouts, “Grab the stuff and run!”
Everyone gets a handful. I pick up the blanket while Carter gets the basket. Finley and Ryan shove the rest into t heir bags. We scream goodbye as fat drops of rain start to fall. Carter’s hands slips into mine—dragging me through the storm.
I’ve never been caught in a storm like thi s, with huge drops of rain and booming thunder and lightning. It’s so heavy I can barely see three feet in front of me. Carter shouts, “Over there,” and we
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