Authors: Joan Rylen
LUCY, WALKING a little straighter, returned from
el baño
just as Manuel delivered the food, four settings of silverware, napkins and salt and pepper.
“Thanks Manuel,” Wendy said, and made Lucy a plate. She put quesadillas on one side and started to put ceviche on the other. Lucy shook her head.
“No way,” she said, wagging her finger. “That fish is raw.”
“It is not!” Wendy continued to put it on her plate. “I was a skeptic, too, until I saw the lemon and lime juice cook the fish in front of me. It’s really good, Lucy, low fat too. Just try a small bite. Please?”
“Un-uh, no way. The tequila won’t make me sick but that will,” Lucy said, gesturing at the fish. “Just give me an extra quesadilla.”
Wendy handed Lucy the plate, but as she did her arm knocked over the salt shaker and granules formed a pile on the table.
“Oopsie,” Wendy said, not thinking twice about it, but Kate gasped.
“Hurry, throw some over your shoulder,” she said.
“Kate, I don’t believe in that stuff.”
“Well, do it anyway, for me.”
“Fine,” Wendy said taking a pinch. “Which shoulder?”
Kate’s mouth twitched from to the side as she thought about it.
“I can’t remember. You aren’t supposed to look over your right shoulder at a new moon, or is it your left? And then the salt goes over the other one.”
“Geez,” Wendy said, and tossed some over both. “There. I’m covered.”
Kate sat back, satisfied.
Wendy scooped up a big bite of the ceviche and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth, just to gross out Lucy. “Mmmm, yum yum!”
Lucy ate her quesadilla slowly. Too slowly in Vivian’s opinion.
That girl is hammered
.
Manuel came by and offered more beverages. “Bottled water for that one,” Wendy said, pointing to Lucy.
“Manuel,
no mas
for Lucy!” Vivian said. “She’s cut off. She’s got to make it out with us tonight.”
Manuel gave them a grin and a wink. “
Señorita es muy loco
! Crazy!”
“Manuel, Lucy’s tolerance for alcohol is about the same as her tolerance for the sun. Zero, zilch,
nada
,” Vivian said. “Please,
no mas
for now.”
He gave her a thumbs up.
Wendy looked over at Lucy and shook her head. Then she noticed Lucy’s arm had turned a not-so-subtle shade of scarlet.
“Lucy, your elbow looks like it’s been in the sun too long. You’re moving up the pale scale!”
Lucy giggled and didn’t bother to move her arm or the umbrella, probably because she couldn’t. Wendy got up and tilted the umbrella, knowing the importance of pastiness to her.
Kate made herself a small plate of food and gracefully took her chair back to resume her sun soaking. Vivian thought she looked like a movie star with her huge sunglasses and her hot-pink, bikini-perfect body.
“So how’s married life? You and Shaun still livin’ in honeymoon mania?” Vivian asked her.
Kate gave a thoughtful grin. “We dated for so long before we were married that I thought our relationship would be the same, but it’s not. It’s better! We are closer than ever. In fact, we’re looking at property, and I’ve started working on the plans for a house.” She took a chip, scooped on salsa and crunched down.
Kate was a mongo-talented architect and had worked for the same firm since graduating from UT. Her mom was from Taiwan, and her dad had been an American sailor. The combo produced a stunning, slim, runwayesque femme with light brown hair, hazel eyes and a natural allure that men found irresistible. Inner beauty completed the package: brains, looks, kindness. Kate had it all.
“And will this house have a nursery?” Vivian had to ask.
“Oh, we both want kids but not until the house is finished. In the meantime, we’re considering a dog.”
Wendy was a dog fanatic, and her ears perked up. “What kind? Boxers are great! My two are protective when they need to be but otherwise so sweet.”
“We were thinking standard poodle,” Kate said. “That or go and pick out the ugliest dog from a shelter who is doomed to die. We’ll see.”
“Go with the shelter then,” Wendy said. “My good ol’ girl, Radar, came from the SPCA. I’m so glad I adopted her.”
Obviously all was well with Kate, so Vivian turned to Wendy. “What’s up with you and Jake? Y’all still hot and heavy?”
Wendy, never one to bed and blab, rubbed her sandy feet together. “I have to admit, it’s going well. Believe it or not, I’m starting to think he may be the one.”
Kate and Vivian looked at each other, eyes wide. Lucy finished her quesadilla and stayed silent in her shade.
“Wow, the one.” Vivian said. “I’m shocked!”
“I know, me too,” she said. “I can really see us together long term. One thing though, Jake never wanted to stay in Houston permanently. In fact, he had an interview last week with a company in his hometown.”
Vivian didn’t realize he wasn’t from Houston.
“Where’s that?” she asked.
“Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They say it’s pretty there.”
Who are “they
?” Vivian wondered and tensed up a little. North Carolina was far. She tried to keep her voice calm. “You planning on moving if he goes?”
Lucy picked her head up off the chair. “Girl, don’t move until there’s a ring on your finger.”
A moment of clarity for the inebriated
, Vivian thought.
Wendy laughed. “We’ll see what happens. We’re not quite there yet.”
Kate and Vivian looked at each other again and in unison gave a big “Hmmm…”
Lucy suddenly swung her legs out of the shade and stood up, rather gracefully, considering.
“I’m hot. Hand me the bucket of beer, will ya, Viv?”
Vivian looked at it and then back at Lucy. Two beers remained, but she and Wendy were almost done with theirs.
“You want a beer?”
“No, no. No beer. I need the bucket.”
A bit unsure, Vivian removed the two beers and handed it to Lucy.
Lucy dumped the cold water in the sand and put the bucket on her head. It fit perfectly.
“Ahhh, that’s better.”
The handle hugged her chin like a helmet strap and the bucket came down to just above her eyes. She started dancing around which was odd behavior, especially since there was no music, only crashing waves.
“I guess we need to make some music for this wild woman!” Vivian laughed and stood up to dance with her. The words to “Safety Dance” popped into her head.
Vivian sang with gusto, though when it came time to sing “safety,” she replaced it with “bucket,” given Lucy’s head gear.
Wendy and Kate hopped up, joining in the goofiness. They received strange looks from other beach-goers.
Manuel walked past and Lucy snatched his arm and swung him around in a do-si-do move. He tossed his cocktail tray on the nearest lounger and round he went.
Vivian decided the moment needed to be captured forever, so she paused to get out her camera and snapped a few.
They kept singing but couldn’t remember all the words. Eventually, Lucy, still wearing the bucket, released Manuel’s arm and plopped back down into her chair, not so gracefully this time.
“Thanks, Manuel. You rocked the bucket dance,” she said, then laid back and let the bucket slide down over her eyes.
“Guess we won’t be seeing Lucy for a while,” Vivian said. “I’m burnin’ up. Let’s go down to the water. Manuel, get us another, will ya,
por favor
?” She tapped the bucket on Lucy’s head.
“
Si
, bucket babes.
No problema
,” he said, and did the bucket dance all the way back to the bar.
WENDY, KATE and Vivian left Lucy dozing on the beach and headed for the crystal clear ocean.
The water was cool enough to enjoy but warm enough it didn’t freeze them out. The waves rolled gently and they picked a spot that was constantly being refreshed. Vivian laughed about feeling very Bo Derek in
10
, minus the braids.
Manuel arrived with the b-o-b just in time to get hit by a knee-high wave. The hazards of working at the beach.
Vivian decided to build a sandcastle in honor of her kiddos. She was no architect, and Kate shook her head as Vivian mounded sand into a few lumps here and there. The waves kept encroaching which called for a moat. Vivian lacked good moat-building tools, so she improvised with her feet, digging her heels deep.
“This is probably good for my calluses,” she said.
Wendy and Kate picked out a few seashells and decorated Vivian’s tee-pee shaped mounds of sand.
They were on the finishing touches when two jet skis roared up, creating a tidal wave that annihilated Vivian’s creation.
Kate laughed and said it was probably for the best, but Wendy glared at the two guys who caused the destruction. Seeing the anger flash in her eyes, one of the men hopped off the jet ski and apologized.
“I’m so sorry, ladies. We’re still learning how to handle these things. Did we interrupt something-ola?”
“I’d say so!” Wendy harrumphed and pointed to the mound of wet sand that used to be a not-so work of art. She tended to be protective of her friends, even in situations as minor as the demolition of a crappy sandcastle.
The guy pulled the jet ski up to balance on the beach and crouched down next to Vivian.
Sweaty or not, he smelled good. A mix of musky and salty. Downright lickalicious. Vivian could feel his body heat, which got her a little flushed, and couldn’t help but stare at his mouth.
He was about 6-2, dark hair, brown eyes, but zero tan. He was the definition of pasty. He’d score a three on the pale scale (and that was giving him a point for being so cute). He wore a knee-length black and white tropical print swimsuit, no shirt underneath a life jacket. His teeth were dazzlingly white, and his lips were the most beautiful deep red Vivian had ever seen.
Mmm mmmm good
.
The other jet skier had more of a bodybuilder physique but was just as pale. With his shaved head, he was handsome in the same fashion as Mr. Clean. His swimsuit was a little shorter, and crimson red, which was a stark contrast to his skin.
“It was completely unintentional,” lips said, flashing a spectacular, boyish grin. “I’m really sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Vivian said. “It wasn’t any good anyway.”
“I’m sure it was pure genius.” He pushed the sand back into some sort of pile. “I feel terrible. We needed another layer of sunscreen, and our stuff is here. I really am sorry-ola. Can I make it up to you somehow?”
“No, no. It’s no biggie. ” Vivian shrugged, and started to stand up.
He stood and reached for her hand, helping her.
“I insist,” he said. “We have 30 minutes left on our rental. Tell you what, we can take turns taking the three of you out, and afterwards I’ll help you make another sand masterpiece. It might even turn out better than what you had.”
Vivian looked over at Kate and Wendy. They nodded in approval with goofy smiles on their faces. “Okay, sounds fun.” Vivian splashed water on her legs to wash sand off. “I’ve never been on a jet ski before.”
“It’s fun-ola!” He stuck out his hand again. “I’m Jon. This is Pierre."
Vivian took his hand and shook it. He had a strong grip, but didn’t squeeze her to death, and smooth skin, yet a little rough.
Nice combination
.
“Our sunscreen is right over there.” He pointed up the beach toward the hotel. “Just give us a sec and we’ll be ready to go. I can feel the sun frying me as I speak,” he said then turned around and jogged up toward their beach chairs. Pierre followed. Vivian watched.
Wendy and Kate came up on either side of her, then went around in front to block her view.
“Oh my god Viv, he’s sooo totally flirting with you!” Wendy squealed and playfully swatted Vivian’s arm.
“Nah, he’s just feeling bad because of the sandcastle,” Vivian said.
“That had nothing to do with any sandcastle,” Kate said. “I swear I’ve never known anyone with pheromones like you! You’ve had them since puberty. Guys practically lie at your feet wherever we go.”
Vivian and Kate have had this discussion before. Kate was convinced Vivian exuded lust inducers.
“Whatever. I stink! I’ve been sweating in the sun.”
“Maybe that makes them stronger,” Kate teased. “I’m jealous.”
“Yeah, and I’m jealous of your perfect ass, so we’re even.”
Kate turned around and smacked it.
Wendy interrupted. “He’s not lying down at your feet, but he’s totally into you, you lucky dog. He’s gorgeous. Did you see that mouth!”
“Yeah, I saw it,” And with that they turned and watched him slather on the sunscreen. It made him even whiter and look kinda goofy.
He caught them looking and waved. Wendy and Kate turned back to Vivian, their eyebrows sky high.
“Okay, he may be flirting a little,” Vivian said. “I haven’t been flirted with in forever! What should I do?”
She couldn’t help but be flattered. It had been 10 years since she could “for real” reciprocate flirting.
“Jump on that horse and ride him like he’s never been ridden before.” Wendy did a little gallop around Kate and Vivian, waving a pretend lasso in the air.
“
What
? I just met him and I’m not divorced yet. I can’t do that.”
“Viv, Rick has this comin’, that jerk,” Kate said. “The whole ‘do unto others’ logic applies here. Besides, he’ll never know. And I guarantee ya we’re not tellin’.”
Vivian gawked at her. “I can’t believe you of all people just said that.”
Kate shrugged.
Vivian didn’t have time to respond because Jon walked up. Pierre was still by their beach chairs, putting on sunscreen.
“You didn’t tell me your name-olas,” he said, looking at Vivian.
“I’m Vivian. This is Kate.” She gave a small wave. “And this is Wendy.” Another wave.
Vivian looked up at Jon. “Before I do this, I have to ask: What’s with the ‘ola’?”
“Oh,” he smiled. “I can’t speak Spanish, so it’s my version-ola! The tourists don’t seem to mind. The locals, however, think I’m crazy-ola!”