Lucy and I parted ways this morning, her off to meet Stella and me off to go spend the morning on the lake. We were wiped out after work last night, so we each came back and passed out. Her in the guest bed this time. I told her I'd just see her at work since I didn't know how long I was going to be gone today, and she and Stella usually brunched for a couple of hours.
I was fully aware that Lucy was going with the sole purpose of filling Stella in on everything and I would know by this afternoon if Stella was an ally or not. The first 36 hours of being Lucy Halloway's boyfriend were going well and I didn't want a Stella-sized wrench thrown into our relationship. Fischer would be happy I finally did something about my feelings.
When I get to our meeting spot at the dock, I find Taylor, Meg, Shawn, Ariana and Scotty waiting for me to launch the boat onto the water. The dock is packed with jet skis and boats of all sizes, so I am glad to not have to deal with my own lake toy today. The water is going to be choppy and full of crazy jetskiers slicing through the water.
"There he is," Scotty says when he spots me. He takes the plastic blue cooler from my hands and drops it onto the floor of the pontoon as I climb in.
"Sorry I am late," I tell the gang and I go to greet Taylor with a handshake. He slaps my back and then turns the key to get the engine going.
"I missed you last night, Jacky," Ariana tells me with her signature pout and she's already stripped out of her clothes. "I noticed you and Lucy skipped the party." The boat starts moving away from the dock, forcing Ariana and me to drop onto the towel-covered seats. Luckily, we are near the motor, so it's hard to hear over the sputtering which causes her to not add anything else to her loaded statement. Scotty hands me a beer covered in a white insulator, but before I am able to take a drink, my phone buzzes in my hand. I glance down and see Kylie's reaching out again, asking if I am coming to the barge. I let her know that I am with Taylor and headed that way and she sends me a winky face back. I know Lucy wanted to keep our relationship a secret for the moment, but there is no way I am going to be able to act single. The word boyfriend is still growing on me, but my commitment to Lucy isn't. Ariana already seems to be implying that she knows something is up, so maybe I should let her spread the assumption.
When we get past the no-wake zone, the wind finally helps cool us off. It's only March but it's already high-eighties out here with not a cloud in the wide cerulean sky. These are my favorite days. When you can enjoy yourself in the heat without having to bob around in the murky water.
Meg slowly makes her way up to sit next to Ariana and I welcome the separation. I've already finished my first beer by the time we meet up at the barge, and I realize I should probably pace myself since I have to work tonight. I wouldn't drink on days I have class, but I can handle bartending buzzed.
I scan the wide sand barge pushing out of the murky lake water and it's already packed with colorful umbrellas, wide beach towels and nearly naked women. I don't allow my eyes to gaze at the tiny bikinis for too long and not jumping off the boat to go socialize is new to me. I need to be more strategic about who I spend my time with. I actually have to think before doing and that is a new concept for me. Shawn and I help Taylor get the shade popped onto the boat after we anchor and when I drop my hands from the metal poles, I find Kylie right next to me.
"Hey boo," she says before wrapping her thin arms around me. Her silver bikini top only covers her nipples, so I feel her big boobs press up against my chest when she squeezes me. I've never hooked up with Kylie because she slept with Fischer once a couple of years ago, and while I know Taylor and I have shared a couple of women, Fischer and I do not ever. Our friendship does not deter Kylie though and she's been flirtatious since New Years. Lucy had just left for New York and Kylie was cute and touchy-feely, so I may have led her on a bit.
"Hey Ky," I tell her as I slip out of her grip. "Need a beer?" She waves her yeti at me and says, "Got a seltzer." Chance the Rapper suddenly comes blaring out of Taylor's boat speakers, so I don't hear what Kylie says to me. She tugs on my hand and leads me over to the small gate that's been left open. I climb out first and raise my hands up to help her off the boat and onto the sand. The calm lapping water only goes up to my knees, but she clutches onto my forearm as if we have to trudge through white-capped waves.
"I hate spring breakers," Kylie whines while using one hand to pull her bleached blonde hair off her sweaty neck. We're finally onto the rocky sand, but she stays draped over my arm. "They take over the barges." There is a variety of music blaring through every blue-tooth speaker we pass, and people must have been here early to claim their spots. We push into the crowd to find our group and I am stunned to find my friend Mike with his arm slung around my ex's shoulders when we make it to the coolers. There is no way to avoid her since they are standing right next to our camp and it's only seconds before she spots me. The wide barge now feels tiny.
"Jack fucking Dalton," she says with a grin as she slips out from Mike's grip. "I shouldn't be that surprised to see you here."
"Pepper fucking Lynch" I reply as I untangle myself from Kylie to reach into the ice to grab a beer, "I am a bit surprised to see you here." She's now a platinum blonde and her fantastic ass is currently covered by a pair of cut-off Levi's.
"I know. I'm kinda dating Mike," she says with a lopsided grin as she glances over her shoulder. She then glances at Kylie who is lingering next to my arm and says, "Who is this?"
"Kylie," she answers as she gives Pepper a short wave. "I know Jack and Mark Fischer, but I came with Brooke Shannon if you know who that is." Pepper shakes her head, she never really mixed with the lake crowd which is why I am surprised to see her with Mike.
"Where is Fish?" Pepper asks me, now realizing my other half isn't wandering the beach with me.
"Boston. Family reunion this weekend," I tell her and she nods in understanding. I was dating Pepper when Kylie and Fischer hooked up, but I highly doubt she remembers any of his one-night stands.
"Kinda shocked he'd be anywhere but the lake for spring break," Pepper says before reaching around me to grab a White Claw. "It's almost jarring to see you without him."
"I'm keeping him company," Kylie says while sliding her hand around my forearm. I know Lucy would not like all this touching or that comment, but she told me to keep us under wraps so I let her fingers rest on my wrist. I'm going to have to figure out how to draw a line. I am someone's boyfriend now. Boyfriend. Still weird.
"Yeah Fischer couldn't make it today, so I'm hanging with Taylor's group." Ariana and Meg are now crossing in front of us to reach into the cooler and I am feeling the beach closing in with Pepper, Ariana and Kylie all within a foot of me. When Ariana pops up with a drink in her hand, she looks at me and asks, "So what's the deal with Mark? Do him and Stella have a thing going or..." I find some relief in knowing Ariana's interest has moved on to Fischer.
"I have no idea," I tell her honestly and she quickly replies, "Stella seemed to be laying claim on him Thursday. I had no idea she was even into him."
"I didn't know either."
"Lucy hasn't told you anything? You left with her on Thursday," Ariana says and Pepper quickly asks, "Lucy? Lucy Halloway? I thought she moved to New York."
"No, her fiancé cheated on her so she's back in Phoenix now," Ariana replies. "I'm convinced she and Jack have something going on." She tosses me a smirk and I feel Kylie's grip on my wrist tighten. I glance around, looking for Shawn or Taylor to save me but they've scattered. I know Lucy doesn't want to announce our relationship and if I confess to Ariana, everyone at Mag's will know by our shift tonight.
"Nah, we're just friends," I tell Ariana, but Pepper quickly chimes in, "He always told me that too. I still don't buy it."
"Who is Lucy?" Kylie asks, with her amber-brown eyes glancing innocently up at me.
"She's my good friend," I tell her and Pepper cuts in again, "The tall brunette he's always with, who has been in love with him for years."
"I told him that last week too," Ariana adds giving me a knowing look.
"And I was convinced he was into her the entire time we were dating," Pepper tells Kylie who is now pressed up against my arm.
"What? Why did you think that?" I ask her and Mike has finally found his way back to her. His large hand glides against her back so it rests on her hip and seeing him with Pepper is still weird to me. I always thought Mike was a bit of a dumbass so I am surprised Pepper can tolerate his stupidity.
"You got so defensive anytime I brought her up. You'd rag on all your co-workers but her."
"You don't believe girls and guys can just be friends?" Mike asks. Pepper, Kylie, and Ariana all shake their head no.
"If they are both single, no," Pepper states.
"Someone always has feelings," Ariana adds which causes Kylie to look up at me again, "So do you have feelings for her?" I want to say yes. I want to tell the truth, and I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass.
"Not in that way, and I really don't think she has those feelings for me. She was just engaged like, 3 weeks ago."
"And she wasted no time coming back to Phoenix and finding you," Ariana teases. "Everyone at Mag's thinks you'd be so cute together."
"Speaking of Mag's," I say, finding a way to change the subject, "how was Maggie's party last night? Nuts?"
"Maggie and Missy Valentine are fucking crazy," Ariana answers with a light laugh.
"You still work at Mag's?" Pepper asks, and I definitely don't miss the disdain. I dated her while Rissa was there, and she hated that I was constantly hit on my entire shift. She also thought I should bartend at a classier establishment but I've always enjoyed the divey vibes Mag's has.
"Just until I graduate in a couple months. You know I like the flexibility there," I tell her as she purses her lips and gives me an eye roll.
"You like that you're the only guy there and you run the show. Missy was the only one who used to not take your shit," Pepper replies and Ariana drops her can from her lips and says, "Oh Jack apparently has managed to mess that one up too. Missy was ragging on you hardcore last night."
"Oh god, you hooked up with Missy?" Pepper asks, disgust lacing her words.
"Missy Valentine?" Mike asks, also clearly in shock.
"No, no- I have never hooked up with Missy or Maggie," I say pointedly to Ariana. I don't know why I am on the hot seat. There are over a hundred people here and I have collected a small crowd to discuss my love life. I then look over to Pepper and beg to change the subject, "How are you Pep? How's the accounting life?"
"Don't change the subject Dalton," Pepper says with an accusatory finger pointed at me, "Accounting is not nearly as fascinating as your web of girlfriends." She then flicks her eyes to Kylie who is still clinging onto my arm. I frown at Pepper before turning my attention to Ariana.
"What was Missy going on about?"
Ariana's tiny shoulders pop up in a shrug before replying, "Apparently you started up with Maggie while dating some other girl."
"Sounds like Jack," Pepper mutters before taking a long swig of her beer.
"Yeah, Maggie didn't say anything about it, but she wasn't necessarily denying anything either," Ariana adds with a head tilt, eyeing me to elaborate.
"I don't kiss and tell," I tell Ariana which apparently is the worst thing I could have said by the way her eyes light up.
"So you did kiss Maggie, which means you are dating someone. Who?" She asks with an excited grin. I stare at Pepper, Ariana, and Mike who are all waiting for me to confess. Kylie's hand has moved to my lower back and I need to physically remove myself from the attention. My silence has Mike grinning and he suddenly says, "Okay Jack, if you're not dating anyone...kiss the blonde here." His eyes shift to Kylie and Kylie tilts her head up accepting the challenge.
"Jack has no problem kissing a girl while dating someone else," Pepper says with a light laugh.
"He won't kiss Kylie if he's dating Lucy though," Ariana instigates and her bright smile just somehow knows I have something going with Lucy.
"Oh? Glad to hear you actually have boundaries now, Jack. Maybe there is one girl you won't cheat on," Pepper says icily.
"I'm waiting for my kiss, Jacky," Kylie adds, still holding my forearm against her body. I cannot kiss Kylie. But if I don't kiss her, I am confirming that I have something going on with Lucy. Which would Lucy prefer?
"Yeah, can't do that," I finally say and Kylie's whole face falls.
"Don't fuck it up with Lucy, Jack. She's too good for you and you know it," Pepper says with a half-grin. She holds up her can to me in a toast, but I just pull away from Kylie to go find another guy to hang with. These girls are going to get me in trouble.