Boss of Me

“Who wants a Spritz Veneziano!” He hauls out a pitcher of bright orange beverage with ice cubes and orange slices in it.

“What is that?” I take one of the plastic tumblers he’s passing out.

“Prosecco and Campari with orange wedges.”

/> He pours us all a healthy serving and then steps back. “Girl, you are putting out some fierce fun in the sun vibes. I absolutely love this little getup.”

“Really?” I look down at the white eyelet sundress I pulled over the high-waisted white bikini I’m wearing. “I didn’t want to be too revealing, it being my first work function and all.”

“You look amazing, and with that hair down over one shoulder. I’m getting so many classic Hollywood vibes, I want to paint your lips velvet red and give you some cat-eye sunglasses.”

“Oh! I’ve got that covered.” I reach into my canvas bag and pull out heavy white-framed sunglasses.

Sandra and Dean both let out a squeal. “Yes!”

“Let’s get out on that pier and sunbathe!” Sandra is in a yellow cover-up over a red one-piece, and I’m instantly self-conscious.

“Should I have worn a one-piece?” I follow behind her, carrying my own lounge chair. Dean is with us doing the same.

“You look amazing. Relax and have fun.”

Before long, we’re all camped out on the pier, covered with sunscreen and sipping our drinks through paper straws. It feels like something out of Mad Men when I look up and see Taron entering the picnic area under the trees with Patton right behind him.

My stomach does a little jump, when I see Patton’s wearing shorts and an unbuttoned short-sleeve shirt over a white tank. Taron is dressed similarly, but I only have eyes for the devil these days. They place a cooler under the shade, and Taron walks over to the metal grill. Sandra waves from where we are.

“Let us know if you need any help,” she yells.

“We’re good!” Taron yells back.

Patton’s standing beside him with his hands on his hips looking in our direction. With his dark aviators on, I can’t tell if he’s looking at us or admiring the view of the lake, so I raise my sunglasses. Our eyes meet, and my insides feel all hot and tingly. I bite my lip, hoping he’ll take that shirt off and get in the water. I don’t even realize he’s still looking at me as I do it, but his brow lowers and the corner of his mouth quirks up.

Fire blazes in my stomach. Is he smiling at me?

Just then Jerry comes tromping through the hedge like some kind of raging bull, and I close my eyes, lowering my sunglasses, and lying back in the chair. I turn my face toward the enormous lake and take a sip of my drink.

Jerry is the last person I want to think about today. Him and his grabby hands.

“How about some music, girls?” Dean switches on the radio, and Steve Miller Band drifts up around us.

“Perfect.” Sandra smiles, nodding her head up and down. “Give us all a refill, Dee. I’ve got to get the recipe for this stuff. What did you call it?”

“Spritz Veneziano.” He leans over and freshens all our glasses. “It’s traditionally made with Aperol, which is an Italian aperitif, but it can be hard to find. Campari works just as well.”

“I love it.” I take another sip, stretching my arms over my head.

It really is delicious and has me just relaxed enough I don’t even mind when Jerry comes straight out to where we’re all relaxing on the pier.

“What’s happening out here and how do I join the fun?” He waggles his eyebrows, but I keep my gaze on the kid riding a jet ski on the wrong side of the buoys.

“I figured you’d want to drink beer.” Dean squints up at him, lifting his horn-rimmed Ray-Bans.

“I have beer.” He trudges back up the hill to the shade and digs a beer out of a white Styrofoam cooler.

Renée would have a cow about how Styrofoam never degrades, how it emits hydrofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer… Jeez get out of my head, Renée!

While I’m gazing absently, Patton strolls down to where we’re all lounging. “How’s the water?”

“How about you get in and let us know.” Sandra’s teasing him, but I hope he does it. I’ve been dying to see him without a shirt.