Page 4 of Mr. July

Shit.Her voice was laced with hurt. I closed my email.

“Are you up for a trip down memory lane?”

“Can I drive?”

“Never. But I’ll be buying the slushies.”

“I want mine with Absolut.”

“Sure,” I winked.

“I’m dying for a watermelon vodka slushie. They remind me of summer.”

“Why did you decide to shoot your calendar here? In the Outer Banks when New York has the Hamptons.”

“It’s not the same. I just wanted it to be here. You know?”

“I do.”

“Can I help you pack up?”

“No, we have interns that will take care of the tent and props.”

“In a non-profit?”

“We had two hundred applications. I know you think my job is all fluff baby bro, but C&C International is a brand. We are one of the premiere charitable foundations in New York. Trust me, I have stiff competition.”

I paused, mid-stride catching her by the forearm as we reached the edge of the sand by the cars. “I am proud of you, Char.Immensely proud. Did you think I belittled your career?”

She shrugged. “I’m not the hot-shot hedge fund attorney…”

“Well, everyone can’t be me,” I smirked. Just then my cell dinged with a string of more texts. It was Darla again. This time she sent pictures of herself posing with one leg held high over her head while wearing a thong and nothing else. I groaned.Why is it so hard, being good?Biting my lip, I forced myself to think of cold water. Very cold ocean water.Maybe I’ll go for a swim.

“Cocky much?” She smacked my arm.

“Maybe a tad.”

“Who is that?” She moved fast trying to grab my phone as my thumb hovered over delete.Bye, darling Darla.

“Nobody.”

“Really? Well, Ms. Nobody appears quite flexible.”

“And crazy.”

“Yeah, I could’ve told you any girl on a “Tonight” app would be crazy.

I shrug. “Crazy is nothing I can’t handle. I just don’t do repeats.”

“I can’t believe my brother is such a slut. What’s turned you off of relationships?”

“Besides Mom and Dad?”

“They were hardly the model couple, I’m not letting their screwed-up marriage keep me from wanting my own someday.”

I sigh, “Why are women such romantics?”

“Why are men such pigs?”

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