Page 76 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“Never mind,” she said. “Here.” I took the aerosol can of SPF 100 that she handed to me.

The both of us coughed and choked on the cloud of chemicals that floated around our heads as I kept my finger down on the spray nozzle to cover myself from head to toe. But I still had my shorts and tank on.Smart Gloria. I toss them onto the towel before pressing the nozzle again to get the yet-uncoated parts until they turned white from the buildup of spray.When they find a new hole in the O-zone layer, they know who to blame.

“There goes that can,” she muttered under her breath.

“These are the consequences of befriending a ginger, lady.”

“Yeah, well… I have nothing to counter that with because I did offer you my sunscreen. But when I think of something, rest assured, it’ll be a scorcher.”

“It’ll glance right off.” I pointed to my skin. “Sunblock.”

Sitting under the blazing sun, that glistening water looked crazy refreshing. I stood and walked down to the lake. Lorelei followed. We splashed and played around like a couple of six-year-olds. No regrets.

Neither of us kept track of time because phones and water, but Lorelei gave up first, heading back to the towels to dry off. I stayed in a few minutes longer before deciding to sun myself again. Okay, I loved the beach. I lay back and closed my eyes letting the warmth envelop me.

Coolness suddenly hit my skin. Either a cloud stalled overhead or some loser blocked out our rays.

“You ladies are far too pretty to be here alone,” a deep, rumbly voice said and because it sounded kind of sexy, I barely opened one eye to check him out. The dude was kind of hot. Not my husband hot, but then again, not many were. You could say I hit the sexy husband jackpot. And byyou, yes, I meantme.

But this guy had a fair build and the slightest definition of a six-pack. His brown hair did this kind of natural spikey thing at the tips, even though he wore it short, and he had a beard. The beard definitely worked in his favor. All in all, pretty doable—for someone else. I held up my left hand with my fingers splayed wide. “Sorry, married.” But I quickly pointed over to Lorelei. “But this one is single and ready to mingle.”

Her eyes lit up when she opened them to yell at me, but they landed on him before she could and the smile on her face said she liked what she saw. She patted a spot on the towel and he dropped down next to her.You’re doing God’s work, Gloria.

His friend joined us too, albeit acting disappointed that he got stuck making nice with the married chick, but I filed that under:not my problem.

At one point, when Guy A or, John, as he introduced himself, went back into the water with Lorelei, Guy B, Ryan, got up to get himself a drink and I took the opportunity to call Blake.

“You’re saying while I’m stuck at the office, my beautiful wife is in a bikini at Silver Lake?”

“Do you mind?” I asked.

“Hell yeah, I mind. I want to be there with you taking in the view.”

“Don’t you mean views?”

“Only one view I’m taking in: my wife. In herbikini.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Ah—no, I’m incredibly turned on. There’s a difference.”

“What if I promise to keep my suit on until you get home? You can help me peel it off and wash away the sunscreen residue.”

“Woman—you better get in that car. I’ll be home in a half hour and you better be there.”

I laughed so hard I snorted again. “My friend drove,” I replied.

“God you’re cute. Put her on the phone.”

“She’s in the water with John.”

“Woman, she could be in there with Paul, George, and Ringo, too. I don’t give a damn. Put her on the phone.”

“Lor, the hubs is on the phone. He needs to speak with you.”

“If it’s about you leaving, then he doesn’t,” she called back.

“Know what? I’m on my way.” Then he said, “Love you,” and hung up.

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