Page 32 of Summer Ever After
“He’s cute,” Ramona said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been laid.”
Amanda leaned out from the table and watched the frat boy disappear into the crowd. “He’s wearing construction boots. Ramona is going to get a blue-collar lay tonight.
“You two sound like spoiled little rich girls.” Jessica rolled her eyes.
“We are.” They giggled. “There’s nothing wrong with slumming it.” Ramona crossed her arms and with a sassy head tilt said, “You’ve done it too.”
For the first time, I saw a blush travel along Jessica’s perfect jawline. “Enough.” She hissed and I don’t think that she intended for me to see it, but cut her eyes at me. The slumming it with the blue-collar boys was likely a conversation reserved for the tennis club dressing room, not one to be had with the maid sitting at the table.
“I don’t care,” I shrugged. “They’re all the same to me.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Jessica studied me.
“I’m too busy. Maybe after college.”
“Good for you.” She slapped her hand on my leg. “Although you’re probably too good for any of these guys in here.”
It had crossed my mind more than once that Max might be at the Stone Oven, but somehow I didn’t think that karaoke night with twenty-somethings was his scene. It still didn’t stop me from looking up every time the door opened, wondering if there was a motorcycle parked outside.
A young girl wearing a Stone Oven t-shirt appeared at our table with a bucket of ice. “Miss Starling?” There was a quiver in her voice, she was nervous.
“Yes?” Jessica looked at the bin of ice. “What is this?” There was a hint of drunken slur in her voice and it seemed like she was having a hard time focusing on the bucket.
“The man at the bar bought this for your table.” She held up a bottle of champagne.
Jessica held onto the table and craned to look at the bar. Her lips turned up ever so slightly. “Tell him we need two.”
“What?” the girl blinked.
“Tell Jasper that a gentleman makes sure everyone will have a full glass.” Jessica took the ice bucket and handed it to the waitress.
While we waited, Jessica fixed her hair. “Is my eyeliner running?” she asked.
“It looks perfectly smoky,” I said. “Who is that? Is that the guy from the kayak?”
“He’s no one unless two bottles come back.” Jessica glanced at the bar and tucked her blond strands behind her ear. She was playing it cool, but whoever was at the bar was clearly making her nervous. It was refreshing and made her seem even more like a real person.
The backward hat guy in the construction boots had sidled up next to Ramona with a full pitcher of beer. Amanda and Jenny had disappeared onto the balcony dance floor, wrapped in the arms of some guys who I didn’t recognize. The guy with Jenny had his hand firmly clamped on her muscular butt. These women were acting like college girls. I was younger than them, by quite a few years, but felt like the responsible older sister. “Is Jenny ok?”
“Oh yeah. That’s the guy she’s been hooking up with every summer – Braydon Benson. I’m not too sure about her though.” Jessica gestured to Ramona and the construction boot guy.
The waitress returned with another waitress in tow, each carrying two bottles of champagne. “That’s more like it.” Jessica relaxed into her chair as the bottles were opened. She pointed to her own chest, then at me, Ramona, Construction boot guy, and the two empty chairs counting. “Pour seven glasses please – and tell Jasper to come over and have a drink with me.” She opened her purse and handed the girl a hundred-dollar bill. “Just in case he didn’t tip well.”
“That’s not necessary…” The waitress shook her head and tried to hand the money back, but Jessica pushed her hand away.
I wasn’t sure if it was a total boss move, or if Jessica was being obnoxious. “Jasper and I have quite the history. He fucks up every year and spends the rest of the summer trying to win me back. This is a little game that we play. Trust me, he likes it.”
As if on cue, Jasper appeared, looking like he’d stepped off a yacht, complete with deck shoes and a popped collar. “May I have the pleasure of your company, Miss Starling?” His teeth were perfect, and his grin told me that Jessica was right, he was enjoying whatever fucked up game of cat and mouse they were playing.
“If you must.” She waved her hand at the free chair.
“Cheers.” He held up the glass in front of him.
All of us, including the construction boot guy, held up our glasses. “To the best summer on Windswan Lake.” His voice was commanding. We tapped our glasses together and as everyone sipped the ridiculously expensive champagne, he added. “And to the most beautiful woman on the lake.” His eyes were glued on Jessica.
The karaoke master had taken a break and put on some music. Everyone in the bar proceeded to get a little bit more intoxicated with every song the DJ played. Ramona and Construction boot buy were full-on making out at the end of the table. Jenny was still swaying on the dance floor with her summer fling, and Amanda had disappeared into the crowd. “Who is this?” Jasper had finally taken his eyes off Jessica to look at me.
“This is Rosie. She’s the best paddler the regatta has ever seen.”
