SEX ON THE BEACH
26
2 Missed calls from Mom.
Mom : Can you call me?
1 Missed call from Mom.
Mom : Please, Prudence. It’s important.
1 Missed call from Mom.
Mom : I know you’re declining the calls, I can tell when the beeps don’t beep as much as they should!
PRUDENCE
I realize that even wearing my comfortable sneakers, my feet are killing me and I feel like if they decide to walk on the beach I might limp to my death.
Evie and Ikram pick us up at 11 a.m. I can’t hold the smile that stretches my lips when Ikram goes straight for Jack and kisses him deeply, before they start whispering to each other.
“They’re so cute, it’s revolting,” Evie says with a long sigh.
“Yeah,” I muse. “But it’s good to see him happy. Them, actually. I don’t think I’ve seen Ikram smile so much before.”
“That’s just because he’s a moody bitch and you gave him the cold shoulder at first. He likes you, he’s just a little wary because he likes Jack so much.”
“What are you girls talking about?” My brother asks with a suspicious frown.
Evie chuckles and takes a few steps to stop next to him to ruffle his hair playfully. He sat back on his chair a couple minutes before they arrived, wanting to preserve his strength in case he wanted to walk a little later.
“You’re one to talk,” she huffs. “Ikram and you were whispering during the few seconds you were not sucking each other’s face off.”
Jack’s gasp is pure feigned indignation as Ikram, on the other hand, rolls his eyes in real exasperation.
I want to draw them. Here, frozen in this moment. Maybe I should take my tablet to the restaurant, especially if we stay to hang out on the beach afterwards.
I close my eyes and try to take a mental picture of the three of them. Jack sitting on his chair with an actual smile on his face, Ikram standing behind with one hand holding Jack’s and the other on his shoulders. Evie next to them, grinning widely.
Hope , I’d name it. Yeah. It looks like hope.
“You better have packed or wore swimsuits under your clothes,” Evie says, parking the car in the reserved disabled spot in front of the restaurant.
“I did.”
“Me too,” Jack says, but his voice is a little hesitant. “Not sure how I can get in the water, but I can still lounge on the beach and… I don’t know, get a tan or something.”
I arch a brow and turn my head towards the backseat to give him a look. Jack’s skin is so pale and freckled he’d burn if he even spends five minutes exposed to the sun. Ikram notices my skepticism.
“There are sunshades. And I brought sunscreen. I’ll have you know that I take melanoma really seriously,” he says with a firm nod. “And if you feel like getting in the water, we’ll go together,” he adds, directly to him, interlacing their fingers.
We all exit the car and Ikram rushes to take the foldable wheelchair out of the trunk.
“I think I can walk,” Jack says, leaning on the car.
“It might still be useful for later, if you need it,” I answer for Ikram who paused, the chair halfway out. He nods at me, and places it on the ground, without unfolding it, ready to push it inside. I see the struggle in his eyes, and I step towards him to grab the handle. “I’ll push it. Jack might need help to walk there…”
His eyes narrow in confusion, but I just shrug with a wink. I’m sure Jack wants to be by his side, and if Ikram is stuck pushing the folded wheelchair, he won’t have any free hands for my brother to hold. Also, holding on to something might lessen my damn limp…
They start walking and Evie joins me a few steps behind them to walk by my side.
“That’s nice of you. Jack shouldn’t have refused the help from the weekend care team…”
“I think he just wants to feel normal, for once,” I shrug. “And it’s really no bother. I want him to have a nice day and enjoy the company of his friends.”
“Okay, so firstly, we’re not his friends. We’re both of your friends,” she scolds. “And secondly, don’t say that we’re friends to the weekend team. It’s not as unethical, but still a little frowned upon to be friends with the people you take care of.”
I gasp in indignity. “Are you ashamed of us?”
She rolls her eyes and I chuckle as she circles my shoulders with an arm.
“Never. I can’t wait to meet your college friend. Nuri, right?”
I nod. “I’m sure you’ll get along.”
“Someone who gives shit to Jack and Nate for being absolute dumbasses? I don’t doubt it for one second.”
“How do you know that?” I ask with a confused frown.
“I talked to Nate on the phone this morning before I left to pick you guys up,” she shrugs. “He might have mentioned it in passing.”
They talked on the phone this morning? Was it before or after the shower incident? Did he really go for a run to escape the house and my see-through tee-shirt? Has he told her about that incident? What if he—
“Hurry up ladies !” Jack yells, pulling me out of my internal turmoil. “Nuri and Nate are already waiting inside. Nate looks miserable and Nuri is way too proud of herself, it ought to be good.” He adds with a chuckle when we reach them at the door.
The second my eyes meet Nate’s, I feel my face starting to burn from the embarrassment. He doesn’t look away though, his gaze way too intense for my comfort, and I clear my throat awkwardly as I turn my full focus on Nuri’s mischievous face. Did she take advantage of their time alone together to resume her scolding?
They’re sitting at a rectangular table dressed for six people, at the edge of the deck. Nate’s sitting on the beach side, two seats available on his right, and Nuri, on the middle seat facing the empty chair next to him.
I stop next to her, ready to pull the chair farthest from Nate when Evie stops me, placing her hand above mine on the backrest.
“Do you mind if I sit there? I want to be closest to the bathroom and not bother anyone when I go… The wave sounds make me want to pee all the time,” she says, giving me a shy smile.
Weird reason, but alright…
I pull my hand away slowly and look at the other seats. Jack is sitting next to Nate, so I look at the seat next to him, behind which Ikram is standing with a guilty look on his face.
Okay… I guess it would be rude of me to ask for that seat, if it means it separates them, when I’ve been adamant about wanting them to spend time together. Which leaves me with the last available option…
I take a defeated limping step towards the chair facing Nate. It’ll be fine. Right? Not awkward. I mean, we’re with our friends. Jack’s here. There’s no reason to talk or think about the shower incident. Or to notice the way his eyes drop for a fraction of a second to my breasts when I sit down, this time covered under a flower print white maxi dress. Or how his throat bobs when I lift my hair to tie them up in a ponytail.
Nope, nothing to notice. Nothing going on there.
“Should we order drinks or something?” Jack asks, looking at the menu.
“They have a really nice white wine,” Evie chirps. “And their cocktails are to die for.”
“I feel like we’re always drinking cocktails when we’re out,” Jack muses.
“You want to go for something else? I think they have a good homemade juices and smoothies selection…” Ikram says.
“Of course I’ll take a cocktail, it was just an observation.”
“Hi, you guys want something to drink before you eat?” The waitress asks, stopping at the end of our table, a notepad in her hands.
“I think I’ll get a Martini,” Nuri says.
“A Pina Colada for me, please.” Evie orders.
“I’m thinking… Sex on the beach,” Ikram says, chuckling in Jack’s neck, who asks for the same thing.
I feel a leg sliding against my own, and I jolt in surprise, only for my eyes to meet Nate’s sparking blue ones. His lips stretch on one side, his dimple popping up.
“Make it three.”
My eyes widen and I feel blood rushing to my face as I stare at him, dumbfounded and mouth gaping. His jean’s covered leg rubbing the side of my calves softly as I try my best to keep all the dirty thoughts about him sliding his hand there, and higher.
Drunk me got me in so much trouble…
“What about you, miss?” The waitress asks, and I finally pull my gaze away from Nate.
Alcohol put me in this weird position where Nate knows how he makes me feel and told me how I make him feel. Alcohol is the reason I got all weird and started smelling him. Alcohol is responsible for me selfishly considering ignoring the potential consequences for his and Jack’s relationship.
Yeah, I’m blaming alcohol for all of the above. I don’t care that it just revealed things that were already there.
Alcohol is bad.
“Uh—water. Please.”
I hear him chuckle and I close my eyes with a long sigh. After this morning I’m not sure what to expect for today. And Drunk me is not to be trusted around him. What if I start rubbing my face in his neck in front of everyone? Or if I word-vomit all my thoughts again?
No, no, no. Can’t happen. Jack is my priority for today. I want him to have a great time. Can’t jeopardize it with whatever I feel but can’t express towards Nate.
Even if Nate smirks as he slides his sunglasses on, wearing a white linen shirt is one of the most appetizing things I’ve ever seen.