7. Dove
ONE WEEK LATER
There were only two options for days like this: Stay inside for the air conditioning, or stay in the water to keep cool. People were applying generous amounts of sunscreen, and all up and down the public beach, grills had been pulled out to celebrate the July Fourth holiday.
Little kids were flying kites, building sandcastles, and playing in the water.
Some toddled or ran around with grilled hot dogs and burgers with ketchup and mustard oozing from the buns onto their hands.
Fathers manned grills while mothers chased little kids.
Singles mingled and flirted or relaxed under the midday sun.
There were a handful of elderly people scattered here and there, but not many were out. The news reports cautioned the elderly and sensitive types to remain indoors because of the heat index.
I wore an oversized sunhat and shades as I casually walked beside Reighvyn with a large bag on my shoulder, dragging the cooler behind me. He had an equipment bag that carried our umbrellas and chairs and another bag filled with sodas, waters, beers, and wine coolers.
“I remember this celebration from when we would come out here every summer growing up. There would be great food from the various vendors of different cultures,” I recalled.
“Yeah. I remember. I think they’re gonna have water sports again this year,” he stated, pointing to a group of people setting up an area near Jet Skis, flyboards, and cables.
“Are you gonna participate?” I asked, smiling up at him.
“I don’t know. I might get some jet skiing in. What about you?”
“I definitely want to do that, if nothing else, and maybe surfing.”
He chuckled and bobbed his head. “That’s right. I forgot you were great at surfing.”
“Dove? Reighvyn?” Someone called our names as we reached our location and set up in the sand.
I turned around with a curious look, but Reighvyn instantly called out, “Felicia! Wassup?”
I watched as he pulled her into a hug as her twin, Melicia, walked up to us with a big grin. “Hey, girl!” I exclaimed as she threw her arms around me. “I haven’t seen you guys in forever!”
“I know. That’s because you two don’t come down here anymore. We’re here every summer at the old house. I see your parents, Dove, and sometimes yours, Reigh, but none of you.”
“I know. I’ve gotten bad about that and need to do better. Oh my God, it’s good to see you two again, LiLi and Mel!” I screeched, calling them by their nicknames.
“Hey, meet our husbands. This is my husband, Kyte, and LiLi’s husband, Farrell.” Melicia introduced the two men who joined us.
“It’s nice to meet you guys,” I declared, shaking their hands.
“Aye, Reighvyn Bloom. I know you,” Kyte declared excitedly as Farrell grinned widely too.
I could tell that it made Reighvyn uncomfortable, but as a championship MMA fighter, I doubted there was anywhere that he could go and not be recognized.
I also knew that he was here to escape all the talk and didn’t want to discuss anything that had to do with MMA fighting, and I prayed they wouldn’t bring up the scandal. My prayers were lost.
“Hey, man. You’re doing the right thing, fighting those allegations and all,” Farrell stated.
Kyte bobbed his head and replied, “Yeah. I don’t believe that shit for a minute. You’ve always had a stellar reputation. Every time we excel at something, there’s someone looking to pull us right back down in the weeds.”
“Nah, it’s all good. It’s all a part of the struggle anytime you’re famous. It’s gonna attract negative attention, but, aye, it’s the holiday, so I’m not gonna let that shit drag us down. Y’all up for some beers?” Reighvyn asked, pulling some beers from the cooler.
The men agreed and accepted it, and I loved how smoothly he changed the subject, and they went along with it.
“So, you two?” Felicia asked, pointing between Reighvyn and me as he talked with their husbands.
I shook my head. “No. Nothing like that.” I giggled.
“I’m just saying, y’all cute or whatever,” Melicia replied, smiling.
“Nooo,” I replied, giggling.
“Look, Mel, she’s blushing,” Felicia commented. “Cheeks all red and shit.”
I rolled my eyes and replied, “I never could with you two.”
“You’re right. You never could hide anything from us, including the fact that you used to like him,” Melicia declared.
“Shh.” I whispered harshly and pressed my finger against my lips. “Where are you guys set up?” I asked, changing the subject.
I was uncomfortable talking about relationship status with all I was going through. The last thing that I wanted was to discuss what was going on with me.
“Over there. Bae, can y’all bring our stuff a little closer, since we haven’t set up yet?” Melicia asked her husband.
He bobbed his head, and Reighvyn, Kyte, and Farrell went to do her bidding.
“So, it’s just you two?” Melicia asked.
“Yeah. Just the two of us. We didn’t even plan it either. We both came here to relax, and he happened to get here the day before me,” I explained.
“You think your parents planned it?” Felicia asked.
“No. My parents would never do something like that. I don’t even know why they would.”
“Girl, please. Everyone used to could see y’all liked each other. I don’t see what’s so strange about the idea that they might have,” Melicia replied.
“Well, either way. I’m just here to have a good time for a little while. I own my own floral shop now, and it’s hard to get away. I haven’t had a vacation in a while, so I’ll be here for a month,” I commented.
“Nice,” the twins replied at once.
Once the men returned, we got busy setting up their area and catching up on each other’s lives. I was surprised to learn the twins both had a set of twins, and Mel’s were eight and LiLi’s were six. They were gone to Disney World with both sets of their grandparents.
All the guys participated in the flyboard and cabling competition, and we joined them when it was time for the jet skiing competition. We drank, ate, danced to Soca music, and laughed and made plans to get together again before they left.
I was exhausted by the time we headed back to the cottage, and I immediately took a shower.
“I haven’t had that much fun in a long time,” I confessed, stepping into the kitchen after my shower.
“Me either. We should come out here more often.”
“Yeah, we should. I had sand in places that I didn’t even know existed, and it’s still in my hair,” I complained as I finger combed it.
“Go get your shampoo. I can help you get it out.”
“Yeah, right.”
He smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t doubt me, li’l bit.”
I bit my bottom lip and regarded him casually. “Fine. I’ll take you up on the offer,” I replied, before bounding out of the kitchen and to my bathroom.
When I returned a few minutes later, armed with everything I would need, Reighvyn stood in the kitchen, waiting for me.
He turned the water on and adjusted the temperature to what felt comfortable for me after I leaned my head under the faucet. “This reminds me of old times when Mama used to wash my hair as a kid.”
He chuckled quietly as he rinsed my hair first.
“Yeah, Paloma used to love getting her hair washed by our mama in the kitchen sink.”
“All the times weren’t bad, huh?”
“No. They weren’t,” he replied quietly. “We had a lot of great times with Mama.”
“Are you angry with her?”
“She can’t help what she’s going through no more than a person with the flu can help what they’re going through. She’s sick, Dove.”
“Listen, you don’t have to explain to me. I only asked because I know that Wryn and Paloma used to be very angry. You were different. You always had a big heart filled with so much love and forgiveness, even as a little kid.”
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t very communicative, so I decided to change the subject. I knew the subject of his mother was a sensitive one; it always had been, even when we were kids.
“Mm. That feels so good. It’s heavenly, Reigh.” I moaned at the feeling of his fingertips on my scalp. I didn’t want him to stop.
The more he washed my hair, the more relaxed I became and the more I complimented his skills. I knew that I would sleep good tonight. At one point, he completely stopped talking altogether, and his fingers went still on my scalp.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” he replied and cleared his throat.
He handed me the towel and walked away. I was so confused.
What the hell had I done wrong? Had I offended him with the conversation about his mother early on?
That couldn’t have been it, because he was still talking after that conversation.
Maybe it was all that damn moaning I had done. I thought back to Felicia and Melicia claiming we both liked each other. Could they have been right? Had I made him uncomfortable with all that damn moaning?