A bunch of the guys who’re standing around laugh.
“Well, I’m okay with beating your ass on my birthday,” I volley.
“All right, Bruiser,” Mason says, calling me the nickname he dubbed me with years ago, when I knocked him to the ground and busted his lip open. “But when you show up to dinner tonight all bruised up, make sure you let your mom know it was your idea.”
“I’m a grown ass man,” I scoff. “I don’t need to explain shit to my mom.”
All the guys crack up.
“Yeah, okay.” He laughs. “Keep telling yourself that. Get some damn gear on.”
Lexi
“Mom, Dad!” I call out when Georgia and I walk through the door. “Max!” I yell. “Where is everyone?” I ask Georgia.
“Their cars are in the garage, so they must be here,” she says.
We head out back and find our parents in the pool. Mom is wrapped around Dad, and they’re making out like a couple of horny teenagers right in the middle of the pool. When I look closer, I notice Mom is topless!
“Oh my God! Please tell me you guys aren’t seriously fucking in the pool!” I screech, covering my eyes with my hands.
Georgia lets out a snort-laugh. I can’t see her, but I’m sure she’s covering her eyes as well.
“Young lady, watch your mouth!” Mom scolds me through her laughter.
“If you don’t want to walk in on your parents fornicating, maybe you should call first,” Dad adds.
I hear the pool water shift, and then wet feet padding across the pool deck.
“We’re decent.” Mom giggles a minute later. I lower my hands from my face and find them both in towels. “And to what do we owe this pleasure?” She gives me a kiss on my forehead, then heads over to Georgia to give her one as well.
“We had to pick up Alec’s birthday present before the dinner tonight, so we thought, since we had time, we’d stop by here to see you guys,” Georgia says. “Sorry.” She smiles apologetically.
“Don’t apologize. It’s not our fault our parents can’t keep their hands off each other.” I give my dad a kiss on his cheek.
“Did you hit the waves last night?” Dad asks.
“I did! You should’ve seen them! Max took some pictures. Wanna see?”
“You know it.” He puts his arm around my shoulders, and we all head inside. “Just let us change into dry clothes and then we’ll meet you in the living room.”
When Georgia and I walk into the living room, Max is now sitting on the couch with his laptop open. “Did you just get home?” I ask.
“Yeah, I was hanging out with Anna, but she needs to get ready for tonight.” Anna is Alec’s sister and my brother’s best friend.
“Can you show Mom and Dad the pictures you took last night?” I plop on the couch next to him. When he clicks on a file, several photos come up, but they aren’t of me. They’re of Ricco—my brother’s unrequited love interest. Max smiles sheepishly before scrolling down to the ones he took of me surfing. Then he turns the laptop around for everyone to see, as our parents walk in fully clothed—thank God.
“Wow! That sunset is gorgeous!” Mom gushes. “That’s a beautiful image, Max.”
“Umm… hello, look at me on the surfboard.” I point to the perfect image of me barreling deep in the hollow of the wave.
Dad chuckles. “Oh, sorry, we didn’t see you there, front and center.”
Max and Georgia laugh.
“I signed up for the Vans Surf Classic at Huntington Beach. It’s in July this year.”
“That’s awesome, Lex,” Mom says. “Will you have time to practice, though, with school?”
“I was actually thinking I would take the summer off. I was only planning to take a couple classes anyway. I can start back up in the fall. It’s not like I have to graduate by a certain date, so I could take a couple extra classes in the fall or spring or finish in the summer…” I hold my breath, waiting for my parents to freak out.
“Have you figured out what you want to do yet?” Dad asks.
“Aside from illegally tagging the walls all over LA,” Max adds with a laugh.
Mom and Dad glare at him, and Georgia groans.
“I think it’s time to head to the Street’s house,” I point out. There’s no way I’m touching that subject with a ten-foot pole.
Since Alec’s parents only live one street over from my parents, we walk over there. With the storm having passed through earlier this morning, there’s a gentle breeze. We get to their house and Anna answers the door with a huge grin.
“Alec totally told you, didn’t he?” I huff.
“You burned a cake!” She cracks up laughing, and both my parents’ eyes dart over to me.
“You didn’t.” Mom tries to stifle her laugh, but fails.
“She did, and the chief said they’re charging her this time.” Alec shakes his head. “Three hundred and fifty-three dollars.” He chuckles.