“It’s a plan, then. I’ll get changed. Where should we go?”
“By the lake is always nice,” Faye suggests.
“You’re on.”
We all get ready, gather some bottles of alcohol, and then we meet Chev outside her cabin. She’s excited and joins us quickly. We walk past Linda and Quincy sitting on the front porch, drinking a cup of tea and talking. They pause the conversation when they see us, and Linda gives me a death stare.
“We’re not teenagers anymore, ladies,” she calls, “no need to act like some.”
I hold up my bottle of vodka. “I’m sorry you’re stuck drinking tea and talking about your husbands’ sagging ball sacks and how sex more often than not resembles shoving a marshmallow into a moneybox because he can’t get hard anymore, but we’re here to have fun. Feel free to join us?”
Her face goes red. “You’re a despicable human being. I feel sorry for your children.”
“Child,” I correct her. “And I don’t, at least he has a mother who can have fun. Tell me, Linda, when was the last time you let your hair down?”
She flips me the bird. “I have fun all the time, I’m just choosing not to do it with you and your group of sheep.”
Chev jerks back and crosses her arms. “Listen here, Linda. I’ve been nice to you, this whole time, and you’re going to sit up there and call me a sheep. You better walk on down here and say that to my face, because I’ll bitch slap you right back up and into that chair.”
Linda crosses her arms now, too. “Threats of violence? I wonder how Rhett would take that?”
“He’d load the gun.”
Linda gasps. “You’re all vile.
I shake my head, taking Chev’s arm. “Come on, we’ve got better things to do.”
We walk off to the sound of Linda’s mumbling to Quincy about how ‘foul’ we are and how she’s going to report us for harassment. Yeah, okay, Linda, because you didn’t say a single word back. Women like Linda frustrate me, because they are quick to open their mouths and then quick to play victim.
I thought all the women here were nice, but I guess you never know someone’s true self until you’re in a competition with them. Obviously, Linda has a bee in her bonnet about us and our group and she’s making it known. Fine with me, I’m not going to stop having fun for one stick in the mud.
I hope her tea is tasty.
“How good is the lake at night.” Faye exhales happily when we reach the lake and place a picnic rug on the ground.
The lights shine over the lake, as they did the other night, and I recall how good it felt to be out there with Enzo. My skin prickles, and I can’t help but wonder if we’ll enjoy each other again. God, I hope so. I really do. The man is a fucking devil, and I want more of him.
“Pop the top on that vodka, June,” Chev says. “Let’s drink.”
I open the bottle of vodka and Chev pulls out some plastic cups and orange juice she brought with her. I fill all the cups with juice and then top them off with vodka, and then we all lean back and watch the lake as we drink.
“What do you think Linda’s husband is like?” Alice asks.
“God, I think he’d be this tall, skinny nerd that would do everything he’s told.” Chev laughs.
“I think he’s like super lazy in the bedroom and she hasn’t been satisfied in years,” I add.
“I think he’s probably just tired of hearing her voice and has probably zoned out,” Faye adds. “She sounds like she’s full on.”
“That’s an understatement,” Alice mutters. “She has the crazy eyes. I think she could fully snap.”
“Maybe she’s the one who took your bag,” Faye suggests. “I mean, she really doesn’t like you.”
I grunt. “I know, but when my bag went missing, I didn’t have any issues with her.”
“That you know of,” Chev points out.
Dammit, could they be right?
I’ll be seeing if Linda chews gum the next time I see her, that’s for certain.
“If it’s here, we’ll catch her out,” Faye says, tapping my leg in comfort.
I smile.
She’s so sweet.
At first, that sweetness terrified me.
Now, she has grown on me.
They all have.
Dammit, I wasn’t meant to get attached to this place, or anyone in it.
“GIDDY UP!” I SQUEAL, hands on Chev’s shoulders, legs kicking into her sides as she carries me on her back, running as fast as she can toward the rug, which is now our finish line.
Alice comes up behind us, Faye on her back.
“Faster, they’re gaining on us,” I call, jerking myself up and down on Chev’s back, trying to make her go faster.
Alice comes up beside us, running so hard her face is red, but the look of determination on her face is rather terrifying. She glares at Chev, and this only causes Chev to run faster, harder. Faye reaches out, trying to catch my shirt so she can pull us back. I slap at her hand. “I don’t think so, sister. We’re winning this race.”