Jackson whistles once the car is parked and we all get out of the car. “I don't think I'll get tired of looking at that beautiful home,” he says.
“It's a favor from someone who owed my parents," Cyrus explains as he pulls the keys out of his pocket.
I walk into the house and admire the views from the window side of the home, something I don’t think I will get over seeing. The forest across the lake is bright and green, with the stillness of the lake that cast mirror like images across its surface.
Even though we've been here in Sweeny for a few days, we have yet to go get the essentials we need to make the house a home. We’ve been eating the cereal that Jackson brought and have eaten a few times at the pizzeria that is in town.
“There’s a small market in the center of town. Let’s head there and grab some food and definitely some beer, maybe see if they have anything else that we would need,” Cyrus says an hour later as we’ve become antsy. Unsure as to how to carry ourselves within a small town when we’re so used to the constant moving around in the city.
“Dude, I’m starving now. Can we go eat something, and then go do the adult things?” Jackson protests.
“I remember the diner being really good.” Cyrus shrugs.
“So far, you’re not selling me on this town, Cy,” I say, shaking my head.
“Never say never, my friend.” Cyrus winks.
We leave the house and venture into town; it takes just ten minutes to get to the main street. There, we spot the grocery store Cyrus mentioned, a clothing store, a bait and tackle shop, an arcade, the post office, and the 24-hour diner. There were other storefronts, but we didn’t get a look at those before we parked Cyrus’s truck.
The door chimes as we enter the diner, and a middle-aged man behind the counter indicates that we have our choice of where we sit. Jackson leads us over to a window booth.
I sit across from my two friends, my arm going over the back of the booth, and gaze out the window. The alley is beside us leading to the parking lot, and across the alley is a clothing store.
“Think they have any guys’ clothes in there?” Cyrus asks, tilting his head in the direction of the store.
“Week one in a new town and you want to go food and clothing shopping. Where’s your man card?” Jackson laughs.
“I think I forgot my board shorts, man. Besides, hot chicks always work in those places,” Cyrus explains with his head hooking in that direction as he shrugs his shoulders.
“You think a hot chick, one who lives here, wants to hook up with your sweaty ass?” Jackson jokes. “They’d likely go after my ass over your ass, bitch. Women love gingers nowadays!”
“Is that a proven fact?” Cyrus mocks.
“They know we’re beasts in the sack, and all women want a beast in the sack.” Jackson curls his fingers against his palm and blows on the tips lazily then rubs them against his shirt as if to buff his nails. "Besides, Roycey-boy didn't come home last night. He came waltzing into the house early this morning. I betcha he unleashed his beast last night."
I roll my eyes, flip off Jackson, and then look across the alley again just as two gorgeous women walk out the front doors and across the alley towards the diner. My friends catch sight of the movement as well and straighten in their seats. The telltale chiming at the entrance tells us that they have walked inside. To not be completely obvious, I don’t turn around, but watch my friends’ eyes track the girls.
“Damn. I told you!” Jackson whisper-shouts as Cyrus nods in agreement.
“Fuck. Me,” Cyrus says.
“They’re walking this way. Told ya, women cannot resist us gingers. They musta sensed that I was in here.”
“Like you have a chance,” Cyrus chides.
The women pass our table and take a seat toward the back of the diner, along the same wall. One is a brunette and the other has honey blonde hair that I recall that it’s the same hair I had my hands wrapped up in last night, the same hair that was draped across my chest at one point in the night. The brunette sits with her back to us, but I can see the entirety of the other woman and she is just as gorgeous right now, as she is when she woke up this morning. She has a smoldering look with plump pink pouty lips and high cheekbones. Her hair is piled on her head as if she just doesn’t care and there’s a laid-back feel to her I can appreciate. I have a flashback of her moaning and the vision of her breasts bouncing, which makes my cock swell and I had to force myself to look away.
“Are they looking over here?” Jackson asks.
“Not at all,” I lie. My eyes connect with the woman from last night. My cock is still rock hard just remembering last night's activities. We lock eyes for a moment until she blushes and looks away first.
A waitress takes our order and our food is delivered soon after. I practically inhale my meal and almost forget about the women sitting a few booths away.
2
HER
“Did you see the table full of man-meat at the diner? I want to say they were at the party last night,” Willie inquires as we’re closing up for the day.
“Man-meat? Why must you call them man-meat?” I ask casually, ignoring her second statement.
Of course, I noticed them. I notice all the men who come through this town. I can tell which ones have been here before and I can tell the ones who are first timers to our little town. The wide eyes and awe make it obvious some people have never been to a small town before.
The table of man-meat, as Willie so lovingly called them, was a combination of both. I needed to stay far away since they all had heartbreak written all over them with their good looks and general cocky stature. Even so, there was something pulling me to the man from last night. I wanted him again; my body wanted him again.
“They were kind of hard to not notice, Em. I mean, seriously, we need to get you to the clinic for a checkup. How could you not see them?”
“I have selective vision.”
“You have selective vision?”
“You heard me,” I say as she shakes her head.
We get into our respective cars, wave goodbye, and depart for the evening.
I decide I need to make a trip to the grocery store before heading home for something to eat for dinner tonight.
Walking in to the only grocery store in town, I wave to the cashier, Shannon. She has had that same job since before I can remember. After grabbing a basket, I’d just started down the first aisle when I hear masculine laughter. I look up and see the guys from the diner, including the man from last night. They’re standing in front of the packaged pastas talking animatedly. As I get closer, they all stop talking and seem to hold their breaths. I turn my body and whisper, “excuse me” as I brush past them. Their massive frames had taken over the entire aisle, but they move back to make room for me. I feel their eyes on me, but keep my focus on the box of mac and cheese I grab as I walk by.
“That was a ninja move,” one of them said.
“If it hadn’t been for the sound of the noodles, I wouldn’t have known she’d grabbed anything. Quite stealthy.”
I hold in my laughter until I’m out of that aisle and into the next, but the proud smile on my face is huge.
I grab a few more things and then head to the checkout. The guys seem to be the only other people in the store, so of course they’re in front of me in the checkout line.
There’s a ginger who isn’t too bad on the eyes, but definitely not my type. The other guy I’m not familiar with looks like a typical guy next door with a crisp polo shirt and khaki pants. Then there is the one I cannot take my eyes off of. My eyes saw a lot of him last night and even a little this morning. He has shaggy blond-brown hair on top, with shaved sides. A light amount of stubble covers his defined jaw, and below that, muscular shoulders lead to defined tanned arms. His head turns and, as our eyes meet, he smiles. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes just add to his attractiveness.
I return the smile and then fumble around in my basket to distract myself from his
good looks.
“Excuse me?” A deep voice interrupts my thoughts.
I look up and stare into the green eyes of the man I’ve been trying not to look at.
A smile tugs at my mouth out of natural instinct. “Yes?”
“You again,” his voice rumbles.
“And you,” I respond with a smile.
“So, is this the only store in town?” he asks, stepping closer to me. His scent fills my senses, making me want to get closer to him, reminding me of when our scents were mixed together in passion we were together last night. Even though we were sweaty from the night’s heat, we smelled of desire.
“It is. And we also have only one diner, one bar, and one pizza place.”
He whistles. “Seriously?”
“Small town. We keep the mainstream and the riffraff out.” I smile.
“You hear that, Cy? Sweeny keeps the riffraff out. They must have missed the memo about you.” He turns his large body slightly towards his friends and laughs.
“I’m only a riffraff on the outside, man. This town knows me,” his friend says. He looks around him and shoves his hand in my direction. “Hi, I’m Cyrus. And you are?”
I reach my hand out tentatively, wishing I had skipped going to the grocery store. “I’m Emma. Nice to meet you.”
“This is Royce and this other guy here is Jackson,” Cyrus introduces, stepping into the conversation.
“Nice to meet you guys.” I shake the other two guys’ hands. My hand lingers in Royce’s hand a little longer than the others’.
“I think you two may be already acquainted,” Jackson says eyeing the body language between his friend and me.
“You from around here?” Royce asks.
“Born and bred.” I smile proudly.
“Cyrus’s family had a house here growing up. We just rented a house by the lake about ten minutes outside of town,” Royce offers.
“You guys only here for the summer?” I ask.
“No, we’re planning on staying,” Cyrus chimes in.
Interesting. I wasn’t expecting that answer, nor do I really believe it. I’ve heard that one before. I ignore my negativity and smile.
“Cool,” I say mindlessly. They’re done at the checkout and now it’s my turn. “Well, welcome to town. Enjoy.”
“I’m sure we’ll see you around.”
“I’m sure,” I say and turn to watch the cashier scan each of my items.
“Hey, Emma?” Royce calls from the door.
I turn and he’s smiling, leaning in. “Have a good night.”
Before I can even say anything in return, he’s gone.
“Phew, those are some handsome fellas,” the cashier says. “That tall one looked like he’s really into you.”
“Oh stop it. I don’t date the tourists.”
“They ain’t no tourists. I mean, they’re here right at the start of the season, but I think them’s the fellas trying to set up some sort of clinic here. You heard them. They said they stayin’.”
“A clinic? You mean they’re doctors?”
“Some of them kind of are. One of them has roots here.”
“That's cool. Whatever kind of clinic it is, I’m sure we can use it.”
HIM
I step outside the log building. Aside from needing a few cosmetic blemishes, it’s in great shape. There are a few structural changes we would need to make it to work as our clinic and office, but overall the space is perfect.
Since we agree the place is perfect for us and agree on the updates we want to make, we make the decision right on the spot. We sign the lease that same afternoon and began calling a few contractors that are suggested to us to get the work started as soon as possible. We want to be up and running by month’s end and I know as soon as the ink dries, we are going to be extremely busy getting it all put together.
Not one to waste time, Cyrus pulls his broom and some garbage bags out from the back of his car. He hands me a garbage bag and we get to work cleaning up some of the debris that’s strewn around the space. I open up the back door and gaze out on dead grass.
I want to put a dog run back here, add some astro turf, and maybe a few kennels. The property line goes right up to a brick wall and the space is big enough for a small parking lot if we desired, but I didn’t want to take away the option for green space. Heck, the dog run could double as therapy for animals if we have the need.
My excitement is ramping up and I’m happy Cyrus talked us into this idea of moving to the boonies.
Cyrus joins me out back and wipes his forehead.
“When are you heading back to Sac?” he asks.
“I need to hitch a trailer to my truck and fill it up with the rest of my stuff. How long is the lease for the house your parents hooked up?” I ask.
“It’s for as long as we need it. We aren’t restricted to a time limit by my folks. They’re going to be stoked that we’ve found a place for the business so soon. I was expecting it to take a while.”
“Right? I’m digging that it’s so close to the main street. Kind of prime real estate for anything.”
“I’m telling you, the boonies is prime anything for a business, especially if there’s a need.”
“Why here though?” I ask.
“I remember loving it here. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to coming here. It was a nice quiet break from the typical hustle and bustle of the city, and I felt less pressure to be who I was.”
“You mean a spoiled rich kid?” I tease.
“You have no idea how exhausting that can be.” Cy sighs dramatically.
Cyrus comes from an upper class family with money and political power. He went to boarding schools in another country, has enough money to buy a football team and could have whatever he wants. Instead, he followed his love for business and animals and went into veterinary medicine. That’s how we met. We both started our undergrad together at Stanford, and then went into specialized coursework around the same time. Cyrus doubled up and got a business degree as well—how he found the time, I’m not sure—but I’m glad he did.
We fantasized about opening up our own practice after we graduated, but instead we each worked for an established clinic until we could come up with a business plan. That took a few years. Which brings us to now, starting new lives in a small town with big dreams.
The log building we found is a commercial building a block off Main Street. The exterior is—no joke—a log cabin. On either side of the building are homes that have been renovated into some kind of shop. The block feels like an extension of Main Street, and not a residential neighborhood. I like that it gives the feeling of comfort, but also has the space and potential to be something more.
We spend the entire day cleaning up the place and making plans for where we want everything. We’ll have a total of five exam rooms, an indoor kennel space for overnights, and an outdoor green space. Cyrus is shelling out the funds for a high-efficiency laboratory so we can do in-house testing and I am going to research the best way to fill the office with furniture and exam tables.
We leave the office space feeling exhausted and hungry. We could head back home and eat whatever we bought from the store yesterday, but instead make the silent decision to go to the diner instead.
We sit down; order our food, and then finally lean back to catch our breaths.
“I don’t know about you, man, but I feel like that was the most hard labor I’ve done in my life,” Cyrus says on an ragged exhale.
I laugh. “Buddy, that was just day one. That was nothing.”
“You mean, tomorrow we can’t start seeing patients?” Cyrus mocks with a roll of his eyes.
“You’re a dick.” I laugh.
“I know we’re not even close to being done, but I wasn’t expecting to use my brain so much today. I actually want to hit up the lake and see what we can do about procuring a boat.”
“You mean you don’t have one?” I scoff playfully.
“My parents do, but i
t’s not here. They haven’t summered here in a few years. Not once since they moved out east. They do the Hamptons now,” he singsongs.
“Oh, fancy. How did your family find this town?”
“They were driving through and I think their car got stuck here when they were first dating. So they stayed somewhere around here and made it a thing to come back every year. They call Sweeny ‘the town that made them fall in love’.”
“That’s a nice story,” I say.
“Don’t be an ass,” Cyrus sneers.
“Dude, I’m serious. It’s a nice story.” I hold my hands up.
“Anyway, every summer we’d load up and spend the season out here. It was awesome. My parents could be whoever they wanted without the pressures of our daily lives in Sacramento. But then, we’d head back and life would resume as it normally did.”
“So, you came home from boarding school every summer?”
“We didn’t have summer quarters—the dorms were only for while school was in session—so, I would get on a plane and fly in.”
“When did you guys stop coming here?” I ask curiously.
“Probably after my first year of college. My sister stopped coming because her kids were too small and all. Then Mom and Dad moved to New York and the distance was just too much for them. “
“So you came here for about nineteen years? That’s crazy. How come no one recognizes you?”
“You remember how I looked when we first met. I was lanky and not nearly as awesome.”
“You sure were a nerd. You’ve changed, but you’re still not awesome,” I joke.
“I hate you.”
3
HER
“Effie!” I scream through the house. “Effie!”
My roommate walks into my room with her toothbrush in hand and toothpaste foam around her mouth. She puts her other hand on her hip and gives me a ‘what?’ look.
“Did you take my pink bathing suit and my favorite shirt?” I ask. I have gone through every drawer in my dresser in search of my favorite Rolling Stones concert t-shirt that was once my mother’s.
Summer Fling Page 2