I think back to last night and smile. “After he took me out on the water, we docked and sat up on deck for a while and talked about random things, nothing important. Then, he kissed me and things just…happened. I’ve never had a one-night stand before. In a way, I feel kind of dirty.”
Kim shakes her head. “Don’t. I’ve had plenty of them. They’re fun and you don’t have to worry about attachments.”
“That’s not me, Kim. I’m the responsible one in the house, besides your sister.”
She laughs. “Yeah, Holly’s the straight edge one in my family.”
And she is. She’s also a clean freak just like me. We’ve been trying to train Kim on the art of cleaning up after herself, but nothing works. After awhile, we just gave up.
It’s almost time for us to clock in so we get out of the car and head toward the back door of the club that leads into the kitchen. “So tell me what happened after your night of raw primal sex with Poseidon?”
“Poseidon? Really?”
Kim snickers. “It fits. He’s a god out there on the water.”
“Well, after we rocked the boat and he fell asleep, I snuck out. I doubt he even remembers my name.”
We stop at the door and she drapes her arm over my shoulders. “No one can forget you, babe.” Guess we’ll see when Max decides to grace us with his presence again.
She opens the door and we hurry to the time clock and punch in. “Doesn’t matter anyway. When he comes in, I’m going to go about my business as if nothing happened. He’s not the only one who can use people to get what he wants.”
“And did you get what you want?” Kim asks curiously.
Did I? I guess for a moment I wanted to be someone different than I am, to see how it feels to live like the people I serve. One day, I won’t be just a waitress. Most of the yuppies who come into the club don’t know what it’s like to work hard for a living or to have their money stolen, forcing them to struggle.
“Yes and no,” I answer her. I can’t help but sense that things are about to change. “Even though I had fun, I think it was a mistake to get involved with him.”
Kim shrugs. “As long as no one finds out you’ll be fine. I don’t want you to lose your job.” Neither do I. It’s the only thing I have in my life right now. Kim pats my shoulder and starts for the door that leads out to the restaurant. “See ya out there.”
Taking a deep breath, I hurry to the bathroom and make sure my clothes are wrinkle free and crisp, and that there isn’t a hair out of place on my head. I really want to be manager one day. To do that, I have to be perfect. When I walk out, Kim rushes up and pushes me back in.
“What?”
She grabs her chest. “Put your game face on, babe. Poseidon just showed up with his friends. And let me tell you, he’s looking pretty sexy. Remember, you used him just like he used you.”
She’s right. I hold my head up high and smile. “Exactly. I can do this.” Guess we’ll see what happens.
2
Max
The morning dew makes the deck of my sailboat a bit slippery. I tilt my head back and let the late summer sun bask over me. There’s a small breeze coming off the harbor, making the air smell like rotten fish. It’s disgusting, but I’ll never tire of it. There’s a loud rumble, almost like thunder coming toward me. I turn and find someone pushing a massive cart down the ramp of the dock. They’re likely going to the giant yacht moored at the end of the walkway. Whoever is on that ship is likely here for the Kingston Regatta sponsored by Wesleyan Yacht Club happening soon. It’s why I’m here. I’ve won the last three years and wasn’t going to let some stuffy job in New York City keep me from retaining my title.
The sound of horns blaring grabs my attention. Coming into the marina are my two best friends, Vance and Yates, each in their own boats. It’s a good thing there is a speed limit right now because those two would race each other to pull into the slip first if given the chance. Vance beats Yates to the open slip on my right. He pulls in and I jump down to help him tie off before jogging over to Yates. Once their boats are secured and everything is shut off, my friends meet me on the dock with high-fives and bro hugs. It’s odd because we saw each other a few days ago, but they make it like this is some big reunion. Come Saturday, they’ll be with me as I race to the finish line.
“How was Alyssa’s party?” Yates asks. Alyssa Worthington, Rhode Island elite. Well, actually she’s Newport Elite and lives in one of the mansions facing the ocean. She’s also my ex, who doesn’t understand we’re broken up and not getting back together. We started dating in college and have known each other for as long as I can remember. Things were really good with us, until our senior year when she gave me a detailed list of how our relationship needed to progress. In a nutshell, she had our engagement party, wedding date and honeymoon picked out. Not to mention, the venues booked. The list included her ring, where I needed to buy it and when I should propose. If that doesn’t scare a guy, I don’t know what does. But it was enough to make me bail. We broke up, got back together, and broke up again for the final time a little over eight months ago. Since then, I’ve been playing the field, having one-night stands, and just acting like the guy I could’ve been in college if I hadn’t tied myself down with a steady girlfriend. Thing is, Alyssa still thinks we’re going to get back together despite my many assurances it’ll never happen.
“Don’t know, never went,” I tell them with a shrug. Both their mouths drop open. Not sure if it’s because I dared to defy Alyssa and the Worthington’s—who just happen to be one of the biggest sponsors of the regatta—or because they think I’m an idiot when it comes to my ex.
Vance steps forward and places his hand on my forehead in the most motherly way possible. I allow him to do this because I find it funny. He’s the least caring person I know and only out for himself. In a nutshell, Vance is a selfish prick who looks to capitalize off anyone’s misfortune. In this case, mine. Or at least what he deems to be a loss to me in the sense of Alyssa.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks. He peers into my eyes, focusing on each one. “Your eyes aren’t dilated. You don’t have a fever. I’m stumped.”
I finally push his arm away and step back. He’s creeping me out. Yates is laughing. Probably at me and not Vance. “You want Alyssa so bad, go for it.”
Yates scoffs. “She only has eyes for you. I’m not sure why,” he says as he grabs his junk.
“You wish.” Vance punches him in the shoulder and Yates winces. He talks a big game but when it comes down to it, you don’t want Yates going to bat for you in a fight. He’s a daddy’s boy and will do what he can to buy his way out of a sticky situation. But, he’s also the first one to throw a punch. The only thing wrong with this is, he throws and then hides under the table until the melee is over. Leaving Vance and I, and whoever else might be with us, to clean up his mess.
“Are we going to eat or what?” I ask, hoping to steer the conversation to anything other than Alyssa and the party I didn’t go to last night.