thirty-one
Slowski suddenly jumps up and points a finger at Danny. “You do know what tonight is, don’t you? You can feel it, right?Ifeel it, man!”
Danny laughs hard and then chugs the rest of his beer. “Is it? You think tonight’s the night?”
“Ohhh, yes! It’s Lake Air Band night!” Slow kisses Mary Ann before he backs toward the dock.
“And I know what song we’re finally doing!” Danny hollers.
“Really?” Slowski lets out a big whoop, and bends to pat Danny on the back. “Wasn’t sure this day was going to happen but glad it has. Happy for you, man.”
Danny grins mischievously and kisses me. “Apologies in advance for what you’re about to see. But it’s a tradition. Mary Ann?”
“Yeah, I’m on it.” Mary Ann claps her hand against her forehead and then grabs her phone. “Christ, here we go. Every year, it’s the same thing with these adorable assholes.”
Danny meets up with Matteo and Slow, and the three of them dive into the lake and swim like mad out to the floating dock.
“What? What is happening?”
“Watch.”
Her amused look tells me that she’s looking forward to whatever this is, and I try to relax.
I can’t see what she’s been texting, but suddenly, lights blare out from other lake houses, and I know that she’s alerted people of…something. Mary Ann laughs and grabs my arm, pulling us to front row seats on my dock for whatever is about to happen.
When bananas music suddenly blasts from multiple hidden speakers—not only from my house, but also from many others stationed in nearby houses—and lights shine on the guys, who are now positioned on the dock, I turn to Mary Ann. “Really, what the fuck is happening?”
She grabs my hand and paddles us closer. “Danny’s usual ’80s shit. But this is gonna be awesome. Just watch!”
“Watch what?”
She tosses her head back and laughs. “You’ll have to see for yourself. But he’s been saving this song.”
“Saving it for what?”
“For the right person.” Her arm goes over my shoulders, and she leans her head against me. “For you.”
Music blares, and I look to her. “What in the fuck is this?”
She laughs. “A wonderfully fun ’80s song called ‘Summertime Girls’ that we’re just going to enjoy.” She kicks and splashes me with water.
As the music picks up, the boys start crazily strumming nonexistent instruments and singing into pretend microphones. Danny points at me as he mouths lyrics, making me laugh and fall even harder for him, and Mary Ann clasps her hands over her heart when Slow does a dramatic spin and falls to his knees. I cannot figure out if I am more amused or turned on by this lip-syncing air-band act, but I cannot take my eyes off of this wild, captivating boy who is performing for me in the most outrageous way. I’m nearly melting when they’re done.
“Next week’s tune is for Matteo and his boy, Jackson!” he yells to the lake viewers. “Text us your suggestions, and we’re on it! Thank you and good night!”
Cheers and hollers from across the lake ring out as he throws his hand in the air and signs off like a true rock star; it’s completely hilarious and perfect, and I want him back in my bed more than ever.
When Danny dives off the dock and reaches me, I lean down and haul his wet body against mine.
“Yeah, it’s stupid. But we always love the air-band stuff—” he starts to excuse tonight.
“I loved it. As that song goes, you, too, make my whole world go round. In case you didn’t know.” I stroke my hands over his shoulders and make him fall against me. “Now, let’s set it on fire.”
Suddenly, right on time to ruin the moment, Slowski splashes us all hard before crawling up Mary Ann’s body, making her squeal with laughter as he climbs up to sit with us. “Check out our summertime girls, being all hot and shit.”
“Oh, we’re justsummertimegirls, huh?” Mary Ann teases.
Slow throws his arm around her and pulls her close. “Not by a mile.”
