Page 68 of Animal Beats

Not a problem to me. I retake her beer. “I’ll change it. Wait here.” For good measure, I kiss her cheek. Back at the bar, I ask for her beverage of choice, and down a beer. When I return, I pass her the white and clink my beer to it. She thinks this is my first. Good.

The boat takes off and one of the passengers recognizes me. Happy to escape my reality for a bit, I get swept up with the fans. Smile for selfies. Chug a beer—or two. Hayden approaches me. “Río, I think you’ve gone beyond the two drinks we agreed on.”

I burp. “I’m on five, but who’s counting?” She puts her hands on my shoulders. Why didn’t I realize how annoying she is before? I’m fucking Río Sullivan, the damn drummer for the best band on earth. I can do what I want!

“C’mon, let’s take a seat over there.” She points. “We might be able to see the dolphins.”

Dolphins. My whole body lights up. I love them. “Yeah, let’s go.” I grab her hand and drag her to the opposite side of the boat, making sure to smile at the other passengers.

Sitting, I check for the underwater mammals. Nothing. However, I do catch the eye of the bartender who brings over another beer. “Here you are, Mr. Sullivan. Enjoy!”

I accept the beer. “Thanks, man.” Pushing my hair away from my face, I say, “It’s definitely hot out here!”

Cracking it open, much to Hayden’s dismay, I let the beer slide down my throat. Not a Gold Rush by any stretch of the imagination, but it’ll do.

Hayden puts her hand on the bottle. “I think you’ve had enough of these, don’t you?”

I swipe it away from her. “No, actually I don’t. It’s fucking hot and I need the beverage to keep me cool. If you don’t like it, you can move over there. That chick looks like she wants to trade places with you anyway.” I wink at the woman I mentioned.

“Look at me.” The order comes from my side. Hayden.

Rolling my eyes, I comply. “Yes?”

“What’s gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?”

Because you gave Mother my number.

Because after more than ten years of no communication, her first words are she needs money.

Because she tried to guilt trip me into giving it to her.

“I’m acting normal, Babysitter. I thought you liked me?” I leer at her.

She crosses her arms. “I don’t like this version of you, to be sure.”

Over the loud speaker, the voice directs our attention to the statue of Christ high above, which was modeled after the one in Rio. I leap to my feet and don a wide smile. I mimic the statue’s open arms. “Modeled after me?”

The passengers laugh.

Encouraged by their reaction, I toss back the rest of my beer and do a three-sixty on the boat. “Who does it better?”

The woman I had pointed out before stands. “You do!”

Damn straight. This is what I’m talking about. I make my way to the woman, accepting another bottle of beer from the accommodating bartender along the way. I reach out my hands into a makeshift dance pose, and she fits herself into my arms. I twirl her, much to the excitement of the other passengers.

Except for Hayden. She’s sitting on the other side wearing a negative puss. Whatever.

I pull the pretty girl into my arms and pretend to be doing La Lambada. The “forbidden” dance. Nothing is forbidden to me!

Over the loud speaker, the disembodied voice pronounces, “A pod of dolphins is off to your right!”

Finally! I rush over and this time see the majestic creatures swimming together. How perfect! Like how my brothers and I perform as UC on the stage.

I stand, mesmerized, and watch how graceful they are. They start to move away from the boat, and I lean forward to keep them in my line of vision. The boat hits a wave and knocks me off balance.

The next thing I know, I’m looking up at the boat from under the water.

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