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Getting out of his car, he walked to the gate, letting himself into the pool area. Steam from the heated water hovered in the air as he walked around it to lean on the brick wall at the rear.
Here, he looked out onto hilly pastures that went on as far as his eye could see, lit up by the full moon hanging low in the sky. How long could he avoid bringing Stacey here? And when he did, how could he get her to realize he wasn’t this money, he just lived here. He worked hard but didn’t want to be judged by his family’s wealth.
“Beer for your thoughts.” He turned to see Adler in swim trunks, standing next to him, a beer in each hand. “I was heading out for a midnight swim, saw you here, thought maybe you needed to talk. What’s going on in your head?”
Tristan took the beer and gulped it, enjoying the coldness cooling off the inside of his body.
“Who says there’s anything to talk about?” He tried his hardest to shrug off the worry from earlier, not really wanting to talk this out with the lady’s man standing before him.
“Calhoun, I know you better than anyone, and you only stand here staring off into the darkness when your mind is wandering as far as your eyes are now. Did your lady leave you high and dry again? You know there are plenty of girls who’d gladly give you a stress reliever. Just say the word, and I’ll get one to show up tonight. Missy’s in my bed, and she’s got some friends.”
“Warfield, really? You’re out here, while some girl is in your bed? When are you going to show some respect to women?”
Adler threw his hands up. “What are you talking about? She’s not just some girl. She’s the one I’ve been seeing for a while. And anyway, she’s asleep. We wore each other out, but you know me. A dip in the pool is how I like to cool off.” He downed his beer.
“It’s February. A little chilly to swim.”
“That’s why the pool’s heated, remember?” Adler took off and dove into the water with hardly a splash.
Tristan grabbed a couple more beers from the outdoor fridge, placed one on the edge and sat in a chair poolside. Adler swam to the edge, pulled himself up, and grabbed the beer. “Good thing you didn’t show up an hour earlier. We were having some fun right here in the water. You would have had a show.”
Tristan tipped back his beer. “Good to know. I’ll make sure to honk as I come up the driveway from now on.” Tristan felt his eyes on him. He looked up and dipped his chin, waiting.
Adler placed his drink on the concrete. “You know what? That’s the second time you’ve ignored my question about your date. What’s her name, again? Stacey?”
“Look at you, you can’t remember the names of the girls you bring home and screw, but mine you can.”
Adler glanced at the sky like he was thinking about something. “Yeah, weird. Seriously, though.” He got up and sat in the chair next to Tristan. “How are things going with you two? It’s been a long while since you’ve spent this much time with a girl. Well, anytime with a girl.” He pushed his cousin’s arm. “Talk, Calhoun.”
Tristan shook his head. “She’s amazing. Beautiful. Smart. Fun.” He glanced at Adler. “But, not into relationships, so she makes sure to keep some space, but then—like tonight—she’s wanting more and instigating things, and hot. I’m hoping it’s something.”
“Damn. That hot, but still home by yourself.”
Tristan nodded.
“Seems as if there’s something else.”
“Yeah. She works at a hospital and can’t stand rich people. She says they’re heartless and materialistic and look down their noses at all the hard-working people. There might have been more, but you get the main idea.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t know any rich people.” Adler slapped his hand on Tristan’s shoulder.
Tristan lifted his beer. “Right?”
Adler lifted his. “I’m gonna guess she knows nothing of all this.”
Tristan shook his head.
“So, what are you gonna do about next Saturday? The company’s yearly fundraiser. I thought you’d invite her.”
A sigh escaped from Tristan as he laid his head on the back of the chair. “Yeah, I was planning on it. Thought it’d be fun. Now, not so sure.”
Adler laughed. “Well. If you’re hoping this goes somewhere, it’s not like you’ll be able to hide your family from her forever.Warfield Meatsis a household name. How’re you keeping that from her?”
Tristan shrugged and kept his eyes closed as his head rested. “She never asked your last name. I guess she just thinks you’re a Calhoun.”
“So, you lied.”
“It wasn’t a lie. It never came up. We talk more about her than me.”
