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“There are definitely a few on my ass,” I say and he laughs.
When the laughter dies down, the silence is heavy. We are slipping into our old ways and it’s so easy. He and I have always been able to talk and joke about anything. After almost twenty years though, I’m surprised we still have any connection.
“Thanks for the save,” I say.
“Anytime,” he says.
I throw a thumb over my shoulder. “Well, I’m going to go be mortified inside with a Band-Aid and some anti-bacterial ointment. See you around!”
He laughs in surprise and gives me a small wave as he heads back to his yard, over the tiny fence that’s still there after all these years.
Once inside, I shower, dress my wound and make myself a sandwich. Happily, there are no splinters on my ass or any other place, but I have a few scrapes and there will definitely be a bruise on my hip. I trail my finger over my little tattoo, wondering if he saw it. If he did that means he probably saw everything. I mean, he has seen everything so I’m not going to get worked up about it.
I wonder why he’s here. Why now? I’ve come down here occasionally over the years. At first, it was too painful, but after a while, I’d come down with my mom and not once did I ever see him. My mom told me she’d never seen him either when I asked her one night when we’d had too much wine.
It seems like he’s been here a while, at least longer than my two days. Ugh, Owen. I haven’t thought of him in ages, but he really did a number on me. It took me years to get over him.
It’s a hot day so I sit inside with the AC and read for a bit until I fall asleep. After my nap, I make a light dinner and then go up on the roof deck. I spent so much time on this deck when I lived here that summer. It’s the perfect spot to see both the ocean and the bay. Fortunately, no one has built anything taller to block our views. Mom was always worried about Lucy selling and having someone come in and build something bigger.
The house is bigger than most on the block as a new early 2000s McMansion, but it’s not as obnoxious as some of the homes here now. Personally, I favor the old Victorians, or the big cedar shake colonials by the bay. Mom wanted convenience and comfort and who can fault her for that? I’ll never complain about the deck though, it’s a perfect feature.
As I sit and watch the sunset, I think of my mom and all the time we missed when I was younger. She certainly made up for it but man I was sad so much of the time not being able to see her. As close as I am to my dad, nothing can replace the mom and daughter relationship.
My phone lights up with a text and it’s my friend, Natalie.
Nat: Hey chickie, how are you?
Me: I’m good, you available to call?
Nat: Yep.
“Hey sexy bitch,” she answers when I call her.
“That’s me!” I say with less enthusiasm.
“Stop that right now, you are the most gorgeous woman I know and the baddest bitch around. Do not disagree with your best friend, it’s rude.” Natalie has been one of my best friends since college, but when the shit went down with my ex, she showed how much of a good friend she was. She is truly my ride or die.
“Fine, you are right, I’m the baddest bitch in all the land.”
“That’s right, now tell me about all your beach adventures so far.”
I laugh. “You’d think I’d come back with—I went for a walk and ate some lobster. Instead, I got stuck under the outdoor shower door, had to call for help and then flashed the neighbor my vagina.”
“See, knowing you I’m not all that shocked. Of course you got your ass stuck somewhere and flashed your beaver. Ooh, tell me about the neighbor,” she says and then gasps, “Wait, is it THE neighbor?”
“It’s definitely the neighbor that saw all my downstairs goods and saved me from being eaten by seagulls at my mother’s beach house.”
“So, it’s the neighbor who’s seen your puss before. Oh shit, I need deets. Is he still hot?”
“He is definitely that.”
“Yes, this is exactly what you need. Some old dick to hop on that you know was a good time.”
“Yeah, his dick was the best time but I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. He really messed me up when he disappeared on me.”
“You don’t have to marry the guy, just hop on that D and then ghost his ass.” Love this about Natalie. She is always practical and about getting the most out of any experience. “I mean, if he’s still hot and also single, I don’t see why there would be any reason not to.”
“Nat, there are a thousand reasons not to, but I don’t have to list any because I’m not really interested in delving back into something painful after everything I’ve been through.”
