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“Ugh. You’re no fun, Carter. Fine. You come up with something.”
He shakes his head and smiles. “You seem to like slang. How about something like roshambo?”
“Like a kick in the balls?”
“Yep. It seems more contextually appropriate.”
I think for a moment. “Okay. That works.” I mutter, “I may have to roshambo your father today.”
“Welcome to my every day, Reagan.”
We arrive at the marina. The boat is spectacular. It’s about eighty-five feet long. A family of ten can probably live on the boat. There’s a captain who is ready to set sail as soon as we step on board.
I’m wearing a demure one-piece bathing suit with a long skirt. It does have a slit up the side, but I’m covering as much as I reasonably can. I’m not Amish, so this is the most conservative bathing suit I could find in my drawers. I would never wear something like this in real life. I have no idea where it came from. I don’t remember ever buying it. A friend must have left it at my apartment once.
Nonetheless, Carter’s father eye-fucks me the second I step onto the boat. His eyes move up and down my body several times. He has a way of making me feel naked and exposed when I’m not.
I kiss his mother hello. I lightly shake his father’s hand as quickly as possible, and then I latch onto Carter’s arm for dear life. I feel him chuckle, but he wraps his arm around me and keeps me close.
Carter’s dad makes some snobby comment about the help not being on duty yet because of the time of year. Carter just shakes his head.
We sit down for lunch as we set sail. It’s way over the top, expensive seafood. My mother would love this spread.
I very slowly sip my wine. I need to keep my wits about me around this douchebag.
At some point, Carter’s father looks me up and down for the thousandth time and asks, “Cupcake, are your breasts real? They’re quite perfect. If they’re not, would you mind passing along your surgeon’s name to Miriam. She could use the upgrade.”
Is this fucking guy for real? I sit there with my mouth open, unable to speak.
“Dad, that’s not an appropriate question. Can you please try to behave respectfully around my girlfriend?”
“What? That was a compliment. She has an amazing body. Every woman wants to be told how beautiful they are. Trust me, son. You could learn a little something from me.”
“Yes, Dad, let me just jot down these pearls of wisdom.”
I can’t help but laugh at that.
I see that Carter is getting upset. I need to help keep him calm. “Sorry to disappoint, Mr. Daulton, but I’m one hundred percent real. No surgeons. Lucky for me, Carter makes me feel beautiful every single day. I’m very lucky to have him. He’s an amazing boyfriend. He doesn’t need any help in that department.”
I lean into Carter. He puts his arm around me, and I can physically feel him relax. He gives me a squeeze in gratitude.
“Carter wouldn’t know his way out of a brown paper bag if it weren’t for me telling him how to do it.”
I tense up ready to defend him, but Carter just shakes his head. He leans over and whispers, “He loves to put me down. He always has. Don’t let it bother you. It’s doesn’t remotely bother me anymore. I just don’t like him disrespecting you.”
I don’t understand this family. I’ve never seen a family talk to each other this way. I’m feeling especially grateful for mine right at this moment. At times I think my family is completely crazy, but I’ll take our brand of crazy over this every day of the week.
After we finish eating, Carter’s father tells Miriam and me to clean up, so he and Carter can go and have a cigar. Carter shakes his head and grabs a dirty plate, but I take it from him. “It’s okay,honey. I’ve got it. Go have fun with your dad. I could use the girl time with your mom.”
I smile and nod in reassurance that it’s okay. I lift up to kiss his cheek. When I do, his hands instinctively go to my hips. Goosebumps spread throughout my entire body. Shit. That’s not good.
I whisper in his ear, “Remember the end game. Don’t get into it with him. Don’t let him get to you. Grin and bear it for a little longer.” He smells so good. I softly kiss his neck under his ear. I can’t help myself. His parents can’t see it, so it’s completely unnecessary, but I do it anyway.
He stares at me a little wide-eyed for a moment, but then nods and kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”
He and his father head to a different part of the boat. His mom and I clean-up the lunch.
She smiles at me. “Carter seems quite smitten with you, Reagan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this with anyone before.”
