2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
I can rinse the sand off my feet and the salt out of my hair, but I’ll never get used to the opulence and extravagance of life on the other side of the breakwater. This pre-wedding cocktail hour isn’t my world, but these part-time gigs when I have days off from lifeguarding pay well. On the upside, usually, no one needs rescuing.
Bartie elbows me and juts his chin. “What about her?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think she and I would have the same taste in music. I’m a beach vibes guy. She looks like she’s into classical. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“Dude, you know we work these things because of the eye candy.”
I rock forward and backward in my too-tight dress shoes. I prefer being barefoot or, if I have to, wearing sandals or sneakers. “I work them because I’m saving up.”
“Yeah, yeah, for your Endless Summer reenactment trip. Right. I’ll believe it when I see it.” He puffs an exhale from his lips dismissively.
“The board is with the shaper. I’m telling you. It’s going to happen.”
Bartie smolders in the direction of a Hollywood bombshell with alabaster skin and dark hair down her back. “Ooh. She’s hot.”
“And you are not,” I say with friendly affection.
I don’t want to shoot him down too hard, but they’d go together like egg salad and surfing. By that I mean don’t eat an egg salad sandwich and then immediately hop on the waves. Not a good combo. Just saying.
I add, “The women here are gorgeous and they’re also extraordinarily wealthy and connected. Way out of our league. Heck, we’re not even playing the same game.”
“Speak for yourself. Doing events like this increases my ratio of finding a Manuka Mama.”
If I were sipping on champagne right now like everyone else, I’d be wearing it. “A what?” I sputter.
“Manuka is a kind of honey. Honey is a kind of sugar.”
“Do you mean like sugar mama? Why not say that?”
Bartie shrugs. “Because it sounds shallow.”
“And trying to hook up with one of these women for that reason isn’t?”
“Just because you’re not over your precious princess yet, doesn’t mean we’ll all be living the poor surfer life forever. Just you wait, I’m going to?—”
I stop listening to what he says because, through an open doorway, I glimpse a woman in a gold sequined dress disappear down the hall. She had blonde hair and—I give my head a shake. Must’ve absorbed too much salt water when I was in the ocean this morning.
Bartie’s voice barges back into my thoughts. “Come on. Be my wingman. We both know you’re the greater stud. You could have any one of these women. You’re the prize specimen. Charming, confident, and attractive.”
“Does that make you the lesser stud?” If I weren’t holding a tray, I’d playfully slug him.
“You know you’ve always been the charmer.”
“Stop buttering me up. I’m merely here to do my job during the pre-ceremony cocktail hour,” I say with a thin smile. Turning slightly, I ask an older couple, “Can I offer you a charcuterie cone?”
Just then, a hand lands on my shoulder. Her fingers are slender and there’s a sparkly ring on the middle one. I follow the length of her arm to her shoulder and then meet her dark-eyed gaze. She wears a slinky red dress and practically purrs.
“Hello there. Can I bother you for some water? I got a stain on my Chiara Boni.” She waves her hand in front of her chest.
I’m not exactly sure what that means, but immediately know that I want no part of it. As for the stain, perhaps I can be of assistance. “They say seltzer water can help,” I offer.
“I somehow knew you’d say that.” She bats her eyelashes.
I discretely take a step back.
“I’m Stella, by the way. It’s lovely to make your acquaintance. Looks to me like you spend some time in the sun.” She squeezes my biceps.
Bartie whispers, “Go for it.”
“You know where they keep the seltzer too,” I say to him through gritted teeth.
“Nope. She’s all yours. I have my eye on that redhead over there.” Bartie winks at the woman who instantly blushes.
Stella links her arm through mine and leads me away from Bartie. Glancing over my shoulder, I mouth, Help .
He chuckles and shakes his head. My best friend isn’t coming to my aid anytime soon. Then again, I am a lifeguard.
Ten minutes later, I’ve extracted myself from Stella’s squid lips. No, we didn’t kiss, but she certainly tried. Thankfully, the wedding band quartet started tuning their instruments, calling her away.
I will not be signing onto Bartie’s Manuka Mama thing and need to find a new side hustle.
Another woman, lost in the hallway, corners me and with a slur, asks if she’s dreaming because she thinks she sees an angel. I’m convinced Cupid must have an evil twin who meddles and makes matches between poor surfer dudes like me and wealthy women who want a little thrill. Let’s just say this isn’t the first time this has happened. Once again, I politely take my leave.
When I change out of my uniform, I think back. Way back. Rewind the tapes all the way back to high school senior year, nine years ago.
Bartie was right. My heart once belonged to someone, and she took it with her overseas. I’ll never get it back because soon she’ll be attending an event like this, only she’ll be the bride.
I bet she’ll look beautiful, dazzling even.
In the years since we graduated, I’ve thought about Dee Dee every day, what could have been, and what I lost. I wouldn’t mind falling in love again, but I’ve never been the same after she left. Even though I spend all day in the sun, sometimes it feels like I’m sleepwalking through life.
She was the bright spot for me.
Bartie says I avoid romantic entanglements because I’m holding out for Dee Dee. I’m not so sunbaked to think that we’d ever have another chance. Diana Daniels Barclay of Marquand is royalty. I’m a mere commoner and a surfer at that.
But dude, I miss her. I’m not lonely per se but would give anything to have another minute, day, or summer with her. However, I cannot imagine what a princess would want with a laid-back surfer living that endless summer lifestyle.
Even though Palisade Shores is home and there’s nowhere I’d rather live, I’ve been trying to get out of town and take an epic surf trip. Bartie was right about me following in the footprints and catching waves at the same breaks as in the iconic surf movie Endless Summer. To experience life to the fullest. Maybe wander into Concordia and catch a glimpse of my dream girl.
If only Dee Dee and I had our own endless summer, but she had to go back to Concordia. She took my heart with her. I’ve dated in the years since, but no one has compared. That’s unfair of me, but it’s the truth.
So no Manuka Mama for me. Probably no wedding bells either as the guests enter the chapel. Just my board and some waves as I look longingly toward the sea.
I got in a solid surf this morning and with a glance at my watch, if I don’t hit traffic, I’ll be back at the beach for a quick session before I’m on for lifeguard duty.