by Holly Hood
Evan studied my face closely as if he was looking for some sort of sign he was doing the wrong thing. “I really doubt that would happen,” he laughed.
I put my other hand to his neck, interlocking my fingers, and wrapped my legs around his waist as tight as I could possibly make it.
Kenny got up, watching what was going on with a confused look on his face. “What are you guys doing?” he said puzzled, throwing his sunglasses on the chair. Ari swam away.
Evan moved a few steps toward the water, pulling my chin up to meet his lips, and gave me a quick kiss. “Sorry!” he said, jumping in with me still holding on.
I gasped at the cold water hitting my skin, letting go of him to go under. Coming up to the surface, Kenny stood there shaking his head at us.
“Come on, Kenny!” Ari yelled. “Just come on, get in!” she coaxed.
Kenny pulled his shirt over his head, doing a running flip into the water.
“Are you having fun?” Evan asked me, wiping his eyes, the water dripped off his face glistening. He looked even more amazing wet, I thought to myself. He pushed my hair off my shoulders, laughing at me.
“Absolutely. Everyone should swim at least once in the summer,” I replied.
I swam away from him, doing a lap across and slowly floated back lazily towards him.
Evan watched me as I floated with a smirk on his face. He wasn’t much of a swimmer; he more just stayed in one place. “Were you planning on going to the picnic your dad told you about?” he asked out of the blue.
I made my way back to him, leaning against the wall of the pool. “I don’t know what I was doing, it’s no big deal.” I shrugged.
“It’s your family picnic. You should go, those types of things are important,” he said.
Our family picnics were all the same every year. Same food, same cousins, aunts and Grandma’s, same everything. It was important to my parents to always go. Ever since I was a baby we went. I don’t think, besides when Marcus died, we had missed one.
“Are you coming with me?” I asked.
“If you want me to come I have no problem doing that at all,” he said, pulling himself out of the water and sitting on the edge of the pool. His body gleamed. The sun did a very good job at showcasing how muscular and tan he was.
“Okay, well, I need to get ready and we can leave,” I said as Evan helped pull me out.
I walked down the hallway, wondering if everyone in my family would be accepting of the choices that I had made. If they found out about them at all. I was starting to think it probably wasn’t something my mother would choose to share with her relatives because it made her look bad. I didn’t want to be the sore thumb that everyone discussed there, and at the same time I didn’t care. I was proud of Evan and I wanted everyone to lay his or her eyes on this remarkable guy that had stolen my heart. But regardless, these picnics were not something I looked forward to, ever.
Evan whistled at me as I came into the foyer. I literally blushed. Ari came up to check me out as well.
“You have amazing legs, Eve!” she gushed, touching my arm, looking at me like I was an alien or something. I put my phone in my pocket. Evan smiled, just watching me be eyeballed by Ari. “Evan she’s like a model. I wish I was that tall,” she said, backing off as my expression wasn’t the best one.
I didn’t like to be fawned over. I didn’t see what the big deal was about me. I threw on jean shorts and a light, dusty pink tank top that cut a little low, and this cool necklace that was one of my favorites- it had teal stones scattered all over its rope. I’d pulled my hair into a messy bun. I was just grumbling about my hair before I came out because so many strands were falling in my face. But no matter what, it always seemed, everyone thought I was just spectacular. I put on my white strappy sandals with the cork-like wedge heel-it made me almost to Evan’s mouth level.
“She’s gorgeous. I don’t even know how I got so lucky,” he said to Ari, not taking his eyes off of me.
I sighed, taking my purse from the closet. “Are we ready?” I said, heading out, leaving Evan behind. He hurried out, laughing with Ari.
“Bye guys I hope you have a lot of fun. Eve, you can tell me all about it when you get back,” she said, going back in the house.
“Are you annoyed again that we told you you’re pretty?” he asked, taking my hand, walking with me to the truck.
“It’s flattering. I just don’t think it’s necessary,” I said, hopping in. He closed my door.
“No, it’s not, but get used to it, because I can’t help saying it when I look at you sometimes,” he said, pulling down the driveway.
“How many times can you remind someone of something like that? It’s like telling someone every day, Hey, you know you have two legs?” I scoffed.
“Oh, so what you’re saying is you’re so full of yourself, you already know?” he laughed, rubbing my leg.
“No, not at all. I mean, yeah, I’m not bad, but geez,” I said, shutting up. I was starting to sound like a moron.
Some people would give anything to be told that. I just was over being told all the time how blessed I was to look the way I did. Beauty was not always a blessing in my book. It came with its own set of problems.
The drive to Fairway Park did not take that long; it was closer to Evan’s house than my parents’. Everyone’s cars were in the parking lot, I recognized them all. All my aunts, cousins, uncles, were there. We had a decent sized family. Most of them were similar to what my parents were like.
Evan pulled down his visor, taking a glimpse of himself. He messed with his hair and I gave him a weird look. What was he worried about?
“Are you really making sure your hair looks alright?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“Yeah, sometimes I care about my appearance,” he said opening his door, but not getting out.
“You always care what you look like,” I muttered under my breath, getting out.
He met me on my side, taking my hand. I walked slowly towards my gathered family, children ran everywhere, and my dad was commanding one of the grills.
Gray was with Devan chatting with my cousin, Marshall. Marshall was the same age as Gray, they both were into football and that’s all they talked about when they saw each other each year. The only difference with Marshall was, he wasn’t such a jerk as Gray was. I think he more dealt with Gray because he was his family. I was starting to wish for rain as we got closer.
No one seemed to notice us at first. I took a seat at one of the picnic tables. Evan stood in front of me at first, not sure what to do, and then gave up and sat.
“Don’t you want to introduce me to everyone?” he said low, staring at everyone a little uncomfortable.
“That’s what most people do. Believe me, give it a few minutes, and you will meet them all. Once my dad sees us.” I pulled my sunglasses out of my purse, putting them on to hide my eyes from everyone.
“Alright, but this just feels odd. Maybe I should ask your dad if he needs help or something,” he said, jumping up. I sighed, following him.
“Hey there, Evan. You guys made it,” my dad said all polite and friendly as he flipped the burgers.
“Yeah, we did. Do you need any help with anything?” he offered.
“Well, yeah, actually. There are two bags of ice over there just melting. Could you fill the coolers for me?” he said, pointing.
Evan hurried off, coming back with both bags in one arm.
“Oh my God!” my cousin Bree squealed.
I turned rather annoyed at her valley girl behavior. Clearly she wasn’t out of that phase of her life. She was a year older than I was and still seemed younger.
“What?” I asked, half not caring what it was in the first place.
“Who is he? I sure hope he doesn’t belong in our family,” she gushed, staring at Evan who was bent over tending to the ice.
“That’s Evan, Eve’s friend,” my dad chimed in before I could say anything. He gave me a smirk, going back to what he was doi
ng.
Bree looked at me in disgust. “Where did you find him at?” she said, looking back to Evan who was fast approaching.
“Huge sale at Abercrombie,” I said, laughing to myself.
Evan gave me a strange look. “Abercrombie, what?” he asked. I nodded. “I like to think of myself as more the Polo or Ralph Lauren type,” he laughed, joining me on the joke.
“Oh, that’s right, forgot,” I said. Evan kissed my forehead, he extended a hand to Bree, and Bree shook it.
“I’m Eve’s cousin Bree.” She flipped her bleached, bottle blond hair off her shoulder, flashing a smile.
I never understood why she was such a snotty person, but it made her whole being just simply ugly. If she was nicer she would have been such an attractive person. That and about two pounds less makeup, and if she laid off all the perfume.
“Evan. Nice to meet you,” he said, smiling and nodding.
“So, Eve. I heard that you moved out of your parents. Are you nuts? Your parents spoil you guys,” she scoffed.
“Yeah, well, I’m not into all that. I wanted to move out,” I said.
“Where are you now?” she asked, looking at Evan. It was clear she already knew the answer.
“She stays with me,” he chimed in.
I nodded, taking Evan’s hand. “Well, it was nice to see you. We are going to go, uh, mingle,” I said, pulling Evan away.
“Whoa,” Evan laughed.
“Yeah, she’s just rude. If we stayed any longer you would have totally thought you were talking to the female version of Gray,” I said.
“And is this who I think it is?” my uncle Mel exclaimed loudly, bringing all the attention to me.
One by one, the family pointed out the fact that I was there.
He grabbed a hold of my shoulder squeezing it. I backed away.
“Hey, Uncle Mel,” I said dryly.
“How you doing?” he asked me, a beer in hand like usual.
“I’m good,” I said.
Uncle Mel was not the person I was hoping to run into here. Uncle Mel was the one exception to our family. He was an alcoholic, plain and simple. He was my father’s brother; a good five years younger than my dad and I plain and simple just did not like him. I more like despised him.
“Your dad said he wasn’t sure you were even going to come, now that you got your new life and all. He wasn’t sure if you would have time for your family,” he said, his hand coming back up to my shoulder. My body stiffened at his touch.
Evan wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me towards him. “Eve can have all the time she wants with her family, that doesn’t change because she moved away,” he said, breaking into the conversation.
Uncle Mel looked Evan over, his face turning a little perplexed. “That’s not what I hear. I heard she doesn’t come around anymore. Why don’t you come around anymore Eve?” he said, stumbling close to the grill. My dad didn’t seem to notice, he was too busy chatting with his cousins.
I sighed, looking away from Uncle Mel. “I do, and it’s not like you would know because you’re not allowed at our house,” I snapped at him.
I hated drunks. Ever since I was a child, they just didn’t sit well with me. A drink was one thing, a drunk a totally different thing. To me, drinking was an easy way out of your life’s problems. A weakness that I hoped never consumed me.
“Your parents don’t understand, but I do,” he spouted. “He’s an older, good looking man. They know all the right things to say, and just when to say them.” He looked at Evan with a grin. I looked at Evan as well, seeing no amusement at all on his face.
“It was nice to meet you. Mel is it?”
“Yep,” he said, heading over toward the water.
There was a lake near the park where boating and fishing went on and teenagers came to Jet Ski and party. I watched Mel stumble off to the water, glad he was gone.
“Are you alright? You never told me about your Uncle Mel. I don’t like him,” Evan said, watching him.
“Yeah, my dad’s younger brother,” was all I said.
The food was done and everyone crowded around the tables waiting with his or her plates to eat. My mother busied herself with passing out plates and silverware, not even taking a second glance at me and Evan waiting in line. I couldn’t believe after a few weeks she still wasn’t talking to me. Did I truly do something that terrible?
Aunt Lee came up, placing a hand on Evan’s shoulder. She was my mother’s sister, a sweet, loving lady with hair always perfectly styled, polished nails, and the loveliest clothes I had seen on a women of her age. She was older, but she carried it so well. She didn’t look any older than maybe forty.
“It’s nice to meet you Evan. I’m Eve’s Auntie,” she said, smiling warmly at him and giving me a wink.
“Nice to meet you,” Evan said politely.
“You take care of my Eve. I know right now my sister is upset, but I think Eve has a good head on her shoulders. I have always thought that, and I hope you know it girl,” she said to me, squeezing my arm. “You and Marcus were always something special to me and Uncle Hank,” she said tearing up.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at her.
“She needs to hear that,” Evan told her, handing me a plate.
“Well, I’m always here for her. Maybe Bug doesn’t see it now, but later on, she will know that she raised a good girl and that the only mistake she made was growing up and falling in love with such a handsome man as yourself.” She patted Evan’s arm and hurried into line to get some food.
“She seems like a really nice lady,” Evan said, taking a hamburger.
He held one up at me. I nodded letting him put it on my plate. I wasn’t all that hungry but I thought I would humor him.
As we sat down to eat, the noise around was that of laughter and of talking, everyone caught up on their children and jobs and how his or her lives were working out, good or bad. It was the same thing as every year before that.
Gray sat down with Marshall across from us. “I see Uncle Mel had a little chat with you. Is everything okay?” he asked, stuffing his mouth with a hamburger, looking at me with honest concern.
No matter how concerned he could act, there was always a little instigation in everything he said to me. Maybe I was just not willing to see past his shallow-like behavior.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, picking at my sandwich.
Evan looked at me and then at Gray. “You’re alright right?” he asked me, alarmed.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, shoving a chip in my mouth to have a reason not to speak.
“You got to watch that Uncle Mel,” Gray said not toward anyone in particular.
I was starting to get a little irritated with Gray’s attempt at airing my business in front of Evan. Evan seemed a little confused, but tried to keep it cool and eat. I could feel him tapping his foot next to me.
The boats revved loudly in the water, children laughing and screaming as they sped by. It caught everyone’s attention as we all ate. There were several people doing crazy tricks on their jet skis. Uncle Mel was still down by it all, watching.
“He hasn’t changed at all. I don’t think so anyways,” Gray went on.
Evan kept his eyes on Uncle Mel.
“Gray, I don’t care. It’s a once a year thing. Just shut up,” I said, balling my napkin, getting angry.
“I’m just saying, you would think-“
I kicked Gray under the table missing his leg and kicking the picnic table instead with a loud thud.
Gray looked at me, catching on to what I was trying to do. “Geez, Eve, can you ever just chill out. No matter how I talk to you, you’re always so angry about something,” he said.
“Because you want to talk about things that don’t need to be talked about,” I said back, glaring at him.
Evan turned to look at us. Clearly, he was trying to catch on to the conversation.
“You’re my sister. I hate him just as much as you,” he said.
“Don’t worry about it. Hating someone isn’t getting any of us anywhere.”
Suddenly, a loud crash jolted everyone to their feet. My Aunt Lee screamed so loud I was sure someone was dead or dying.
“What is it?” my dad asked, running over to Aunt Lee. Evan followed my dad over to look himself.
“Holy shit!” Gray exclaimed. “That boat almost crushed Uncle Mel.”
My dad started to run to Uncle Mel. Evan stared off at what had just happened, not moving. Everyone, besides me, Evan, and Gray, rushed over to Uncle. I didn’t care to look.
