Blue

by Jill Patten

  “I haven’t met any yet, but I’m sure he does. He’s a local. How could he not.” Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him with any guys at all. Well, the dude at the taco stand seemed friendly with him, but he looked like he could be his father more than an actual friend. What if he’s one of those somewhat normal guys like Ted Bundy or worse, Jeffrey Dahlmer that are actually serial killers? No, there’s no way. His sister strikes me as the type who would have his balls hanging from a tree if he screwed around with innocent girls. I’m going to have to ask him a few questions. Maybe hint around to some introductions for my friends.

  “Or he’s so smitten with you that he’s ditched his friends so he can spend every moment either stalking you or actually being with you,” Tiffanny says.

  I shake my head. “It’s not like that, guys. Even though we had a sexy moment, we’re only friends. Friends who like to have a little fun,” I add, waggling my eyebrows.

  “Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Kristy says.

  “I’m serious,” I say, putting too much emphasis on the word serious. “We’ve already agreed to what will happen this week.”

  “Which consists of…” Tiffanny asks, raising her eyebrows as she gives me a one-eye stare.

  “I told him I want to have the time of my life while here, and he was eager to oblige,” I explain with a big smile on my face.

  “Wow, you two are definitely destined for sex. There’s no way he’s going to show you a good time without getting it in,” Tiffanny says, very sure of herself.

  “Yeah, and if we do I may or may not tell you two.” I giggle, hoping they don’t see through my lie.

  “Oh, we’ll know. You can’t keep good juice like that to yourself forever.” And Tiffanny is right. I can never keep anything from them.

  “Oh yes, I can because I just did. Suckers!” I shout, pointing at both of them, then squeal like an immature school girl.

  “Damn you, Phoebe!” Kristy yells. “You suck big fat donkey balls! I can’t believe you would lie to us like that.” She pokes her bottom lip out, but I can see the twitch in her cheek. She’s fighting back a smile. “I feel betrayed.”

  All three of us bust out in laughter.

  “I had a feeling you were holding something back, but I didn’t want to push because I didn’t think you could keep something like that in.” She practically plants herself in my lap and stares at me with big bug eyes. “Now give us the deets.”

  “Geez, give me some space.” I go into the story of how he looked for me after I ran off, then everything that happened after.

  “Seriously, you need to be careful, Phoebe. He sounds a little too good to be true.”

  “It will be fine. I have his sister’s number if he tries anything fishy with me.”

  “Did you end up telling him the reason why you ran off? Did he ask any questions?” Kristy asks, knowing it’s a touchy subject for me.

  “No and no. It’s none of his business.”

  They nod in agreement.

  “Well, I can’t wait to meet him. Especially now that I have a mental picture of what to expect.” Kristy giggles.

  “Just don’t act like a fool and drool all over yourself when you do,” I warn.

  Rubbing my hands over my legs, I contemplate whether or not I should run a razor over my legs before heading down to the beach. The hairs are sparse, but who knows if I might run into Blue. And since he’s so unpredictable, I need to stay on top of my hygiene while here. I can’t expose him to the hairy monster I keep hidden.

  “Do either of you need the shower? I’m shaving my legs before we head down.”

  They both say no in unison.

  “And if you want to go down without me, go ahead, I won’t be far behind.”

  After my legs reach the point of feeling like a newborn baby’s bottom, I put on my turquoise bikini, grab my beach bag, and head out for some fresh ocean air. Tiffanny and Kristy might feel better, but I still don’t want to breathe in their puking germs any longer than I have to.

  Other than a couple of planes flying over the beach with their advertisements trailing behind, the sky is clear and blue and full of perfectly tanning UV rays. I inhale the soft breeze coming off the water. It’s refreshing compared to the steamy heat I’ve been struggling through since being here.

  The hot sand is covered with half-naked bodies, and my eyes scan each one of them in search of Tiffanny and Kristy. As if someone suddenly turns the fans off, the nice breeze I was enjoying minutes before is no longer bringing me relief. Beads of sweat begin to bubble up along my hairline. The stifling heat has returned. After melting in one place for what seems like a lifetime, I finally spot them.

  “There are my girls,” I say as I plop my garb down beside them, and then reach into my bag for my inhaler. The walk down left me winded. “It’s hot as hell out here today.”

  They’re both lying on their stomachs. Neither of them bothers to move as I settle down beside them. “Why didn’t you get an umbrella?” I ask.

  Kristy mumbles something, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. I take the moment to get a little payback for this morning. My hand comes down hard on her black bikini bottoms.

  She jumps up on her knees and yells, “What the fuck?” Her face is blazing red, and she has strands of hair stuck all along her forehead, cheeks, and neck.

  I can’t help myself. I bust out laughing.

  Tiffanny rolls over to her side, and as soon as she sees Kristy, she joins me in a fit of giggles.

  “Payback, sweetheart,” I say then blow her a kiss.

  She glares at me, but I can see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She’s trying her best to act like she’s pissed.

  “Hey, you should lie back down before one of these hotties out here sees you,” I say.

  She huffs. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Tiffanny starts laughing again. “Trust her. Lie back down. Your face is blood red, full of sweat, and you have hair matted to it, too.”

  She flumps down with her arms crossed above her head then rests her forehead on her forearms.

  Glancing out at the lifeguard post, I wonder if Molly is working today. If she’s here, then there might be a chance that Blue will be strolling along the beach as well. Not that I’m looking for him or anything. Well, I am, but not for the reasons everyone thinks. Okay, maybe last night has something to do with it too. But it is nice to have a guy friend for once in my life. It’s almost like playing pretend. Since Kristy and Tiffanny have been the only two friends I can fully trust with my deepest darkest secrets, I also feel like I can confide almost everything in Blue too. Who’s he going to tell? Who does he know to tell anything to that doesn’t already know? Nobody.

  Since I forgot to put my SPF 30 sunblock on before coming down, I take it out and begin spreading it over my legs and arms. As I rub the lotion in on my belly and chest, a shadow casts over me in the form of a person.

  “You need some help with your back?” A soon-becoming familiar voice asks behind me.

  Tiffanny and Kristy both pop their heads up.

  I play it cool and keep rubbing the lotion in. “Could you at least come up with a better line than that? You’re never going to hook up with a girl with that cheesy shit.”

  He steps around me and makes himself comfortable in the sand beside me. “Who says I’m trying to hook up with you?” he says, his voice playful. He cocks an eyebrow up, and I know exactly what he’s thinking about.

  Smiling, I hand him the bottle of lotion. “Nobody, but you do seem to be stalking me.”

  He grabs the bottle while I reposition myself so I’m lying on my stomach. “Actually, I came out here looking for Molly. I thought she had to work today, but I don’t see her. Lucky me, I found you instead.”

  The lotion is cool when it hits my already sizzling back and it feels so good. What feels even better is the way his hands are not only rubbing the sunblock in but the way his fingers massage my muscles as he does it. What
ever sarcastic remark I was about to come back with is lost somewhere in my mind. His magical hands are turning my brain into mush. My entire body is so relaxed it feels as if it’s melting into the sand.

  Soon enough I’m zoned out from everything around me. That is until Kristy belts my name loud enough for everyone in Florida to hear.

  My head feels groggy, but I lift it anyway. “What? My God, can you not see I’m in heaven over here?”

  Blue starts laughing. “I’ve never quite heard it put that way before.”

  Briefly ignoring him, I focus my eyes on Kristy, waiting for her to tell me what was so important to take me out of lala land.

  “An introduction would be nice,” she says with gritted teeth hidden behind a faux smile.

  I exchange the same smile. “Tiffanny, Kristy, I’d like you to meet Blue. Blue, well, you know,” I say, extending my hands out at the obvious.

  Blue says hi to them both, then starts to shake their hands when he realizes he has sunblock all over them. “Sorry, I doubt you want sunblock smeared all over your hand,” he says, laughing lightly. He turns his head to look at me.

  “Oh, we don’t mind,” Kristy says all-too eager to touch him. She’s already taking Blue’s hand in hers.

  Tiffanny plays it cool by waving him off while Kristy keeps a tight grip. It wouldn’t surprise me if she tickles his palm with her finger because she doesn’t seem to want to let go of his hand anytime soon.

  I narrow my eyes at Kristy to let her know that’s enough. She smiles, knowing exactly what she’s doing, then releases his hand, but not before she slides her fingers slowly along his. God, she’s the worst flirt ever.

  Blue swipes his sweaty hand down the leg of his shorts while his nose turns up in disgust. I openly laugh. He smirks and winks at me. That should fix her for a little while.

  Blue places his hands on my shoulders and lightly squeezes them. “Your friend is something else,” he says low against my ear. Unexpectedly, he leans down and kisses me on the cheek before standing up. “Well, ladies, it was great meeting you,” he says, directing his attention at Tiffanny and Kristy. “I’ve stolen your girl long enough, so I’ll leave you beauties to the sun and waves. Phoebe,” he says, bending down with his hands resting on his knees. “Tomorrow’s looking to be a perfect day for surfing, so I’ll meet you here at six a.m.”

  I whip my head around to make sure I heard him right. “I’m on vacation. My body doesn’t respond to those hours unless I’m coming home from a night of partying.”

  He smiles while chewing on his bottom lip. “If you want to try your hand at surfing, you’ll meet me out here.”

  I don’t want to do it because I’ll miss out on my much needed sleep, but I want to because this will probably be my one and only chance. And to do it with someone who is not only experienced but also hot is just a bonus.

  I nod. “Okay, I guess I’ll do it,” I say as if it’s something I have to think twice about.

  “That’s my girl,” he says, then walks down toward the water.

  “Mm mmm mm.” Tiffanny’s grunt of approval while she watches him from behind her shades has me laughing.

  “Damn, girl! Why didn’t you tell us he was gorgeous? Those eyes had my vagina screaming ‘feed me, Seymour.’ I wonder what his dick is like,” Kristy wonders out loud, licking her lips.

  “Probably perfect,” Tiffanny answers. “He’s got some charm wrapped up in that smile of his.” Leave it to Tiffanny to tone her lust down. Her eyes are still focused on him as he wades out into the water. If they only knew just how perfect his dick really is. I’m screaming with joy on the inside as I remember every single sensation he triggered last night.

  Kristy lowers her sunglasses down a smidge as she gawks at him diving under the waves. “You said you two are just friends, right?”

  “You’re not having him, so move on,” I say, laughing. “I spotted him first, so he’s mine. Plus, I’ve already tasted him, and he’s made himself familiar with my vajayjay, so he’s off-limits.” If Kristy gets her claws in him, I’ll never be able to look at him or touch him again.

  BLUE

  Walking in the water serves to help cool me off. I can’t deny seeing Phoebe in that bikini doesn’t set me off. I can feel their eyes on me, which only helps feed my ego. Still, I have to think about something other than being inside her again if I ever want to get out of the water without embarrassing myself.

  I should’ve slept in since I barely caught a wink last night. No matter what I did, I couldn’t turn my brain off from thinking about Phoebe. I keep telling myself I’m only into her because I feel guilty for what I did, but when the fuck did I gain a guilty conscience? Then I tell myself it’s because she’s fucking beautiful. The curves of her tits and ass are a perfect fit for my hands. The subtle moans when I kiss her…damn, it drives me crazy just thinking about it now. She probably doesn’t even realize she does it.

  Whatever the fuck it is, I need to figure it out then get it under control. This shit isn’t healthy. I’ve never allowed a girl to consume me. Maybe my dick, but not my entire being. And the scary thing is my dick isn’t alone in this one. My brain has teamed up with my cock, and they’re becoming buddies. As long as they don’t rope my heart in, everything should be fine.

  Okay, show’s over. Time for me to get back to the shop and earn some honest cash.

  Spring break is one of our busiest weeks of the year. All these college guys come in here renting boards thinking they’re going to charm the girls by trying to be the next Kelly Slater. That’s the equivalent of me vacationing in Vail, Colorado, pretending to be Shaun White. Give it up, dudes. A real surfer knows better. A real surfer knows by this hour, you’ve already owned the waves for the day. And a real surfer also knows the waves are shit today.

  “You’re out early this morning,” Thad says as I come around the counter. “That same girl busting your balls already?” He laughs while handing off a receipt to a couple of guys buying boogie boards. At least they have enough brain to know what their limits are.

  Grabbing the clipboard to see what shipments should arrive today, I shake my head at his comment. “Fuck that shit. The only ball busting a girl gives me is one of many orgasms.”

  “Shh, watch your mouth, bro, there are kiddies over there,” he says, pointing to a little boy and girl trailing behind on their father’s heels.

  “Shit. Sorry. Sorry,” I say twice for both instances.

  He waves a hand off at me. “Ah, don’t worry about it. Doesn’t look like they heard you anyway.”

  Thad turns to me with a solemn expression on his face. “Seriously, though, is it the same one?”

  I shake my head at his precise accusation. “Nah, bro, it’s not like that.”

  He smacks his hand against my shoulder. “The fuck it is,” he says in a hushed tone. “And she must be one helluva lay because you’ve been sniffing her out like a dog in heat since Monday.”

  My body freezes for a split second before I pick up my phone to scroll through today’s current social media statuses. This is one time I don’t want to kiss and tell. I respect her too much.

  He points a finger at me and laughs. “You didn’t think I’d notice, huh?”

  My head shakes nonstop as he keeps talking, and I fight the smile on my lips.

  “You know why I know?” He continues on without giving me the opportunity to ask why. “It’s because you only get up early for one thing. One thing,” he repeats, holding his finger up. “Surfing. And after the forecast last night, I know you weren’t on the water this morning. So, that leaves one thing. And we both know there’s only one thing in this world better than surfing.” He pauses. “Pussy.” He says the word as if it’s the most sacred thing he’s ever known. I guess in some ways it is.

  Damn, now he’s got Phoebe in my head worse than what she’s already been. Flashbacks of last night swirl around in my head.

  I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, maybe she is a fine ass girl, but it’s no
t the pussy I’m after. Wait, let me rephrase that. I’m after the pussy, but I’m interested in everything about her more.”

  “So what you’re saying is she has a brain, a personality, and all those other qualities us guys should be attracted to first?” Thad asks. He looks up and ponders for a moment. “Sounds like you might finally be growing up, Blue.” He pats me hard on the back. “Welcome to adulthood, my friend.”

  “Fuck. You,” I say, careful that no one around hears me.

  Thad pats me hard on the back and laughs. “Let me know when you’re ready to double date.” Then he hustles away from the counter before I have a chance to rough him up.

  Me, in a serious relationship, going on a double date…Thad is smoking crack. I push those thoughts aside and get my ass busy working.

  The last hour of the day at Surf Shack has been dead, which is unusual during spring break. Usually we have people dragging their rentals in a minute before closing. Thad better be glad business slowed down after leaving me to my own devices or I would kick his ass.

  I lock the door behind me then walk up the old metal steps leading into my apartment. When I open the door, Phoebe pops back in my head. What would she think of my place? Is she a materialistic type of girl? Nah, I don’t thinks so.

  My place is small but tidy. I’m a clean guy. If there’s one thing I learned growing up in a perfect home, it’s how to take care of what you have. Now that I live on my own, I take pride in what little I have. And the necessities are all I need to survive. A big extravagant house, a top of the line Benz, and a membership to the Country Club isn’t me. Never has been, never will be.

  People stereotype me all the time. When they see me they instantly think I’m a stoner that spends all my money on drugs while surfing all day every day. At least that’s what my parents think. It’s a shame they don’t bother to find out who the real Lance King is. Oh well, their loss. At least I know I’ve always got Molly. She’s my rock.

  I’ve worn today’s grime long enough, so I grab a towel then turn the water on in the shower. Five minutes later, I’m toweling off when someone knocks on my door.