We had just started batting an inflated beach ball around when a cell phone began to ring. Almost comically, we all scrambled out of the water and rushed toward the quartet of lounge chairs where, respectively, we’d left our phones.
“I win,” I crowed when it came to light that it was my phone that was ringing. I pumped my fist in victory for a moment as the others went back to the pool. Then I noticed who was calling.
My father.
Suddenly wanting privacy, I began walking towards the pool house as I answered the phone with a brief, “Hey.”
“Hey, Jim,” Alpha Prime said in return. “What are you up to?”
“Just hanging out with Smokey and some friends,” I answered as I went into the pool house and made sure the door was shut. “And for the record, I was going to call you later today.”
My father laughed. “I’m sure you were, but it’s not a big deal. I was off on a mission anyway.”
“Oh?” I muttered in surprise. “I didn’t realize that.”
“It was kind of last-minute and very hush-hush. That said, it should wrap up shortly, and that’s why I was calling.”
My brow furrowed. “Do you need my help with something?”
“Thanks for offering, son, but no. We’re good. I really just wanted to ask if you wanted to get dinner tonight.”
“Uh…” I droned momentarily. “Unfortunately, I can’t. I’ve got plans.”
“Oh,” my father intoned softly. “I see.”
I could hear the disappointment in his voice. We’d never really had a relationship until fairly recently, and even then I’d kept him at arm’s length for a while. We seemed to be in a good place at the moment – one with a foundation we could build on – and now it probably looked like I was pushing him away again.
“It’s not like that,” I assured him. “I’m supposed to go to dinner tonight with Electra and–”
“Electra?” my father repeated, almost excitedly. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”
“It’s complicated,” I answered. “But why don’t we shoot for having dinner tomorrow instead? Smokey and I should be back for good by then, even if he stays over tonight.”
“Stays over?” he echoed. “Where exactly are you?”
“West Coast. We’re at brunch with some friends.”
“Hmmm,” he muttered. “Not a champagne brunch, I hope.”
“No,” I replied, chuckling. “No champagne.”
“So who’s with you?”
“Like I said before, Smokey’s with me, along with Vestibule – whom you know – and her cousin, Cat.”
“Any adults around?”
“What’s with all these questions?” I finally asked. “Why are you talking like I’m a little kid who needs a chaperone?”
“Look,” my father started to explain, “I trust you, okay? But your mother felt I was too hands-off as a parent. So, before she left, she made me promise to take a more active interest in what you’re doing on a daily basis. When she gets back, I need to be able to tell her that I stayed on top of where you were, who you were hanging out with, that you went to bed on time, yada, yada, yada… So just humor me, okay?”
“Fine,” I muttered in acquiescence. “Cat’s mother Capri is here. Satisfied?”
My father didn’t immediately respond. In fact, the silence stretched on for what felt like a lengthy period of time (but was probably no more than ten seconds), prompting me to say, “Hello? Are you there?”
“Ah, yeah,” he murmured. “I’m still here. What was the name of your friend’s mom again?”
“Capri,” I answered. “And before you say anything about it being disrespectful for me to address her by her name, that’s what she told us to call her.”
“No, I wasn’t going to say anything about that,” he assured me. “But tell me, what does she look like?”
My mouth almost fell open. “You’re kidding, right? Are you seriously asking me to play matchmaker for you? For all you know, she’s married.”
“No, son – that’s not it,” he insisted. “I just…” He trailed off and then took a deep breath. “You know what? I’m sorry. Honestly, I thought maybe she was someone I knew. I wasn’t trying to put you on the spot.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I apologize for misinterpreting things. Do you want me to find out if she’s the person you know?”
“No, don’t worry about it,” he answered. “It’s not important.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he stressed. “Anyway, I have to go, but we’re on for tomorrow night, right?”
“Definitely,” I promised, then uttered a hasty goodbye and got off the phone.
I spent a moment dwelling on my relationship with Alpha Prime. A year earlier, you couldn’t have paid me to be in the same room with him. Now, I was looking forward to dinner with him. Shaking my head at how strange it all seemed, I went back outside.
The first thing I noticed was that no one was in the pool any more. Instead, my three compatriots were seated on some circular patio furniture that was situated around a fire pit table (which, unsurprisingly, was not currently lit). More to the point, they were all eating.
Hastily plopping a strawberry into his mouth and swallowing, Smokey said, “Sorry, man, but we decided to go ahead and grab some food while you were on the phone.”
“You might want to hurry if you want something,” Cat added. “My mother’s ‘Cougar Club’ is here, so there may not be anything but scraps left soon.”
“Cougar Club?” I repeated in confusion.
Chewing on a piece of waffle, Cat gestured towards the area where brunch was set up, and I noticed then that Capri – sitting on a sofa there – had been joined by a group of five more women.
“They may be thin,” Cat remarked, having apparently swallowed the waffle bit she was eating, “but those chicks can pack away some food.”
“You know we can hear you,” declared one of the women – an attractive brunette.
“I just wanted you to know that it’s okay to eat your fill,” Cat shot back. “So
