Pulling into the marina, I’m stunned to see the slip between Yates and Vance is still open. I thought for sure someone would nab it last night. I make sure my buoys are down and pull slowly into the spot before cutting the engine and jumping off the side to tie my boat down.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Yates is standing on deck, with nothing but a pair of boxers on. He’s holding a cup of coffee and his already unruly hair is standing on end.
“Rough night?” I nod toward him, hoping to divert our conversation to him.
“Eh, picked some chick up at the bar.”
“Classy,” I say this under my breath. “She still on the boat?”
Yates shakes his head. “No, she left about one or two.”
“Hopefully, you at least walked her to the car.”
Yates chooses to take a sip of his coffee or whatever he has in his mug instead of answering me. It’s fine, because I know the answer. Anytime I’m in the city with him, I’m always the one making sure his conquests are making it home safely. Truthfully, I need new friends. As I stand there and apprise him, I realize he’ll never accept London either. And if he somehow did, he’d never let it go that he considers her beneath him.
“Fuck,” I say a bit too loudly. As much as I want to hang out with London this week, with Yates and Vance around, and my parents coming to town, if I want to see her, we’ll have to sneak around.
Fuck that. I like her. Everyone can fuck the fuck off.
“What’s wrong?” By his tone, he thinks I’ve hurt myself.
Now, normally when I see my friends pull into a slip, I offer to help. Yates, he stays on his boat. Maybe it’s because he’s only wearing underwear and doesn’t want things falling out, or maybe it’s because he’s a lazy piece of crap. I’m going with the latter.
“Nothing, just trying to get tied down.”
“So, where were ya last night? My date had a friend.”
“Not having a threesome that’s for sure.” I’m not even sorry I missed his party.
“Her friend bailed.”
“Bummer for you.” I’m going to go shower.
“Not gonna tell me, huh?”
“Nope.”
My mother and stepdad show up at my boat around two in the afternoon. Her sing-song voice rings out as she says, “Hello, Maxwell.”
Ah, the full first name. Gotta love it.
I climb the steps that lead to my dock just as my parents’ step onto my boat. Kitty Bradley is dressed head to toe in white, not giving a rat’s ass about not wearing white after Labor Day. I take my mom in my arms instantly. Behind her, carrying his own six-pack of beer, is my stepdad, Mark Bradley, former tight end in the NFL. He holds up his beer and points. I wink and start to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Mom asks.
“Nothing.” I squeeze her tightly around her waist and set her down. Instantly, her hand cups my cheek.
“You look tired.”
I am, but not because I don’t sleep.
“Yates and Vance are on either side of me,” I tell her. She gives me a knowing look and steps aside so I can say hi to her husband. We hug and pat each other on the back in a strong, manly way. I like him, always have. He’s been a great husband to my mom and has never once treated me like I don’t belong. I motion for my parents follow me below deck where I have a wine and cheese platter set up.
“Maxwell, you didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
“No trouble, Mom.” I hold the chair out for her and help her scoot in.
“So, tell me what’s new.”
Now’s my chance.
“Well, I met someone that I like a lot.” Kitty claps her hands together and I swear I hear her tapping her feet against the floor.
“Forgive your mother,” Mark says. “Some of the ladies at the club have recently announced they’re going to be grandmothers and now your mother has babies on the brain.”
Thank God I used condoms.
“Yeah, no babies.” My mom frowns.
“Tell me about her.”
I go ahead to tell them all about London and how she’s different from every girl I’ve ever known. She’s beautiful, has integrity, is determined to make her life better. I tell them where she works and what she does and immediately my mom grabs her bag and says she’s going to go introduce herself. It’s a good thing Mark is strong because it took both of us to stop her from leaving. “Later,” I tell her.
“I want to ask her to come to the regatta.”
“Perfect, she can sit with me,” Kitty offers.
I nod. Everything would be perfect except . . . “Dad and Drizella are coming, and you and I both know he won’t approve of London.”
My mom rests her hand on top of mine. “First off, don’t call your stepmother Drizella. I know you don’t like her, but she has a name. Second, if you like this young woman, then follow your heart. You only have to answer to yourself, Maxwell. Not to your father and not to me.”
Mom is right, but it’s easier for her to say that when my dad’s actions don’t affect her anymore. No matter what, I want London to be at the regatta, but I don’t
