Lusty Lakehouse

The warm summer night was thick with moisture and the sun had finally dipped below the horizon,casting warm hues of orange and red layers that lit up the night sky. a loom of nostalgia washed over me, as my thoughts drifted into the summer. the summer i met him.. I had gotten off work around nine o'clock and my feet were sore. Finally on vacation. My hair frazzled from the heat of the day an let's not forget something from a  dish tray had splashed across my uniform.(lovely!?!) I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror. Damn my hair—it just won’t behave!! I roll my eyes in exasperation and gaze at the tan, blonde-haired girl with blue eyes too big for her face staring back at me, and give up. My only option is to restrain my wayward hair in ponytail and hope that I look semi-presentable. Dammit Wendy! I screamed in my head. Thanks for calling in sick and subjecting me to this wonderful double shift.My tone full of sarcasm and frustration. Wendy was a good worker for the most part, well lets face it.. that's if she ever showed up.She was a small, athletic woman. About half the size of a normal woman, with a kind smile and a great love of good food and drink...so basically my best friend. We grew up together, she's actually the one that got me into the whole art scene. she lived in the art district, and on many occasions we would roam the streets and sample fine wine. There were many nights we would sway in her porch hammock and giggle at the passing people and their questionable clothing choices. This is also where I met Jack my now ex boyfriend. He was renting a spot between the funnel cakes and the wack-a-mole machine. Jack had a hand crafted glass collection. It was stunning.. really. He sold most of his work from his van. He later referred to as his stab-bin wagon. My eyes rolled with repulsion i think about all the red flags i had missed or just plain looked over. Jack was a tall 6'4 man covered in tattoos, and equally bad attitude. I had always had a thing for the cosmic "bad boy" but man i really got a bad one. That's the thing with advise... you can always dish it out but never take the advise for yourself. I should have ended things a lot sooner, I finally broke up with my boyfriend of three years. Three months ago. I've been sorta couch surfing ever since I moved out. It feels incredible to finally have my own space. I've craved this opportunity for so long that I don't mind forking out the extra rent. That last year with my ex was unbearable. He'd always been jealous, but the further we grew apart, the more suffocating his possessiveness became. If I went out without him I'd have to 'forget' my phone to avoid getting fifty asinine texts, and having to reassure him that no, I hadn't danced with any guys, and yes, it was a crap night without him. It had gotten so bad that I stopped wanting to see my closest friends – even a night with Wendy would result in a fight. As I pulled out of my parking space I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to put air in my slow leaking tire. So, I begrudgingly pulled into the all night gas station, proceeded to get out of my car. My body weak from my double shift, I winced as i crouched down to remove the tip cap off my slow leaking tire. There was a sudden warmth, a presence behind me. I turned to see a handsome man with eyes so beautiful it stole my breath away.With his strong slightly rough hands he reached to take my hand and help me from my crouched position I had once been sitting in. "Hey beautiful, did you need some help with that"? He said in a very dominating tone. It set my stomach into butterflies, now my breathing was uneasy and I felt like my heart would leap from my chest. But before I could stutter out ...."Oh no I'm fine". I was grinning like a jackass and could not pull my eyes off this man. Our eyes met and the earth started to fade into the background. Wow! what was wrong with me. I'm not usually this taken back by good looking guys, but damn he was sexy. We stood in silence for what felt like eternity. Before he stepped around me to pick up the air chuck. "Okay well... some of us need to use this". He rolled his eyes, and hissed at me. Now confused I felt the blood rush to my face as I looked up at him. Embarrassed and a little hurt by his reaction. Granted he didn't know me, but all the same my ego got the best of me. my eyes cut like razors in his direction as i barked out "Then you can wait your turn, @$$hole!" I snatched the air chuck from his grasp greedily. Turning on heel to leave this conversation and regain my composure. What the heck is this guys problem?!? That's when I heard a shrill high pitched woman's voice all to close for comfort. She had been crying from what i could tell,and was a bit tipsy. Tristan!!! She said in a sharp motherly tone. She slap him hard, I heard the loud crack. And spun around just in time to see his face red and hot with Anger. She went into a manic rambling about how she could have any man she pleased, and that if he didn't like her job then why did he get with her to begin with. A ping of guilt swept through me when I realized I wasn't the only one having a bad day. I didn't know his life. And I shouldn't judge someone so harshly after just meeting them. He clutched at the woman's hand, pulled her by the arm and directed her towards the back door of the store. I was just close enough to hear the argument. So I played it cool. ( I thought so anyway) I scooted towards them with my back facing them, to direct my full attention. Without letting on that i was indeed listening. I wanted to hear just exactly was going on. because lets face it, everyone loves a good "Jerry Springer " moment. Palms suddenly sweaty, Tristan swallowed against what felt like cotton candy lodged in his throat.His stomach churned as he staggered forward, His heart kicking like a rabbit on the run. His lips pressed in a hard line then he spoke... Tristan: "What do you want from me"?(more of an accusation then a question). you've made your choice! I don't need this...How many more extra late night parties are you gonna have? Am I just supposed to share you with every man that has a dollar? (Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes). You know what I want!! How many times do I have to tell you?!? Come home Tristan we can work this out. He...he meant nothing to me. I only do these side parties because we need the money. Tristan, Honey you know how crazy things can get. Mr. Big is one of my biggest clients. Tristan sighed and took a ragged breath... His words hit her like a strike of venom. I've already told you, I don't get involved with... with... enough is enough! I can't and wont love a woman i have to share. Don't ever put your hands on me. we're done here! She could see that nothing she was going to say could change his mind or make the situation any better. Silence fell between them as they gauged each others facial expressions with pained mirrored looks. Suddenly I realized I was standing close...too close. I felt super awkward now knowing I was the only one around, and all parties could see me and know I had been listening. Panic swept threw me as I seen the woman cut her eyes at me and shout "Get a life, you nosy bi**h". my face froze with horror.I felt rude and uneasy. The argument was over. She had started off in the opposite direction leaving a strange yet satisfying silence. He Looked a little embarrassed by what had just happened. He did his best to attempt to lighten the mood, but was visibly uneasy. He asked if I knew of a place we could go and hang out until his aunt would be home. A small smile crept from my lips as I looked up at Tristan. So...you wanna have a beer with me? I know a spot close.  I'm Raven by the way. The car ride was silent. And he nervously switched the radio from station to station. Tristan rubbed a calloused hand over his tense neck as the street lights bounced off the freshly waxed hood of my car and brown brittle grass skirted the side of our doors. My house at Lakeside Drive is big, rambling, three-story affair, with dark shingles and white trim.As you look at the house from across the street, the entrance door is down the left side. As he stepped out of the car gravel crunched under his shoes as the bone-dry dirt dusted the hem of his pants. he slowly swaggered towards a boathouse with a twenty-five-foot cabin cruiser and fifteen-foot speed-boat. "hey do you think we could take it for a spin"? He said. I giggled as I watched his eyes light up like a child on Christmas. Of course! I don't think the owners will be home for hours! We walked to the boat dock and I motioned for him to start it up. Oh such a naughty girl he smiled in delight. Shh! did you grab the beer? I smile and gesture towards him. He laughed and shows a now open box, and handed me one. get on! i'm gonna give you the ride of your life. The Speed-boat roars to life as we back out of the boat house. I'm both terrified and excited.