One Hot Summer

Chapter 5: Dinner

RILEY

CPR training went well. Only a few lifeguards didn’t have to go through training again. Myself included. I happily oversaw the whole class though but was happy to be going home.

Opening day is Monday and I’m excited. I don’t know that I’ll be able to spend the whole summer with Brynn riding my ass about James.

I walked inside and saw Tara and Sam talking.

“Hey Riley, how was work?” Tara asks looking down at her phone.

“Good, I’m starting to get my tan” I say spinning to show her. She smiles and nods. The door behind me flys open. Ben tracks in headed for the stairs.

“Bennett, hold on a minute” Tara calls after him. He retreats back down the steps, his eyes wide.

“What’s up?” He says standing next to me. The heat off of his body is intense.

“We are going to have family dinner on Friday at 6pm. We’re getting it catered by that Italian place you love so much sweetheart” Tara says begging for a certain reaction.

“Great” Ben says turning to head back upstairs.

“Riley, honey you are welcome to invite James” she says smiling.

“Okay, thank you Tara” I tell her.

That’s if James actually responds to me.

As I walk upstairs I pull my phone out and try to call James. The phone trills but finally there’s an answer.

Riley: James?

Random guy: nah, hold on

I hear the guy in the background

“Dude wake up” he says. Wake up?! It’s after 2 in the afternoon.

James: Hello

His voice sounds groggy

Riley: Where the hell have you been?

James chuckles

James: Miss me that much baby?

Riley: Miss you? It’s been three days since I’ve heard from you. I can’t keep doing this James

He suddenly sounds more awake.

James: I’m sorry baby. I don’t intentionally ignore you. I’m sorry baby. I love you

I shake my head and sit on the side of my bed.

Riley: If you do love me then prove it

James: How baby?

Riley: Responds to my f*****g texts!

James: I promise I will, honey

I want to believe him but history tends to repeat itself, especially in James Hamiltons case.

Riley: The Banks are having dinner on Friday at 6. Will you please come?

James: Of course, love. I’ll be there

Riley: I’m serious, James. If you don’t show up, I’m done

James: Babe, I will be there. I promise. I love you

Riley: love you too

I hang up and feel anxiety in my chest. Do I believe him? No. Will I actually dump him? I hope so. Right now my body was craving water therapy

Grabbing my two piece out I slip into it and decide to spend some time by the pool.

Brynn is already pool side with what I assume is an alcoholic beverage by her side.

I sit on her chair with her and wrap my arms around her.

“I’m sorry for being so snappy the other day” I tell her. She hugs me tight.

“I just want you to be happy, babes” she says.

I nod, “I know. I love you”

Slipping off my flip flops I take a running start and dive into the deep end of the pool. The cool water ignites my senses as I float back to the top.

…

Friday morning I made my way to the pool. Ann was already in her office. Sorting swim suits.

“There’s nothing more gorgeous that the red suit of a lifeguard” I say jokingly.

“I agree. Here” she says handing me the clipboard, “read off to me each guard, their size, and how many suits they’ve ordered” Ann says. We get everyone’s suits separated. My phone dings.

“I’m not gonna make it. Will you bring my suits home?” Ben says. I sigh and reply, “sure”.

I roll my eyes and grab his suits. Everyone else seems to follow directions and arrives promptly to receive their suits.

“See you guys Monday” I say to some.

After getting home I decided to shower and get dressed in a southern bell blue sun dress with spaghetti straps. The bust was so tight that I didn’t bother wearing a bra. I walked down the hall and knocked on brynns door.

“Hi babes” I say walking in. Her eyes widen as she sees me enter.

“Wow, I love that color on you. Can I do your hair?” She asks. I nod and sit on her bed.

“Just a heads up. James is supposed to be coming for dinner tonight” I tell her hoping she doesn’t flip her lid.

“There goes my night..” she says. I c**k my head to the side at her.

“Can you please just be nice for one night? Please, for me” I ask.

“For you and only for you…” she starts, “…but that’s if he even comes”.

I look down, knowing that she’s right. There’s a big chance he won’t even show.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m not helping..” Brynn says leaning down and hugging me. I hug her back and smile.

Brynn and I walk downstairs arm in arm. The smell is amazing. I love all pastas and Italian food so this dinner was on my mind all day.

Ding dong

Brynn runs to the door, flinging it open. Her excitement disappears as she sees James on the other side. A smile appears on my face as I run up to my boyfriend and wrap my arms around his neck.

“Great…James is here” Brynn says moving into the living room.

“Thank you for coming” I say pressing a kiss to his lips. His hands reach down and grab my ass.

“I told you I’d be here, babe. And that’s not all. I’m staying the night with you too” he says smacking my butt.

Excitement bubbles up in my chest as I squeal. Grabbing James hand I pull him to the dining room with me.

“Hi James, glad you could join us tonight” Tara says placing a hand on his shoulder.

Ben walks in and instantly eyes James. His eyes are intense, looking like he’s squaring him up. Bens eyes shift over to me, we keep eye contact for a moment until I break the awkward silence.

“Uh, James this is Brynns brother Ben” I say motioning between the two. James reaches his hand up to shake Bens, who just looks down at his hand and smirks.

“Good to meet you” Ben says before looking at me again. He takes a seat next to Brynn on one side of the table.

“Bennett, don’t be rude” Tara says.

“It’s fine, Mrs. Banks” James tells her.

He and I settle on the other side. I’m across from Brynn while James is across from Ben. Tara and Sam take their places at the ends of the table.

There is already a cloud of awkward tension in the air but Sam is great about making conversation as we eat. I get a piece of lasagna, garlic bread, and fill my bowl with salad. It’s probably the greatest Italian food I’ve ever had.

“So, James. I hear you’ve been helping your dad in his shop?” Sam says turning his attention to our side of the table.

“Yes, sir. I don’t make it there as often as I’d like but I try to help him out when I can. Two weeks ago when I was there I was able to help him detail quite a few vehicles” James says. Brynn eyes me.

I turn in my seat, “I thought you said that’s where you were three days ago…” I ask.

James gets an unsure look on his face.

“Well, yeah..I uh..I was there..I just didn’t get to help my dad out” he says. Brynn shakes her head, while Ben looks at her then to me.

“But you said that’s why you hadn’t texted me back or called. Because you were helping your dad..” I say in a quiet voice. James just stares at me for a moment.

“Cat got your tongue?” Brynn asks taking a drink of her wine. James shoots her a dirty look before grabbing my hand.

“I was baby. I just got confused for a minute” he says. Ben scoffs. All eyes turn to him.

“Sorry, bread went down the wrong pipe” he lies.

I take a deep breath and go to get a second helping of lasagna. James stops me.

“Baby, don’t you think you’ve had enough?” He tries to say quietly. I pull my hand back and take a sip of my wine. Bens eyes are burning into me. His gaze narrowed.

“Are you her f*****g father?” Brynn says angrily.

“Brynn, language” Tara says trying to diffuse the situation.

“I’m not but as her boyfriend I just worry about her” James says. Brynn goes to open her mouth again.

“Brynn, it’s really fine. I don’t need it. I’m fine” I tell her. She throws her napkin down and leaves the table. Watching her move toward the back doors I debated going after her but I knew what she’d say and I didn’t want to fight. Ben makes no attempt to hide the fact that he’s staring at me. His gaze turns irate as he glares at James.

I let out a deep breath wishing that the floor would swallow me whole.

The rest of dinner is awkward and I couldn’t wait to get away from the table.

BENNETT

When I walked into the dining room and saw Riley holding hands with that walking buffoon I could instantly see why Brynn didn’t like the guy. He carried himself with arrogance. Probably overcompensating for something.

I was quite amused when he tried being the polite guy by shaking my hand but I wasn’t falling for it.

Dinner went off pretty innocently until good ol Sam had to open his damn mouth.

Riley and I are not interested in one another but I wasn’t expecting to get so damn mad at her d**k of a boyfriend for lying straight to her face. You didn’t have to have a lie detector to detect the falsehood in his voice. What a prick.

I tried to search Riley’s eyes but it didn’t take much to see the hurt in them. As if that wasn’t bad enough this asshole had the nerve to shame her for going for a second helping of food. Brynn was about to lunge across the table to strangle this piece of s**t and I would’ve gladly helped.

What kind of bullshit line is ‘as her boyfriend I just worry about her’? Has the fucker ever even looked at his girlfriend? Apparently not because if he had he would see what a goddess she is. Her body is perfect. She has no reason to be worried.

I almost stormed away from the table to keep myself from kicking his ass but Brynn beat me too it and I knew my mom would not have been happy if both of us stormed out.

After dinner finished I excused myself and found Brynn outside. Maybe I haven’t been home in four years but I still care for my sister. Perhaps that’s why I care for her friend too.

“You okay?” I ask. Brynn sits with her feet in the pool.

“Is the douche still here?” She asks. I nod and slip off my shoes joining her.

“Why is she even with him?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Well, I do but I’m not going to say. It’s not my place” she says.

Before I can say anything she adds, “Riley deserves so much better. She’s like the best human being I’ve ever met and she puts up with me so..”.

I laugh, “yeah, she is a saint to be your best friend” I tell her putting my arm around her.

“I think he’s cheating on her…” Brynn says. My blood instantly boils. There are many things that I can deal with but cheaters are not one of them. I grit my teeth and turn to Brynn.

“Do you know for sure?” I ask. She shrugs, “When Mac and I had our thing he kept telling me that James was cheating with multiple girls. I tried to tell Riley but she believed James” she says. I shake my head and stand up.

“Where are you going?” Brynn asks.

“Upstairs” I say turning to walk away.

“Please don’t say anything to anyone..” she pleads.

“No promises” is all I say.