Eleven
I got to the pool a little after one in the afternoon. A bunch of the guys were already there. Some were starting a game of water volleyball, while others were congregation on beach chairs by the pool. Jimmy called me over and I set my stuff down on the chair next to him.
"You want some sunscreen?" He asked me as I pulled off my sundress, revealing my black bathing suite, a halter top and shorts with a few white flowers with holes in their centers. Three above my chest and on my left leg.
"Put it on before I left the house," I told him. O.C. snorted from his position on my left.
"Hey," I shot angrily. "It's not my fault. I don't tan, I burn like a burger on a grill—and it isn't pleasant."
"Burger?" Rizzo perked up from his seat on the other side of O.C. we all laughed.
"C'mon," Jimmy urged me, finally getting up. God, he looked good shirtless. "Let's get in the water." He grabbed my hand and led me to the edge of the deep end. I dipped a toe in and pulled back quickly, it was cold.
"Just jump in," he promised me. "You won't even feel it." I didn't realize it at the time, but Verchota had been chasing Buzzy and Christian around with an old pair of somebody's tighty whities, and they ran into me, and the next thing I knew I was in the water. It was a shock at first but my body adjusted quickly.
After maneuvering out from under the three boys I surfaced with all my hair thrown in front of my face, so I was sure my first, desperate breath was careful, before I flicked all my out of my face.
"You pushed me in!" I yelled at Phillie, splashing him angrily.
"You bit my ankle!" He yelled back. I wasn't sure how that was possible, since I had surfaced looking like the swamp thing.
"Did not!" I hollered back.
"I'm getting out of here," he announced, swimming for the ladder. "You, Ankle-Biter, you!"
"Gross," Christian yelled finally. "Phillie, that wasn't Faye who bit your ankle...It was me—anybody got some mouthwash?" We all laughed.
"You okay?" Jimmy asked, swimming up besides me.
"Yea," I offered. "But next time, I'm using the ladder." He laughed,
"Fair enough."
We played volleyball in the water, Marco Polo, and a few other pool games, had a cannonball contest—which Rizzo promptly won—and a few of the guys shot hoops in just their swim-trunks. We had a blast. Somewhere between five and six we all dried off and pulled some clothes on and headed out to the restaurant by the pier.
We had to what a few minutes for them to push a couple tables together by the band stand. There were a few, older couples out on the dance floor as we all ordered our food.
A few things I picked up from eating with the guys: Pav never orders steak, Rizzo always puts his napkin on his lap, and Johnson can seriously put away raw clams. Honestly, I don't know where it all goes...he's like a bottomless pit.
"Well that was good," Bah announced leaning back in his seat as it seemed we were all finishing up.
"Yea...if I ever see another meatball as long as I live it'll be too soon," Verchota agreed. The boys burst into a round of laughter.
"Hey," I started. "Lest we forget, if it weren't for Rizzo's meatballs you'd all starve five nights a week." Some of the boys snickered. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm trying to convince Gail to have you guys over," Buzz said. "I think she might need a bit more coercing before she's ready to play team mom." That sent the boys into another round of laughs.
"We might be able to do dinner at my house one night," I suggested.
"What next?" Bah asked, from the other end of the table.
"What else," O.C. replied quickly. "More beer!" And we were all laughing again. The guys ordered a couple more pitchers of whatever they had on draft and the band started playing 'Rosalita.'
"I think I know of a Springsteen fan who'd like to dance with me," Mac teased, getting up and pulling me out to the dance floor with him.
We twirled around, and he spun me energetically as we danced. When the song ended and another began I found myself with a new partner.
"O.C. I never took you for a dancer," I teased him as the band entered the first chorus of 'Vehicle.' He shrugged. "But anything Mac has you want right?" I jibbed lightly and he laughed, twirling me out and wrapping me back into his arms. That song had ended and Jack left me. I noticed Jimmy up talking to one of the guys in the band and they seemed to reach an agreement, before he came over to me.
"So how about a dance," he asked. I didn't answer, but let him take my one hand in his, and he set his other at my waist. I put my hand on his shoulder and leaned into his chest as he rocked us back and forth easily as the music started,
Baby hair with a woman's eyes
I can feel you're watching in the night...
"I love this song," I said looking up at him. He smiled down at me.
"I know," he offered. "I asked around...Buzzy told me you were a Hall and Oates freak." My eyebrows knitted together.
"Me think-eth, me need-eth have words with Buzzy," I said with a slight laugh, making Jim laugh too.
All alone with me and we're waiting for the sunlight
When I feel cold, you warm me
And when I feel I can't go on, you come and hold me
It's you... And me forever...
As we rocked this way and that with the music, I felt my heart skip a beat as Jimmy leaned over and cooed the next line in my ear,
Sara Smile
Won't you smile a while for me,
Sara
And I found I couldn't do anything but just that. Jimmy glowed back at me as we danced. Our first dance. And we shared it with a hockey team and a bunch of old folks at a restaurant by the water.
If you feel like leaving you know you can go
But why don't you stay until tomorrow?
It seemed like a few of the boys had managed to find a couple girls who weren't too old, and didn't look too bad. I was sure I was glowing, and floating on air as Jimmy twirled me out and back into him, hugging me closer. I could feel his strong hand on the bare skin of my newly-sunburned back and hear my flip-flops paddling against the hard-wood of the dance floor.
If you want to be free, you know, all you got to do is say so
And when you feel cold, I'll warm you
And when you feel you can't go on, I'll come and hold you
It's you... And me forever...
I could hear and feel his breath and his heart in his chest, soft and slow and strong. Here in his arms I felt safe...and I felt peace. Even as he sang to me in a low whisper,
Sara Smile
Won't you smile a while for me
Sarah...
The song came to an end all too quickly. I sighed sadly, knowing that one of the boys was bound to cut in any minute. I didn't want to let go. True to form, Phil was the first to approach us as the next song started to play.
"Mind if I cut in, Jimbo?" He asked. Jimmy nodded stepping back, and Phil grabbed me and the next thing I knew he was dragging me along as he spun and stomped around the dance floor haphazardly as the band played 'Beach Baby.' I was laughing so hard I didn't even realize how ridiculous we looked.
The song ended and we took a bow and an instant later Jannie had scooped me up and sung me around like a rag doll. The rest of the night was like that, the boys passing me around like a hot potato, as we all laughed and drank, and had a good time in general. Before we knew it the band packed up and we headed out.
"Faye," Jimmy called, I looked over at him and he held out a hand to me, jerking his head towards the water. I took his hand and he led me out to the pier, it was dark and a shadow moon was trying to watch us from the water. "Thought we could use a few minutes without the peanut gallery," he said sitting down on the end of the pier. I laughed and followed suite.
"Tell me about it," I agreed leaning on his shoulder. "I had fun."
"Me too," he replied. "The restaurant was a good choice...although I doubt they'll ever let us back." I laughed.
"Maybe not Silky," I teased light-heartedly. Jimmy laughed.
"He's the only guy I know who will purposefully get drunk enough to feel up an old lady," Jimmy agreed and we both snickered lightly. I sighed and leaned over and kissed his cheek lightly. He smiled and gave me a small peck on the lips.
"I love you, Faye," he told me earnestly. I took a moment to gather my stamina before replying,
"I love you, too, Jimmy."