The Perfect Indulgence (7 page)

“No kidding.” He sent her an admiring glance. She felt as if she’d passed some kind of test and was annoyed at herself for being pleased. “So what’s your home life like?”

Immediately she felt herself shutting down. He’d mentioned boundaries—this was one of hers. “It’s fine.”

“You live with your parents?”

“Nope. I moved out.”

“When was that?”

“Right after I graduated high school.” She tried to figure out how to change the subject. “I’m nineteen, in case you wanted to know.”

“I did. Why’d you leave? Bad stuff happening at home?”

Summer looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. She didn’t want to talk about her family. A brief summary of guys she’d dated was one thing. But this was too personal, too intimate. It was stuff she’d only share with someone she felt strongly about. Not because her home life had been dramatic or crippling, just everyday drab and ugly and embarrassing. “Not terrible, not the greatest.”

“Don’t want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Okay.” He didn’t seem at all offended. “So what’s the big life plan from here?”

She groaned silently, not sure what to say. It was a perfectly normal get-to-know-you question, but no one knew about her plan to go to college, and she liked it that way. Zac had caught her studying at Carmia Park one day and she’d been tempted to tell him what she was up to, but he’d let the encounter pass without comment. That same temptation was dogging her now, but she’d be a fool to trust her secret to a guy she barely knew. Who knew how he’d react? It was hard enough for her to believe her dreams would come true sometimes, and that was without anyone else pissing on them.

“I’m just going to hang at Slow Pour until something better comes along. Maybe get married someday.”

“Really?” He turned to look at her, frowning. “No college?”

She fidgeted in her seat, uncomfortable lying, reassuring herself this was none of his business unless they grew close enough that she felt comfortable sharing.

“Nah. It’s not for me right now.” When he made no comment, she glanced over at him a few times. No reaction? He bought it? She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or hurt. “What about you?”

“I’m going to steal cars. No, actually carjack them. And do crack. And meth. And die young in a blaze of stupidity.”

“Oh,
that’s
nice.” She rolled her eyes.

“No, it’s not nice. It’s crap, like your answer.” He glanced at her, looking annoyed. “Hang at Slow Pour? Get married? What are you afraid I’ll do if you tell me the truth, suck out your soul or something?”

She whipped around to face him, stunned by his outburst. What the hell was that? “Is this your famous temper?”

“You’re a terrible liar, for one thing. And you’re studying. Psychology or something. Zac told me.”

She couldn’t handle the accusing stare anymore and sat back furiously in her seat, folding her arms across her chest. She was utterly pissed off, both at him and at herself for lying when her instinct had told her to confide in him. “I
told
you I was staying at Slow Pour for a while, which is true, and that college isn’t for me right now, which is also true. I don’t owe you any explanation beyond that.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Now who has a temper?”

“Back off, Luke.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. Don’t knife me or anything. I don’t need any more trouble.”

His humor took her anger down a notch. “I’ll try not to.”

They drove for a long while in strained silence. Summer felt sick, aware that she wasn’t blameless for the change in the mood between them, and that she was being stubborn and immature by not making an overture to peace.

But so was he.

By the time they got to Carmia, however, she was sick of the tension, thinking of the fun they’d had at the mission, not wanting to thwart what could turn into a good friendship that might help them both. “Look, Luke. I’m sorry if it hurt you, but honestly, there are things I don’t share with people I don’t trust, and that was—”

“Why did you go anywhere with me if you don’t trust me?”

Her anger flared again, sharp and hot. Fine. If he was going to keep being a jerk, she’d do the same. “I felt sorry for you.”

“Oh, that’s great. Thanks. Appreciate it.” They were silent except for her terse directions until he pulled up in front of her house. “See ya around.”

Summer didn’t move. She couldn’t let it end like this. “Luke. You’re being unreasonable. We only just met.”

“I don’t date women who feel sorry for me.”

She rolled her eyes and shoved open the door. “You said this wasn’t a date.”

“Get the hell out of my car, Summer.”

“I’m gone.” She shut the door hard and peered in the window. “Nice temper, by the way. You’ll go far with that.”

He put the car in gear and shot it forward. Summer watched until he was out of sight, lips jammed together, arms folded over her chest.

Loser. Dork. Psycho.

At least this time she’d gotten out long before she could get in too deep.

5

O
H
,
COME
ON
.
Zac stared in disbelief as Bodie pushed through the door of Slow Pour and headed straight for Chris—who was back to wearing that dumb wig again—Bodie’s eerily white-toothed grin on full display. It was nearly closing time, and Zac had been about to stroll over and suggest he and Chris go out for a drink. Seeing her today, watching her face light up when he walked in, then immediately shut down into that weird new way she had of not letting herself show any emotion, had just affirmed what he had to do. His next step was clear.

In their last exchange of emails, Eva had hinted that Ames was on the verge of being offered a job at Great Grapes Wine Distributors—an immediate opening. Which would mean she’d come back to California, and Chris would return to New York. After that...well, it was possible Zac would get into Columbia, in Manhattan, but he couldn’t figure that into any plans until it happened. If Chris left town in her current skittish state of mind, that would be that—he’d have no hope. There was no point trying to start an intense relationship with a woman who was fighting her feelings that hard.

So he’d left the office, bringing work on drought management he could do at Slow Pour, intending to propose to Chris that they maintain a casual relationship, one that involved a whole lot of good-night kisses like they’d shared last night, and whatever else those kisses led to—he had a whole lot of ideas on that front. The arrangement would be less than totally satisfying given Zac’s inexplicably deep feelings, but if he let any hint of those feelings slip too soon, Chris would have nothing to do with him.

A decent plan. But now here, once again, was bonehead Bodie, with Slow Pour about to close and Luke due back any minute to pick Zac up. Sometimes Zac wondered if this woman was worth all the headaches.

The memory of her warm, instantly responsive mouth provided the answer.

But man, life was so much easier when it involved only work and fun and friendship. So simple, neat and tidy—the way engineers like him preferred things to be. Once romance and emotions got involved, the world became a complicated mess.

“Dude!”

Zac looked over in disbelief at the flurry of high-fiving and fist-bumping.

Gus, decked out in bright yellow board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, his dark hair recently gelled, probably here to ask Chris out again, too.

This was freaking nuts.

He got only a small amount of satisfaction from seeing Chris roll her eyes at the alpha display. Maybe she’d take his advice and steer clear of both of them.

“Hey! Guys!” She snapped her fingers to get their attention. “I’m about to close, do you want anything?”

In a movieworthy display of maleness, Bodie took off his sunglasses and leaned across the counter. “Just the chance to spend some time with you.”

Zac held his breath. If she did what any sane woman would do and threw up immediately, there was hope.

She didn’t. She lifted a dark eyebrow. “What were you thinking?”

“Aw, man.” Gus threw up his hands and let them drop. “
I
was going to ask her out.”

“Too late, Barney.” Bodie poked him in the chest.

That was it. Zac thumped his laptop closed and stood.

“Zac, dude!” Gus came over for a high five. “Haven’t seen you catching any waves for a while. They were cranking this morning on dawn patrol.”

“I was out later.”

“Yeah? You doing anything tonight, man?”

“Meeting my brother.” Who was now apparently going to be his date for the evening. Zac glanced pointedly at his watch, trying not to sound as annoyed and disappointed as he felt. “He’s on his way. I’m going outside to wait for him.”

He left the shop, giving Chris a brief nod. That was it. He was outta there. She could have her Gus and Bodie and eat them, too.

Twenty minutes later, he was still waiting and utterly pissed off. Luke wasn’t answering his phone. Zac could either walk the five miles home, or stand here like a moron, waiting for his loser brother, while any minute Chris would walk by, headed for a date with a mistake in evolution who happened to look like every woman’s surfer-dude fantasy.

Not much of a choice.

He headed south on La Playa, aware he was behaving like a cranky child, and not caring. Over the years he’d prided himself on maintaining an easy-come, easy-go mentality about whether any given relationship developed or not. Why fret over a romance if it wasn’t meant to be?

Practical, sensible, downright smart.

And then there was Chris. Why couldn’t he just say, “Guess she’s not that into me,” and move on?

Because of the way she kissed you last night.

So? Kissing was a pleasant activity—maybe she just enjoyed doing it. Maybe the power of their kisses hadn’t meant as much to her. Maybe it had scared her. Anything was possible. Bottom line: Chris had chosen Bodie, and Zac was done.

A car approached, going too fast. Better not be Luke speeding. The kid had enough bad news on his record.

The vehicle slowed down as it approached him. Great. It was Luke. Zac swung around, putting on a severe frown so Luke would know he was disappointed.

Instead of his bright blue Prius sedan, he encountered a bright red Corvette convertible, top down in spite of the cool weather, and inside, ta-da: Bodie and Chris.

Hadn’t he seen this scene in about a dozen high school movies? Hunky hero and sexiest girl in town pull up in latest-model car next to big loser, who is walking down the dusty street because his irresponsible pain-in-the-ass brother couldn’t get his act together?

* * *

“
N
EED
A
RIDE
,
DUDE
?
” Bodie called out, one arm draped along the back of Chris’s seat.

Zac sent him a withering look. “Your car only seats two people.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Zac wasn’t going to look at Chris. He didn’t want to see her smug and happy in the cool car with the hot dude.

He looked at her, anyway—she was made of some magnetic material his eyes couldn’t resist.

She wasn’t looking smug. In fact, she appeared to be embarrassed and miserable.

His heart leaped.

Jeez, Zac, calm the hell down.
If Chris wanted him, she wouldn’t be in the convertible with Bodie. She’d be with him. Walking. On the road. Because Luke was an irresponsible—

“Sorry about that, dude. Well, see ya later.” Bodie floored the gas and the car shot away, tires squealing.

Zac would really like to think that Bodie acted the way he did and drove that kind of car because his dick was the size of a dehydrated slug.

Another car came up from behind him and this one also slowed. Zac swung around again, his frown even darker. His brother was in serious trouble now.

But, again, it wasn’t Luke. Gus this time.

This day was turning out to be more and more special every second.

“Dude.” Gus pulled up mournfully next to Zac, who acknowledged him with a nod, but kept walking. Gus’s car—an orange Kia with a cracked windshield—nosed closer and crawled alongside him. “Don’t know about you, but after that odious debacle, I could totally use a beer or two, or like three. You up for hitting the A-Frame?”

“I’m heading home, thanks, Gus. Gotta find Luke.”

“Is he driving your car?” Zac nodded and Gus pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Dude, he’s at Slow Pour. I just passed him.”

Zac stopped walking.
Great. Terrific. Fabulous.
“Okay. Thanks.”

“No problem.” Gus drove off, turning his head to shout, “Change your mind about the beers, let me know.”

“Sure, Gus.” Zac started back on La Playa. Predictably, a text came through on his phone from Luke.

I’m here, where are you?

Forty-five minutes late. No apology.

He texted back:
Walking home.

I’ll pick you up.

A minute later, Luke pulled up beside him. He got into the passenger seat, telling himself not to yell at his brother until he heard his side. But it was tempting, especially because there was a really fine-quality yell building in his chest. But the reasons behind that yell had more to do with his own issues than Luke. Besides which, yelling first and asking questions later was how their dad handled Luke, and clearly that hadn’t done much good.

As soon as Zac’s door closed, Luke accelerated, cutting off a car coming up the street behind him.

Zac nearly bit his tongue in half holding back fury. “So, how come you were late?”

“Don’t start, okay? Just don’t.”

Zac rolled his eyes. “I’m not
starting
, Luke, I’m just
asking
.”

Silence.

Too bad there wasn’t an eject button under Luke’s seat, though it would probably be a bad idea to get rid of the driver when the car was going nearly fifty miles an hour.

“Sorry.” Luke blew out a breath. “Summer and I went to San Miguel.”

“Summer?” Zac couldn’t hide his surprise. Summer was about the last person he’d picture his brother with. She was sweet and wholesome and West Coast, while Luke was...none of the above. “Whose idea was that?”

“Hers.”

Another surprise. If Luke messed with her, Zac would—

Okay, wait, one step at a time. “So what happened? You lost track of time?”

“The date ended badly.”

Zac’s stomach sank in dread and he clenched his fists. “How badly?”

“It was like the conversation just took a dive. You know? You start out great, and then suddenly you’re swirling down a toilet and you have no idea how to back up or get out of it.”

Zac snorted, his anger cooling into sympathy at Luke’s bewilderment. Yeah, he knew about that. “You like her?”

Luke shrugged, trying to look nonchalant, but his face was slowly turning pink. “She’s okay.”

“She’s great, actually. If you do anything to—”

“I’m
not
going to do anything to her.”

“Okay.” Zac made himself back off. Another thing their dad did far too often—expect the worst of Luke. “So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.” He slowed the car to a reasonable speed. “What would you do? And don’t say, ‘Nothing.’ That’s your wimp style, not mine.”

The question was so unexpected Zac had to keep himself from asking Luke to repeat it. He’d even overlook the wimp comment. Mr. Know-It-All was asking his too-rigid, too-serious brother for advice? This was a first.

“I’d apologize.”

“I didn’t
do
anything.” Luke grimaced. “Well, I did lose my temper, but man, she gave it right back to me.”

“Apologize, anyway.”

“For what?”

“For fighting, for accusing, for existing, whatever it takes. You let a misunderstanding stand like that, and it weighs on you. Especially with someone who could be a good friend, like Summer.”

“That is completely messed up. Why should I— Hey, isn’t that Bodie and Chris going into the A-Frame?” Luke pointed, and then glanced at Zac, who felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach all over again. “That sucks, huh?”

“Not a good night for the Arnette brothers.”

“I thought you guys did okay last night.”

“We did.” Zac shook his head with exaggerated weariness. “Women, huh?”

“Women!” Luke smacked the steering wheel, grinning. “But you know what you need to do, right?”

Zac was walking right into a trap. “What?”

“Apologize to her.”

“Why?” The word came out on a chuckle as he did his best impression of his brother in full outrage. “I didn’t
do
anything.”

“Dude.” Luke started laughing, too, deepening his voice to match Zac’s. “Apologize, anyway. For existing. For not being a massive prick like Bodie! You let that shit stand and it
weighs
on you, man. Especially with someone you are completely wussy in love with like Chris.”

“Aw.” Zac reached over to tousle his brother’s hair, as he’d done when Luke was much younger. “You are just so
adorable
.”

“Dude! Do not touch the perfect strands.” Luke was giggling like his old self, free and unself-conscious. “We are discussing serious business here. We must make a pact to apologize to our completely unreasonable women who hold our balls in their hot little hands.”

Zac cracked up. He’d forgotten how funny his brother could be. And in this case, wise. Zac wasn’t going to give up on Chris—of course he wasn’t. She couldn’t possibly enjoy her date with Bodie any more than she had her date with Gus. In fact, odds were she’d enjoy it a lot less. Zac kissing her last night had probably freaked her out and she was having a beer with Bodie in a twisted attempt to protect herself. If Zac stayed patient, his plan could still work. And he might as well practice what he preached and be a better role model for Luke. “Yeah, okay. I’ll apologize if you will.”

“Deal.” Luke picked up speed, then took a right turn toward the Carmia Pier, which was lined with bars, restaurants and surf shops. “But we’re going to a different bar first. I’m gonna need a beer or two for courage.”

* * *

“S
O
IT
WAS
cranking out there, really firing. I drop in and I’m charging this wave, totally owning the pocket. I carve my bottom turn totally perfect, I’m totally amped, getting ready to kick out, and some goat boater crosses me and I have to bail before I eat it.” Bodie laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “Man, that pissed me off.”

Chris took a gulp of her third margarita, dimly aware that she was drinking too much too fast, but she had to numb the pain somehow. There had to be a finite number of waves in Bodie’s life, and there had to be a limit to the number of details he remembered about each one, right? Please?

“So then, there was this time on Indian Beach when I—”

“Bodie.” The third margarita had given her enough courage to call it a night. “This has been great, but I think I’m ready to go.”

His face brightened. Chris could have kicked herself. Maybe he’d been boring himself, too? She should have suggested they end their date an hour and two margaritas ago. She shouldn’t even have agreed to come—that had been clear about two seconds after she’d said yes. But that morning she’d woken up in a horrendous old-Chris state of anxiety over the kiss with Zac and what it meant and what it didn’t mean, and then he’d walked into Slow Pour and she’d wanted him to stay and she’d wanted him to leave, so by the time Bodie asked her out, she’d just wanted something in life to be
simple
.