|
After a long, relentless week slaving over the files for a lucrative court case on intellectual property, Nick decided he deserved day off to enjoy the summer weather. Conveniently enough, Chris had invited him to his parents’ mansion (they were away on safari in Africa), with the intent to celebrate Chris’s younger sister Amy’s return to the East Coast after having spent the last eight years studying art abroad in France and Italy.
Nick hoisted a case of beer on his shoulder, punched in the code to the gate, and swung open the door to the backyard. He could already hear the blaring hip-hop music playing over the outside speakers as he wound his way through the labyrinth of hedges of the family’s sprawling property. Laughing to himself, Nick remembered how he and Chris used to constantly torment Amy and her friends when they were younger, from threatening to melt their Barbies in the microwave to barging in on them during their sleepovers. At fourteen, Amy’s creative genius was recognized by a prominent artiste and family friend, and she had been whisked away to an all-girl boarding school in France. She was later granted a full scholarship to a prestigious art school. Nick hadn’t seen her since she was in braces, with either her nose in a book, paint on her clothes or grass stains on her knees from playing football.
Adjusting the case of beer onto his shoulder, he reached the familiar flat stone walkway that led to the immense pool behind the house. Immediately he heard female voices shrieking, smelled the smoking barbecue fare cooking to perfection.
“Nick! Over here,” Chris called from his post in front of the grill, waving a burger flipper at him.
Nick grinned, glancing appreciatively at the impossibly gorgeous and tan young women splashing around in the pool, and set the case of beer down on the ground near the cooler.
“Hey, man.” Nick exchanged a brief slap on the back with Chris, then set about placing the beer into the already packed cooler, opening two chilled Heinekens and passing one to Chris. They clinked beers and took long pulls of the cold liquid, looking towards the dozens of twenty-something girls lounging in or by the pool. Nick tried to pick out Amy from the crowd as more people showed up.
“Where’s the guest of honor?” Nick asked after a few minutes of bantering with his friend about their favorite respective football teams.
Chris turned back to the grill. “She’s inside blending margaritas with Nikki.” He handed Nick a plate full of burgers, gesturing for him to place it on the table near the back doors to the house. As he approached, Nick saw there was a spread laid out already– pasta and potato salad, coleslaw, platters of hot dogs, chicken and ribs. He grabbed a plate and helped himself to the feast, chomping his teeth into a sauce-covered rib. Just as he was savoring the chipotle flavor, the back door to the house slid open, and Nick caught sight of Amy and Nikki, holding a pitcher apiece.
|
