Shit. Shit. Shit…
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and literally gasped. There were red marks all over my neck, my lips were puffy, and my hair looked like I’d spent one too many seconds with my fingers in a live electrical socket.
Not willing to risk being fired just yet, I pulled my hair into a messy high bun, licked my lips, and found a different shirt to cover up the marks.
The pajama pants would have to stay…
“Why are you wearing a turtleneck in the dead of summer?” My boss looked up at me as I approached the pier. “Have you forgotten what part of America you live in?”
“Not at all…” I said, sweating profusely. “I just felt like wearing a turtleneck today.”
He looked at his watch. “You’re lucky I actually need you today. Get in there.”
I pushed the doors to the box office open and set down my bag.
My coworker Ashley looked up at me. “What’s got you glowing today?” She smiled. “You and Scott finally made up?”
“No, we, uh, broke up actually. I’m not glowing.”
“You are!” She stood up and walked over to me. “Tell me…”
Thankfully, I didn’t have to change the subject or find a distraction on my own. A customer approached the window, and after we arranged her boat tour, twenty more customers drew near.
Per the usual summer season, the line became never-ending, the questions nonstop. By the time our lunch hour came around, flipping a coin for who should take a break first was far more important than discussing whether I was glowing or not.
“Heads it is!” Ashley clapped. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes. You want anything?”
“No, thanks.” I flipped our window sign to “Out for Lunch” and closed the blinds.
After she left, I began the less than thrilling task of counting the sales for the first half of the day. I was halfway through the children’s tickets, when the fabric of Carter’s turtleneck itched me to the point of no return.
I pulled out my phone and called him.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Can you do me a favor?”
“I’ve already forgotten about last night.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about…But I’m glad we’re already on the same page with um...that. That thing which did not happen.”
He laughed. “What’s the favor, Ari?”
“Can you go to my house and get me some clothes and bring them to the marina?”
“Are you currently there naked?”
“No.” I rolled my eyes. “There’s a spare key under the flower pot on my front porch. Anything in my top right drawer—shorts, T-shirts, jeans, would be great. No tank tops, though. Do not get one of those.”
“Why no tank tops?” There was a smile in his voice. “I’m pretty sure that’d be a perfect thing for you to wear today, unless you’re trying to cover something up?”
Gasping, I hung up and returned to my spreadsheet. When I looked up again, I realized forty minutes had passed with no sign of Ashley, so I called her.
“Hey!” She answered on the first ring.
“Um hey…” I looked at my watch. “Um, do you plan on coming back before or after our shared hour is up? I would like a break, too, you know…”
“Oh! Time just completely passed me by! I’ll be back in exactly fifteen minutes!”
“That’ll only give me five for a break...”
“Were you really going to walk around the boardwalk in a turtleneck, though?” She actually sounded genuine, like the act of stealing my break was doing me a favor.
“Could you at least bring me some lunch then?”
“I can try…” she said. “But you should’ve told me when I first asked you if you wanted anything back because now it’s crowded out here, so—”
“Ugh!” I hung up. Moments like that made me question if working here for the boat pass was even worth it.
I browsed the menu of the pizza truck across from us and heard a knock at the door.
Maybe hanging up on her did some good, then. I thought. Maybe it made her come to her senses…
It didn’t. It was Carter.
“Hey…” I said, letting him inside.
“Hey.” He looked me up and down. “Interesting outfit.” He set a white box on the counter and handed me my clothes.
I couldn’t even get my mouth to say thank you right now. He was shirtless, dressed only in navy blue swim trunks that showed off his perfectly carved V and the small trail of hair that lined up with his zipper.
“Something wrong?” He took off his shades and I noticed that light beads of sweat were trickling down his chest.