I made my rounds to say hi to everyone. There were the usual suspects, except Jim was nowhere to be found. Then I remembered he was off to college to work out and take a few summer classes. I’d received a text from Bill when I was in Cuba. He’d done the same and gone back to USC. That would be the case for most of my friends next year.
I did find someone I didn’t expect: Sarah Spence. She was a model I’d worked with and had been Wolf’s prom date. She and I’d attended model camp in New York together. Sarah was one of my favorite people at Wesleyan, besides Tami.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
“Wolf. He and I’ve started dating.”
“When did that happen? He’s been holding out on me.”
“I visited my parents for a few weeks after school got out, but my dad received another project. I just couldn’t see myself spending the summer in Billings, Montana. You know I’ve stayed at Harper’s now and then. She invited me to move in for the summer,” she explained.
“That has to be a little awkward for Bev and Jack with the two of you there.”
“I think Jack purposely works Wolf’s butt off so he has no energy when he gets home,” Sarah admitted.
Tami, Tim, and Wolf found us.
“I hear you’re living in sin in Chicago,” I teased Wolf.
“I wish, but I think Bev would string me up if I did that. Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you I’m dating Sarah,” he said with a big smile.
“She filled me in.” I turned to Tami and Tim. “What’s going on with you two? I mean, Wolf has Sarah, Harper has he who must not be named … are you two getting out?” I asked.
It was funny to watch their polar-opposite reactions: Tim blushed, while Tami looked pissed.
“Harper thinks it’s her job to find me a man this summer. Have you met her stuck-up friends?” Tami asked.
“Ah, yes. The self-entitled group,” I said with a nod.
“If that wasn’t enough, these two,” she said, pointing at Wolf and Tim, “have been pains in the butt.”
They both suddenly looked too innocent.
“What did you do?” I asked the guys.
“Someone has to look out for her,” Tim blurted.
I recognized the problem: they were acting like overprotective big brothers. I snorted while trying not to laugh at the death stare Tami gave them.
“They tossed one of her dates into a dumpster,” Sarah supplied.
“I contend he jumped in,” Wolf said.
“After you two threatened to dismember him,” Tami huffed.
“He was pawing you like a dog hunting for a treat,” Wolf shot back.
“No, he was not,” Tami complained.
“He had his hand inside your shirt,” Tim said, looking annoyed.
“That was an accident. And besides, he was a total douche-nozzle. He wasn’t getting a kiss goodnight,” Tami assured them.
“They did you a favor, then,” I ventured.
“See, even David agrees he needed to hurry home,” Tim said, a little too excitedly.
Tami decided to go somewhere else before she killed us.
“‘Douche-nozzle’?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“He really was. Tami won’t admit it, but she appreciated their help,” Sarah said.
“See, I told you she wasn’t mad,” Wolf told Tim.
“She sure seemed like it to me,” Tim said, looking upset.
Someone put some music on, and Wolf pulled Sarah to the patio so they could dance.
“Hey, uhm, David … uh … I don’t know … I’ll be back,” Tim said and bolted.
Hmm, curious.
◊◊◊
I finished my Mountain Dew and walked into the kitchen to get another one. There I found Yuri talking to Roc and my half brother, Phil.
“Where are we going on our trip?” Phil asked.
Yuri and Roc looked at him curiously.
“We’re going for a guys’ week with my dad, uncle, Greg, and David,” Phil explained.
It sounded a little weird when he said it that way, but he was right. His dad was my dad.
“It’s a surprise,” I said.
“What do you mean, it’s a surprise?” Roc asked.
“I mean, even I don’t know,” I said.
“No one will tell me, either. I thought you guys were just playing a joke on me,” Phil whined.
“Didn’t you guys go to a brothel or something on your last trip?” Roc asked, and I about choked on my drink.
“How did you hear about that?” I asked, playing along.
“Everyone knows. You’re Dawsons,” Yuri said like it was common knowledge.
“I was told we can’t do anything like that this time,” I said.
“What? Why not?” Phil asked in a panic.
I just rolled my eyes and ended up looking at my half brother meaningfully. The other two burst out laughing because it wasn’t a secret that the youngest Dawson was a virgin. Poor Phil looked like he might cry. At that moment, I really wished my parents had had another son. Phil was way too much fun to tease. I could’ve been doing this for years. At least I had him now to torment. Being a big brother was more fun than I realized.
“Did your mom buy you condoms? You can’t go without them,” I said with a straight face.
The look of horror was too much. None of us could keep it in any longer.
“You all suck!” Phil said as he stomped off.
“That was kind of mean,” Roc admitted.
“Where did you come up with the brothel story?” I asked.
Roc blushed.
“It was the only thing I could think of.”
Kylie found Roc and pulled him out onto the dance floor. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t danced yet.
◊◊◊
