"When I went into Roasted, Benny was there and already calculated all the sales and stuff. He's so good with numbers."
"That's great. How did you guys do?" Bruce asks as we all grab food to pile on our plates.
"After the admission price, paying for the rentals, supplies and alcohol, we did really well. I'm sure most of it came from the drinks, but he gave me a thousand dollars."
"For one night? Ames, that's amazing," Bruce congratulates.
"Yeah it was so unexpected. He already wants to plan a second event soon. He thinks we'd get even more in attendance."
"Amelia, that's wonderful. So does that mean you're staying down here for a little while longer?"
Bless my mom for asking what I'm too afraid to.
"I haven't thought about it in detail, but maybe a little bit. I'm still checking for jobs in LA, and I keep hoping something will come up. I'm only interested in film-related careers."
The three of us are silent and take a sip of our coffee in unison, like we are robots programmed to let her keep up this fantasy of hers.
"I'm going to swim after this. I need to get some vitamin D."
"Mind if I join you?" Amelia asks me.
"Sure. Yeah, if you want." My nonchalance is comical. Fuck yes, I want her joining me.
"Thank you for the coffee." My mom gets up from the table and shakes her empty cup. "Bruce and I may run to Target. Need anything, sweetie?"
"Shaving cream," I answer with a blank face.
Amelia bursts into laughter, and our parents look at her with confusion.
"Sorry," she catches her breath and continues. "Another inside joke."
"Look at you two," Bruce exclaims. "It is so nice seeing you get along. I never thought this day would come."
Does he realize "getting along" also entails getting inside her pants? Would he still be as excited?
"Thanks for breakfast." I turn to Amelia. "I have to do some stuff upstairs. But I'll be outside in twenty minutes?"
"Okay, sounds good."
AmeliaandIretreatto our rooms and after following up on a few things, I exit my room the same moment she does.
"Well hello." We meet at the top of the staircase. She stands in her bikini while I'm just as exposed in my shorts. Maybe I'm looking too much into this, but her self-conscious ways have dissolved since our first night together in the Jacuzzi. She walks around me barely clothed with a freedom I didn't see on day one. Maybe I'm filled with magical fluids of influenceandconfidence.
"After you," she offers.
"No, after you. I insist."
"No, I insist."
"You drive me crazy," I admit as I turn to head down first.
Before I take a step, Amelia jumps on my back so I can give her a piggyback ride.
"You're lucky we're alone, young lady." Her ankles hook together near my belly button. I run a hand along her smooth shin and she giggles.
"I see where my shaving cream has been used."
"Don't drop me."
