This past week was probably the hottest we've had so far. We were all looking forward to hanging out on the beach, and spending our evening enjoying drinks in front of a blazing bonfire. Our friends are going to bring the food and drinks and other 'party favors' to kick off the night.
I saw Sam head out when I started, but I wasn't sure what he was going to do. I want to make sure the fire is strong and steady before our friends show up. The last time it took forever to start and we almost gave up on the fire. “Sammy baby, have you started the fire?” I yell out to him as I stock the coolers with ice and beers.
“Working on it now, Blondie.” Sam's voice carries through the open windows and door. “I heard you this morning when you asked me to light it early.”
“Sorry,” I tell him, letting the word slowly flow through my lips. “I just wanna get the fire goin'.”
“I know you do, babe. So do I. Don't you worry, I got this.” Sam comes back into the small cabin with his hands filthy from his work on the fire. “I just need to find the matches. You know where they are at?”
“Umm… I think the last I saw some was in the basket with the keys and stuff.” I know we're running low on them and decide to text our friend Kenny, and ask him to bring some with him.
Digging my phone out of my back pocket, I slide my thumb over the screen to unlock it. I swipe in my password and shoot Ken a text.
“Yo, Kenny. Bring some matchbooks with ya.”
By the time I look up, Sam is already back outside and I finish filling the coolers. It's only about an hour before our friends will be here, so I don't a lot of time. I had to work all day long and have been going nonstop since I arrived home for the party. I'm hot and stinky and just want to take a hot shower and to put on fresh clothing.
~~*~~
“Yoohoo! Blondie girl, where ya at sexy?” my best friend Kayla calls out to me. The discordant tones of Punk announce her presence wherever she goes and I already heard them blaring through the otherwise quiet of the woods.
“Back here, just tryin' to fix my fuckin' hair. It won't do nothin' man.”
“Here, let me do it. I dunno what you'd do without me.” she snaps in mock exasperation.
She doesn't give me a chance to argue, not that I had planned to. She simply grabs the brush from my hand. Kayla is a professional hairdresser and she quickly tames my unruly blonde locks with easy. It has always been her dream job and she has done everything to make it happen.
“I'm so sorry for bein' late. Fuck-head decided he was gonna go to the bar this afternoon, get drunk and think he was gonna take my kids for the night!” she huffs out while she runs the comb through my hair. “Anyway, after a fight with his drunk ass, I had to call my momma and ask her to take em'. You know her, she jumped at the chance. She loves them to pieces. She has more energy for them than even I do.”
“Randy's such a loser. I'm glad you could make it.” I tell her through the mirror.
In less than a few minutes Kayla has my hair up in some fancy braided twist that I could never pull off on my own. All I care about is that my long blonde locks are off my neck and I feel much cooler in more ways than one.
When we go outside, most everyone has shown up. Sam has the fire blazing high and the grill is already lit up and cooking burgers and dogs. A few of the girls have the table set up and are setting out the chips, dip, fresh vegetables and even the cups and plates. Things run smoothly and the party gets off to a good start.
~~*~~
Hours later, everyone has a belly full of food and are well lubricated with booze as well. Someone has their iPod playing a random mix that has a little bit of everything for us to all enjoy. When a girly song plays, all the girls sing along like we always do, putting on a show for the guys. We're all in pretty revealing outfits, but nothing too trashy. It gives the boys a great view of what we do have and what they can't see.
“This has been the best night so far this summer,” I say, lifting my beer. “It might be one hot mother fuckin' night, but god damn, it is a fun one!”
“The best ever!”
“This has been a great summer, but damn this night really does list in the top five so far.”
People add their own thoughts to my toast as we laugh and continue to drink the night away. I spend a lot of time with my friends, but as the evening winds down, I find myself on Sam's lap. Most of the those left are couples, and they too have found comfortable places to cuddle.
When the night started, there was at least fourteen of us. Now, only about half of our friends remain. One of those, Derrik, is passed out in our hammock by the grill. The rest of us swap stories for the remainder of the evening as we drink our now warm beers. We reminisce on how we each met other and it I make a note in my head on how I met each and everyone of my friends.
~~*~~
“Alrighty people, y'all don't need to go home, but you need to get the fuck up outta here,” Sam announces as he stretches his arms high up reaching towards the night sky.