Chapter 90

Noon, Saturday

Andy and Chris watched with rapt attention when Regan walked into the salon where they sat with book in front of them.

She wore a short denim miniskirt and a white blouse open at the neck to show her emerald green bikini top. Her white sandals had a sole that make her about three inches taller than normal.

"I need to borrow my boyfriend for a little while," she said, smiling at Chris.

"Sure," Chris answered. He started to gather up his things.

"Just make yourself at home here," Regan told him, placing her hand on his book to keep it from closing. She also gave Andy a prime opportunity to see that bikini bottoms beneath the hem of her skirt. She jumped slightly when he ran his hands across the backs of her thighs.

She turned and gave him a wink - so he slipped his hands further up, trying unsuccessfully to slip them inside the tight Lycra of her swimsuit.

"Later," she said, winking again. "I swear, Chris, he's been pawing at me all weekend!"

"He's like that," Chris agreed. He had figured that Regan wanted to take Andy downstairs for some extracurricular activities. He had called them before 8 a.m. to ask Andy a question about Trigonometry that he couldn't figure out. Chris had been up since four studying and didn't realize it was so early until a sleepy-sounding Regan answered Andy's phone. She had invited him to come over - and then put together the impromptu study-slash-tanning session.

"We've invited God knows how many people over this afternoon and there isn't a thing to eat or drink on the boat," Regan said. "What sort of hosts would that make us?"

"The sort that expects you to bring your own food and drink if you want it," Andy answered. Regan crossed her arms beneath her breasts and gave him a mock glare. Mostly, she just wanted to push her breasts upward to see if Andy would notice. He did - and immediately.

"We're going to run to the store and pick up some snacks," Regan declared. "Like I said: just make yourself at home. Is there anything in particular you want?"

"About 10 more hours in the day," Chris lamented.

"If you want, you can nap on the bed in the stateroom where you put your things," Regan offered. "The sheets are clean."

"I don't have time," Chris said, shaking his head. "I need to plow through this and finish up my work for Music Composition - then be at the concert hall by six. Are you sure it's cool if I shower and dress here?"

"Absolutely," Regan told him. "Our home is your home - anytime. Uh, well, you know what I mean."

Regan's pale skin had turned a deep red when she realized what she said.

"Thanks," Chris replied.

"You're not going to remember anything if you're half asleep," Andy pointed out. "A quick cat nap might do you some good. You don't want to be nodding off later."

"It would suck to fall asleep on stage," Chris agreed.

"Fuck that," Andy laughed. "I was talking about when Regan, Ruth, Joy and Elizabeth are ass up on the deck later."

"And Lupe and maybe Noel," Regan said, lowering her chin and giving Andy another fake glower. "Ass up, indeed!"

"Tits up works, too," Andy said, dancing backward to avoid Regan's light slap to his arm.

"I did not invite our friends over so you could drool over them," she said. "I invited Chris over so he could drool over them, though. So I guess Andy has a good point. We'll be gone for half an hour or a little longer. Leave us a note if you want us to wake you up."

"Thanks," Chris said. He glanced down at his notes and realized that he hadn't really retained much in the past half hour. "Yeah, I'm going to crash for a bit. Wake me at ... when everyone else gets here."

"We really are going to study," Regan told him. "I need it and so does everyone else. We'll study for three or four hours, get dolled up and go to your concert."

"You don't have to go to my concert," Chris said as he stood. "Truth is, if they weren't paying me, I wouldn't go."

"We're all looking forward to it," Andy said. "It's your last go-round with the City Orchestra for awhile and we want to show our support."

"Thanks," Chris said sincerely. He had been surprised at how happy it made him that his newfound friends were coming to see him.

Chris headed downstairs while Andy and Regan walked outside.

"Where are your sunglasses?" Regan asked. "I noticed you squinting all day yesterday. Did you forget them?"

"I don't have any," Andy told her.

"Andy!" Regan said, stopping with her hands on her hips. "Why didn't you say something? We could have picked you up a pair yesterday."

"I just lose them," Andy told her with a sigh. "They're like umbrellas. I buy a pair and two days later, they're gone."

"We're going to spend a lot of time here and at the pool this summer," Regan informed him. "You need a good pair of sunglasses. We'll get you a pair while we're out - that way I won't be offended if you check out the others while we in our bikinis."

This time, Regan drove. There was a small, upscale strip mall a mile from the marina. They couldn't buy food or drink there but there was a sunglasses store. She stopped there first.

Andy stopped at the first case inside the store and picked up a pair of non-descript glasses. It was how he always shopped. He picked up the first thing that caught his eye, bought it and went on his way.

"Not those," Regan said, plucking them from his hands and putting them back. She led him to a display across the room, ignoring his scowl - and the salesgirl that had come out to assist them.

"These," Regan said, gesturing to a display of high-end glasses. Andy picked up a pair, saw the price and immediately put them down.

"These are $100!" he said, looking at Regan incredulously.

The salesgirl had followed them over and jumped in immediately.

"They block 100 percent of all UV rays," she said cheerfully.

"For a hundred dollars, they better have built in Wi-Fi and 3D imaging!" Andy countered.

"These are the about the lowest-priced items in the store," Regan whispered.

Andy shook his head.

"I won't pay that much money for something I'll lose in a day," he said firmly.

"I'm buying them," Regan told him. "You paid for everything yesterday so this is my present to you."

"Fine," Andy said grudgingly. "But I won't let you pay that much for something I'll lose in a day."

Regan let out a sigh and shrugged at the salesclerk. She had heard the stubbornness in Andy's voice and knew he wouldn't back down.

"Sorry," she said. The salesgirl nodded sadly as a large commission walked out the door.

"OK, fine," Regan said when she and Andy hit the sidewalk. "Where do you get your sunglasses?"

"The dollar store," Andy admitted.

"For fuck's sake," Regan grumbled. "You need something better than what you get for a dollar! You'll go blind if we take a trip on the yacht. The sun off the water will kill your eyes."

"I'm not paying a hundred dollars," Andy declared.

"Compromise," Regan said. "There is a mall about five minutes from here. They have a kiosk with some good shades."

"No more than $15," Andy said.

"Andy!" Regan replied through gritted teeth. "That's not compromising! That's like if I agree to lower the price to $99.99. Seventy-five dollars."

Andy closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

"You're supposed to counter with thirty-five and we meet a fifty," Regan informed him.

"If I see something I like cheaper, we'll get those," he said.

"Good enough," Regan told him with a smile. "But, since I'm your girlfriend, I get a veto. You're not going to get birth-control glasses with tinted lenses. After all, I have a reputation to uphold, too."

Elizabeth was waiting at the dock when Andy and Regan returned. She had called to let Regan know she was there but demurred entering the facility until the couple arrived.

Regan was a little surprised that Elizabeth was alone - expecting Paul, Lupe, John, Noel and, perhaps, Chuck in tow.

"Paul's dad got tickets to a game this afternoon," Elizabeth informed them. "I guess Noel got shitty again last night so she's back on restriction. Chuck is helping Mom and Dad set up for tomorrow."

"What about Lupe?" Andy wondered.

"She went to the game with the Manleys," Elizabeth said with a smile. "They offered to take Chuck but he'd already agreed and suggested Lupe go instead."

Regan glanced over at Andy.

"I can see if I can get you a ticket if you'd rather go to the game," she told him.

"No," Andy replied instantly. "I have to study - and you've invited our friends over. I'm not going to leave Chris alone with your four! He'd hate me forever."

"Oh, please," Elizabeth replied. "You're just afraid we'll go for the all-over tan and you'll miss out!"

"That, too," Andy answered with a grin.

"We can't," Regan said quickly. "I mean, not here. If we go out somewhere on the water this summer, we can find place to do that but we get a lot of helicopters over the marina. If we go on the lower decks, the other boats can see us."

"I was kidding," Elizabeth said. She helped them carry the groceries onboard and looked around in amazement at the sheer size of "Life of Riley."

"Yeah, it's a little much," Regan admitted.

"I think it's called Conspicuous Consumption," Elizabeth replied, her eyes still taking in the ornate front salon.

"That's what Dad wanted to name her," Regan said with a laugh. "Someone else already had it registered, though."

"I figured 'Life of Riley' would be taken, too," Andy said.

"It was," Regan said sheepishly. "Mom bought it from the guy. I think she paid him more than his boat was worth. Now she's thinking about changing the name to something else."

"What?" Andy asked. He had seen the horrible puns and malapropisms painted on the sides of the yachts in the marina. "Life of Riley" was actually one of the better names he'd seen.

"Wife of Riley," Regan said, rolling her eyes.

"I think I like its current name better," Andy mentioned.

"Wait until I tell my mom you don't like her," Regan joked.