The Fling

39

"This is a nice house," my Dad remarked as we pulled into Abigail's driveway.

"Very wealthy suburban vibes," Aaliyah added.

"Most of Los Angeles County is made up of suburbs, and it's not like anyone can live here without having some money," I said as I turned off my SUV.

"Your home feels more urban, though," my mother said, "since you are walking distance to restaurants and shops."

It felt like this was a jab at Abigail, like the implication was that my neighborhood was young and hip while this one was for families. This was probably true, but the point didn't need to be made.

My girlfriend opened the door as we approached her porch. "Hi! Did everyone remember their suits? It's a gorgeous day for the pool!"

"We have them," I replied before giving her a quick kiss. "How's Bertie?"

"He's fine. No fever or puking today."

We went inside and my mom looked around the open living area. "Your home is charming. As a realtor, I love to see design themes that have a beautiful aesthetic and that are functional."

Abigail smiled. "Thank you!"

Just then, Bertie and Hannah came running down the stairs with Cosmo right behind them. All three threw themselves at me, and I squatted down to give them hugs. Lizzie, who I suggested come over for the occasion, came down a few seconds later, giving me a fist bump as a greeting. "Hey guys! I want you to meet my family!" I said to them.

The oldest was a bit shy as introductions were made, but when Aaliyah told Lizzie that she loved her dress, the ice was broken.

Abigail walked towards the kitchen. "I've got two types of hummus and veggies to start since the theme is Mediterranean. We can take it out on the patio so that anyone who wants to swim can get in the pool. Please help yourself to wine and beer," she gestured towards the fridge.

I opened a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and poured some for those who wanted it while my dad grabbed some beers for everyone else. Abigail took the snacks out on a tray and set them on the table, and the two younger kids hopped in the pool after pulling off the clothes they had on over their suits.

"Shawn! Come play with us!" Bertie shouted.

"Lemme finish my beer and then I'll get changed."

Abigail and my mum discussed landscaping while Lizzie and Aaliyah got into a conversation about music. The three of us guys sipped the cold IPAs by the edge of the pool. When I was done with mine, I put my trunks on in the bathroom and did a running jump into the deep end. For the next half-hour, I pretended to be a shark, swimming after the giggling children and only catching them occasionally so that they felt like they were successfully evading me.

"How about we get some of that yummy food your mom made," I suggested.

We got out and filled our plates after toweling off, and then when we finished our snacks, everyone else put their swim attire on. My dad, Jordan, and I played with the kids while the ladies relaxed by the waterfall. After a bit, Abigail went in the house, presumably to start dinner, and I climbed out so that I could help.

"You okay?" I asked her once I'd changed into my dry clothes. Her expression was not a happy one.

A smile replaced the frown on her face. "Yes. This is the first time I've made a completely vegetarian and gluten-free dinner for guests, so I'm stressing about how it will turn out."

"It's gonna be great," I assured her. "What's on the menu?"

"I'm roasting a bunch of summer veggies on the grill, which I'm serving with a lemon garlic sauce. I bought some of the gluten-free pita bread you love, and I checked that it's also vegan. I made a pasta salad with chickpea rotini, but I still need to make a Greek salad for fresh greens. I was able to find vegan feta cheese to put in it!"