Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Sacramento Lovers: One

'So my mom is going away this weekend,' Esme said grinning at Taylor as he stocked shelves in his new surf shop on Venice Beach called Taylor's Surf Shack. 'I was thinking that maybe we could spend the weekend at mine.'

'What about Ecie?' Taylor asked. 'She won't be at home to throw rocks and sticks at me?'

'No,' Esme laughed. 'She's staying with dad this weekend. So what do you think?'

'I think it's cool,' Taylor replied walking back to the counter. 'Yeah, it's cool. I don't mind what we do this weekend.'

Esme looked at Taylor. 'So we'll stay at mine?'

'Whatever you want,' Taylor replied. He came out from behind the counter and kissed Esme on the lips. 'I want to hand out these flyers later, if you don't mind.'

'No,' Esme replied taking a flyer from Taylor. '"Taylor's Surf Shack will be sponsoring the Malibu Surf this year. Get all your gear at half price and be in with a chance of a grand prize..." Grand prize? What grand prize?'

'Some things are a surprise,' Taylor replied taking back the flyer. 'I was going to ask if you think Ecie would be interested. She usually enters the Malibu Surf.'

'You could ask her yourself,' Esme replied. 'And try to make friends with her in the process.'

'Right,' Taylor laughed. 'That girl hates my guts. I think she'd rather see me a millionaire living in outer space than being with you.'

'Don't be silly,' Esme laughed. 'Sure she doesn't worship the ground you walk on, but give her a break. She's had a tough couple of months and last year was just the worst for her.'

Taylor smiled at Esme. 'So where is mamma Thurgood going this weekend?'

'She's going to Napa Valley,' Esme replied. 'It's a family thing with her brothers.'

'And it's the whole weekend?'

Esme nodded.

'I never knew she had siblings.'

'Well you didn't ask,' Esme replied. 'So when do you finish here?'

'In about three hours,' Taylor replied. 'You don't have to stay here you know. You could go and see Ecie or hang out with some of your friends.'

'Are you starting to go off me?' Esme joked.

'Definitely,' Taylor laughed. 'I can only see you for two hour intervals.'

Esme stuck out her tongue and picked up her light brown Marc by Marc Jacobs Francesca leather tote. 'I shall leave you to hang out in your store all by yourself.'

'I'll call you before I close up,' Taylor replied.

'We'll have to see if I pick up,' Esme smiled.

Taylor kissed Esme. 'I'll see you later.'

'Yeah, yeah,' she laughed. 'Have fun.' She kissed Taylor on the cheek then left the store.

'Hey,' Ecie grinned when she saw her twin sister and her best friend walk into Chêne de Pois. 'You girls look so cute.'

'So do you,' Sara Wentworth replied. 'How are you?'

'I'm really good,' Ecie smiled. 'How was your summer?'

'It was good,' Sara replied. 'I heard you guys had a great time in Egypt.'

'Well I did,' Ecie laughed. 'Esme spent the whole time thinking about Taylor. She worked up quite a big bill when we got back.'

Sara laughed.

'So what stuff do you have in?' Esme asked.

'Well for starters,' Ecie replied twirling around in her charcoal T by Alexander Wang jersey long sleeved maxi dress and a light grey cashmere cable knit Michael Kors snood. 'We also got a ton of new shoes and I ordered some really cool jewelry so that should be arriving soon.'

'What shoes are you wearing?' Esme asked.

'My red Toms,' Ecie replied. 'I thought that I may as well help a good cause when I can.'

'Well we'll just browse around and come find you in a bit,' Esme replied.

'Bye,' Sara smiled. 'See you in a bit.'

'I think this is really cute,' Esme said holding up a jersey maxi dress with a big red heart in the center or it. 'What do you think?'

'I think it's cool,' Sara replied. 'But it's not really something you could wear here. We live by a beach and most of this stuff just isn't beachy at all.'

'I like it,' Esme replied. 'I think it adds some versatility to Malibu.'

'I suppose,' Sara replied. 'But I miss the days of denim hot pants and a simple tank top.'

'We're growing up,' Esme replied as she pushed through the racks of clothes. 'What do you expect? Our tastes and things are bound to change.'

'I guess,' Sara shrugged. 'All this stuff here is making me wish that I had money.'

Esme laughed. 'Did you blow all of your school supply money again?'

'Ha,' Sara laughed. 'I went with my mom.'

'Oh right,' Esme nodded. 'Well at least you got some stuff. We've been at school for a couple of weeks and I've hardly changed outfits. I need some new clothes, but moms still away.'

'I heard she was going away this weekend,' Sara said. 'You should have a party.'

'I thought that maybe Taylor and I might just have a quiet night in this weekend,' Esme replied. 'I feel like this whole summer we were always surrounded by other people and I think it'd be nice to have him to myself for a short bit.'

Sara nodded. 'That's so cute and totally understandable.'

Esme nodded. 'So you and Paul reached the one year anniversary. How was that?'

Sara rolled her eyes and waved her hand. 'He made the biggest deal out of it. I just thought that we'd have a little picnic on the beach or something with some candles then maybe we'd get a movie and have an early night. But he had other ideas. He had a limo come pick me up and whisk me away to some hotel where there were roses and chocolates and presents everywhere. I wanted to dump him when we went to this really expensive restaurant and an orchestra started playing.'

'You have to admit that it is a little romantic though,' Esme said. 'I think it's sweet he does all that stuff for you. Sometimes I feel as though Taylor doesn't see me, or it's like he just doesn't ever want me around.'

'I think I'd rather that, than Paul. Paul is so suffocating and I need to get some air.'

'Did you talk to him about it?'

'I couldn't,' Sara replied. 'But he knows how I feel about stuff like that. I hate how he shows off how rich he is and how he can afford to spoil his girlfriend. I couldn't care less about his money.'

'I suppose it could be a lot worse,' Esme replied. 'He could just not give a shit about you.'

'How about we swap boyfriends or something?' Sara said. 'I would just love to have a normal guy.'

'Well you need to keep looking,' Esme said. 'Guys totally suck.'