Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Seven

'How was shopping?' Joey asked when Sara, Esme, Verde and Paul returned to the villa. 'Did you get anything nice?'

'We got a couple of things,' Sara replied. 'It was hot out today.'

'Did you just spend the whole day in the pool?' Esme asked pulling off her light grey cotton racer-back Splendid maxi dress, revealing a Missoni jaipur knitted patchwork bikini.

'Yeah,' Joey replied. 'I was just reading my book all day.'

'Where's E?' Esme asked.

'She went inside a few hours ago,' Joey replied. 'I think she was exhausted from last night.'

'But I mean can you believe it,' Sara said. 'That was so crazy. I had no idea that Langley could get like that.'

'I don't think anyone did,' Esme said. 'I think he was drunk. That's the only reasonable explanation.'

'I don't know,' Joey said unsure. 'When we were walking home, he seemed pretty sober to me. He tried talking to E, but she told him to leave her alone.'

'Does this mean that they're over?' Sara asked.

'I would think so,' Joey replied. 'I wouldn't want to be with someone if he went about beating my friends up for no reason.'

'I wonder what's going to happen tonight,' Sara said. 'I want a quiet night.'

'Same,' Joey said. 'I was thinking if we could get a chef in and make us dinner.'

'That sounds like a good idea,' Esme nodded. 'We'll have to talk to Markus and see if he can get us a chef.'

'Markus is like our concierge,' Sara laughed. 'He does all this stuff for us.'

'I know, right,' Joey laughed too. 'It's like if we have a problem, all we need to do is ask Markus and he'll totally fix it.'

'But knowing him I bet he's already got something sorted,' Esme laughed. 'Oh look here he comes.'

'Hello ladies,' Markus smiled as he walked outside to join them. 'How has your day been?'

'Great,' Sara replied. 'We went shopping in town and bought some stuff.'

'That's cool,' Markus replied. He rubbed some sunscreen on his arms and chest then lay down on a beach chair. 'It looks like the sun might go down soon.'

'Do you have any plans for dinner tonight?' Esme asked.

'I was thinking we should spend it inside,' Markus replied. 'I arranged for dinner to be brought to us tonight; but if anyone does want to go out after dinner then they can. I'm not in charge of you guys.'

'What's for dinner?'

'You'll have to see,' Markus replied closing his eyes. 'The sun is so perfect here. I hope it stays like this for the rest of the week.'

'You tan so well,' Sara said. 'I'm kind of jealous.'

'Me too,' Esme said looking at her pale arms. 'I wish I could get as brown as you.'

'Are you kidding me,' Joey laughed. 'Esme look at you. You are so tan right now and your hair is so light. I'm so jealous.'

'But you should always remember to protect your skin from the sun,' Markus said. 'I wear a really high factor because skin cancer runs in my family, and we live right by the beach in the sun.'

'Duh,' Sara laughed. 'It would be suicide living in Malibu and refusing to wear some SPF. Only an idiot would do something stupid like that.'

'The thing is that loads of people don't wear any protection because they think it'll mess up their tan or prevent them from tanning,' Markus said. 'That is completely ridiculous. Sometimes wearing protection increases your tan and makes you look better.'

'Those are only the ones with bronzer in them,' Joey laughed. 'But they don't really bronze me all that well.'

'How high is your thing?' Esme asked.

'I wear a thirty,' Markus replied. 'I know I should wear a higher one, but its hard finding the right one sometimes.'

'Do you want to be the spokesperson for sunscreen?' Sara joked.

'Oh yeah,' Markus replied. 'I need to spread the word.'

'You're so funny Markus.'

'Hey Grayson,' Langley said before dinner.

'Yeah,' Grayson said. 'What?'

'Sorry about last night man,' he said. 'I had drunk a lot and I saw you guys talking and thought that you'd take advantage or something.'

'It's cool,' Grayson said. 'I was kind of drunk last night and I don't think I could forgive myself for cheating on my girlfriend. I don't blame you either; I always seem to be the jerk in these situations.'

'So we're cool?'

'We're cool,' Grayson nodded. 'You throw a good punch.'

'Yeah,' Langley nodded. 'I used to box back in middle school.'

'So is Ecie still pissed at you?' Grayson asked.

'Yeah,' Langley said. 'She doesn't want me coming close to her at all. I really messed up last night.'

'Just give her time,' Grayson said. 'I think everyone was shocked at you last night, so she's probably still in shock. She'll be fine by tomorrow.'

'Yeah well, Ecie is a little strange at times,' Langley sighed. 'God knows when she'll want to even look at me again.'