𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕣𝕪 𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕤 | 𝕟𝕖𝕨𝕤𝕚𝕖𝕤

𝕚'𝕞 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕒 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟

CHAPTER THREE: i'm just a love man
my, my babe I wanna take you out

The next morning, Davey had no energy to fight against his mother's request to accompany Les to the lake, whilst she and his father went out to try their hand at a game of golf.

Bringing his second vacation book, 'One flew over the Cuckoo's nest' clasped firmly in his hand, he took one of the white plastic chairs overlooking the sea and tried to relax as Les ran into the water, fast. Near him, there was a 'Wig show' being held, where a long table filled with women of varied ages tried on different wigs for fun, his sister among them trying on a Marilyn Monroe wig atop her brown hair, whilst Jasmine the dance teacher was the one taking charge.

He had begun reading the novel, his eyes leaving the page every few lines to check in on his younger brother, who seemed to be playing a game of chicken with some boys his own age and the girl from the dance hall, his face alight with a wide smile as he splashed around. Davey smiled at his brother, who waved furiously in return from his spot in the water before he was playfully tackled by another boy, Davey was happy that Les had someone to exert his hyperactivity on besides their poor mother or himself.

It was around the final lines of the first chapter that an egotistical and suave voice saddled itself up beside his sister that Davey halted his reading. He turned his head slightly, where the wig table was in his view to see Oscar Delancey next to Sarah. Jasmine's eyes flicking over to the pair as well.

"So I say, 'Ask not what your waiter can do for you, but what you can do for your waiter'. If tips keep up, I'll have enough for my Alfa Romeo" The boy says with a nauseating bravado which Sarah didn't seem to mind.

"That's my favourite car" she replies, her voice like honey as she traces the man's jaw with her pointer finger and Davey tries to hide his scoff. The guy is a total tool, Sarah. He rolled his eyes at his sister's obvious blindness towards Oscar's jerk-like attitude and faced away from the couple.

"Ladies you all look great" a new voice professes from the head of the table. Besides Jasmine, stood Jack, again, his sunglasses covered eyes as he discussed something with her at a whispering level, regarding a black folder in his hands. Davey tries to not look at the way his arms are showcased in his short-sleeved blue button-up, the first three buttons done up in what Davey could only assume to be his natural style. Nor does he allow his eyes to linger as Jack pecks Jasmine on the cheek.

Instead, he looks away before Jack can catch his eye, his energy going purely on watching his brother and getting his heartbeat settled from the jolt of seeing the man again. Just read your damn book, Jacobs. He scolds himself, looking back down at the pages in a fruitless attempt to find his spot again. It was just a game, just a dance. It meant nothing to you, nor him.

That very same night, Davey found himself settled between his parents and younger brother against the railings of the Pulitzer's gazebo. Trying not to cringe as his sister danced with Oscar; whilst simultaneously keeping his eyes away from a certain dancer in a white blazer, moving with same wild-eyed cougar from the night before.

Joseph and Katherine Pulitzer soon found them,

"Aren't you dancing, doc?" Joe enquired Mayer,

"No, we're waiting for a waltz" The other man explained, his hand firmly in his wife's grasp as she looked adoringly at her daughter in the crowd. Joe decided to wave at the same cougar which Jack was gently swinging back and forth, her movements purposely languid and sultry; she grinned back. Davey averted his eyes away.

"Hello, Joe" she called "Aren't my dance lessons starting to pay off?"

"You look great Miriam, terrific!" he complimented as the woman swung back round to meet Jacks eyes, her finger tracing his jaw as she did so; Davey's eyes hadn't left the floor.