*
“This is nice with the cabana, Nick,” Rachel said. “Jean went right for the slides. I’ll bet she’s on that for a while. Are you going in? You’re not really thinking of drinking all day, are you?”
I was. “Of course not. Take off the robe, and let me see how you look in the new Princess Bump suit.”
“Don’t start picking up every cast off dig the Daughter of Darkness slams me with.” Rachel took off her robe, turning coyly to the side while Nick watched with interest.
“Very nice. I like you in black with the strapped top, and low cut cleavage look.”
“Do you think the top covers Quinn attractively?”
Nick came over to embrace her from the back. “It does indeed. The creator of the ‘Princess Bump’ term will be here shortly with Tina. He’s a bad influence on me though. Payaso claims he’s going to sit here and drink beer all day… the cad!”
Rachel slapped Nick’s wandering hand. “Stop that! Yeah, I bet that was his idea. It sounds more like something that cad Muerto would do. Is John and Dan joining us too?”
“It’s possible. I think John said something about lying around in his room today, drinking and snoozing after his ordeal. Dan said something about communing with nature on his own. Here’s that cad, Payaso already. Uh oh. Look what he’s brought with him. He didn’t even ask or get a waitress. He raided Grizzly Rob’s on his own… the cad!”
Gus had a tray with beers, shots, two wines, and a soda.
Rachel sighed. “Fine. I’ll sip a wine, but I am going in the water today, and you’re coming with me, Muerto.”
“Of course, my love. Hi partner. Hello Cousin Itt.”
“Gomez… Princess Bump.”
“Not you too, Tina.”
“You look great, girlfriend. Sit back down with me, sip your wine, and we’ll talk about the horrendous plot against America on every news program, foiled by a bunch of masked cartoons.”
“Uh oh. I think Cousin Itt may have had a wine or two before arriving here at the cabana,” Nick observed. “It sure has seemed like that kind of a day though. Thanks for the refills, partner.”
“I figured you’d be ready for another round.” Gus sat down opposite Nick at the cabana table, while Tina and Rachel sat on the lounge chairs. “I’m sorry I tagged you with the Princess Bump label, Rach.”
“Don’t worry about it, Gus. I slip myself and use it. Quinn will be joining us pretty soon, and then I’ll be hiking down to the beach every day, throwing down shooters, and carousing like the rest of you pirates.”
“No. You’ll put a guilt trip on yourself, and be back working at the Café with Quinn riding your back,” Nick said. “What you should be doing is hiking to the beach and throwing down shooters with us carousing pirates.”
“Gomez has a point,” Tina said. “I saw it in your eyes at the mention of the Café. You’re already contemplating a return to waitressing.”
“Joe needs me, unlike Muerto. He appreciates my steadfast code of honor and hard work. I am not taken for granted at the Monte Café as is the case at the Muerto homestead.”
“Oh, you poor thing!” Nick ran around to massage Rachel’s shoulders and neck, slipping his hands accidentally on purpose under her top until Rachel was squealing, and slapping his hands to the enjoyment of their companions.
Nick took off his t-shirt. “I’m going in with Dagger, and see how she’s doing. I’ll come back to get you in a little bit, Princess.”
“Damn, girl,” Tina said, watching Nick walk around hunting for Jean. “Gomez is looking good. He’s getting checked out by all the female lurkers.”
“He works out like a gladiator every day,” Rachel said, smiling as Nick found Jean, and the two headed for the top of the slide together.
“I’ve worked out with him,” Gus said. “Rachel’s right. He works the heavy bag, weights, and cardio stuff until you think he’d drop from sheer boredom. Then he does the punching bag with forearm and elbow shots mixed with punches so fast you can’t follow what he’s doing. I can’t do that crap more than a couple times a week with him. I’d burn out like an old lightbulb. And then of course he walks Deke and Jean all over creation. I doubt those calories from the Irish coffees even touch him.”
“You look good, baby,” Tina said, reaching from her lounger to pat Gus’s leg. “Gomez looks like he’s cut. His damn six pack looks like one of those Batman costume tops. Spill it, Rach. He’s doing steroids isn’t he? Inquiring minds want to know. I thought his head looked bigger lately. It’s swelling like a ripe melon. Is his dick shrinking like the steroid warnings say? Does he stay cranky all day, and want to smack you around. C’mon… we’re your friends. We’ll help. You don’t have to go through this alone.”