Page 67 of The End of Summer

“Exactly,” I agree. “So what do theythinkyou do for work right now?”

“They don’t know about what happened. They still think I work at the pub. I was going to tell them once I got a new job, but that never materialized the way I’d hoped it would have. So I haven’t said anything, really.”

“Ah, I see.”

“What about you? What do your parents think you’re doing?”

I adjust my feet in the sand. “My mom knows I’m looking for work. There’s nothing she can do to help me from so far away anyway. And I haven’t spoken to my dad since he kicked me out.”

“That’s a shame for him,” Gretchen says. “He’s really missing out.”

“On knowing I’m a stripper?” I laugh.

“On being your dad,” she explains.

We continue like this for hours. We talk about our closest friends (I mention that Big Mike can probably help Gretchen find a job as a teacher), our favorite restaurants, our college experiences, and so much more. We feast on the (fairly elaborate, if I do say so myself) lunch I’ve packed for us. There are several sandwich options to choose from, since I wasn’t sure what she would like. We polish off a bag of Cape Cod sea salt and cracked pepper potato chips together, and each drink a vodka seltzer. I love that with every passing moment, I’m learning more and more about her: about her friend,Jenna, that she’s a turkey-and-cheese kind of girl, that she’s never seen any of the Star Wars movies but has seen every Pixar movie (she’s a huge Pete Docter fan), that she loves chocolate and is scared of heights. I file away each new bit of information like a puzzle piece.

By the time the day comes to an end, I feel like I’ve known her for a lifetime.

There are no parties tonight, and I would love to hang out with Gretchen until the wee hours of the morning, but I made plans to help Mike pick up a piece of furniture that Gina found on Facebook marketplace that is apparently gigantic. Given the fact that he’s done me several solids over the past few weeks, I can’t cancel on him, despite how badly I want to. So I bring her home, kiss her goodbye, and tear myself away.

I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

GRETCHEN

Life is so good sometimes.

Brady and I fall into a routine quickly, almost as if we’re both making up for the time we’ve lost being single for so long. I feel like I’ve hit the dating jackpot – he’s warm, sweet, kind, smart, and absolutely delectable to look at, like the human version of an aphrodisiac. We go to the grocery store together, we eat dinner together, and we’ve gone on more dates in the past two weeks than I’ve been on in the past two years. He keeps a stash of Gifford’s ice cream in the freezer for our post-work chats, and he dances at Cosmo two more times – once as a firefighter and once as a pilot. Both times, he keeps his eyes trained on me when he takes off his clothes.

July 4thfalls on a Tuesday, so there are no parties booked, which leaves us available for what Brady says is going to be a memorable evening.

He’s cryptic about our plans, so I’m really excited. Just the fact that he puts thought into stuff is incredible. Even Jenna, who is skeptical of almost every guy, tells me he’s a keeper.

Brady tells me to dress nice and that he’ll pick me up at 5:00 p.m. I opt for a white sundress with yellow trim and a pair of white wedge sandals. The whole outfit accentuatesmy tan. I purchase new underwear for the evening: a white lace thong and a matching strapless bra, just in case we end up in one of our respective beds.

Which, to be clear, hasn’t happened yet.

His fault, not mine. I would rip his clothes off in a heartbeat, but he says he wants it to be special – which, obviously, just makes me want to rip his clothes off even more.

At 5 on the dot, he knocks on my door. He’s wearing a pair of pressed khakis and a white collared shirt, rolled up at the cuffs to reveal his bulging forearms. He tells me I look beautiful, asks if I’m ready, and takes my hand as we walk out to his car.

We catch up on the long drive to Provincetown. I’m surprised that’s where he’s taking me, but I’ve come to learn that nothing about this man should surprise me. On the way there, we chat about work stuff – he’s nervous because he hasn’t heard back yet from the employer who he had the Zoom interview with a few weeks ago. He thought the meeting went well, but nothing’s happened since, and he even made it a point to send them a thank you e-mail. I share that I’m starting to think about classes for the fall and that I have a meeting with my advisor next week to receive my placement for student teaching. We talk about sub jobs, and I explain that I can only sub for half the semester because the other half I’ll be reporting to a school every day. But I have started looking, even though it makes me nervous. I never used to be nervous thinking about my long term goals, but now I feel like I just want to live in the twisted little bubble of Cosmo forever. We’ve fallen into a different groove without Arrow around. Cherry’s back at work now and it’s become a really friendly environment. For the first time, polefeelslike a sisterhood. Nothing lasts forever, I remind myself. But I’m enjoying this summer immensely.

It’s also so nice to be able to talk to Brady about work stuff, because Lord knows I can’t share any of that with my parents. It’s a wonder they haven’t figured me out yet. I’m in the best shape of my life, I only wear leggings to their house for brunch (since the debacle with the pole bruises, I don’t need any further commentary) and I don’t talk about the Diamond Excelsior at all, when I used to complain about it constantly. I’ve mentioned that I’m dating someone, so I think that’s making my mom really happy. Maybe they’re chalking any changes in my appearance or my general attitude up to that. They ask when they’ll “be able to meet this young man,” and I promise them I will bring him to brunch sometime soon.

The drive to P-Town is easy – a straight shot up Route 6, no traffic, which is also a little surprising. My guess is that because it’s a Tuesday, this July 4thwill be a bit less crazy than if it were on a weekend.

But it’s P-Town. In the summer. Which basically means it’s one gigantic party.

He takes me to a restaurant called The Pearl Necklace. Yes, I know. Maybe not the best name for a food establishment, but surprisingly, it’s a very high-class place. I’ve never been there because it’s so expensive. When we walk inside, I’m surprised to find that the place is completely empty, except for a single waiter dressed in what looks like a tuxedo, minus the jacket. Brady shakes his hand.

“Gretchen, this is Gabe,” Brady says.

“Enchanté,” Gabe says, taking my hand and planting a light kiss on the top of it.

“Gabe and I have known each other for years. High end dining has its perks.”

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