Page 82 of The End of Summer

“Bride wants you to be a cop,” the Skeeve says.

I nod to myself. “’Kay. Is it a solo gig?”

“Nope. Five of you – but she wants you front and center. The specific request is that you are not to dance with anyone besides her.”

Weird.“Can people request that?”

“For enough money, these girls can request anything,” he says.

I don’t like it. I should say no.But I think of Gretchen, and how, depending on how much I’ll make for this gig, I’ll be able to float through the rest of the summer and take her out on a few more really special dates. “Is there any kind of bonus? Or incentive?”

“Funny you should ask. Bridal party’s paying extra for their demands. So, if you say yes, you get your normal rate plus a $500 bonus. Plus tips, of course.”

In other words, it’s a thousand dollars no matter what. For an hour of my life.“Okay. I’m in.”

“Great. I’ll throw in the thong again since you’re doing me a solid. I need you to meet with the guys – it’s Max, Tommy, Dex, and Billy – before the end of the week. Touch base with Max. He’s got the info. I’ll make sure he picks up the costume for you, too.”

“Sounds good. Will do. Thanks, Steve. Appreciate the hook up.”

I explain the situation to Gretchen, who thinks it’s odd and immediately wonders if the girl in question is Miranda. I hadn’t considered it, but once she mentions it, I figure she’s probably right. She did mention being engaged, after all. Still, it’s just an hour, and for that kind of money, I can fake it. Gretchen says she understands, but I can feel the strain in her voice.

“Babe,” I tell her that night in my apartment. “What do you have to be worried about? Do you have any idea how crazy I am about you?”

She sighs. “I know. I’m crazy about you too. I just – I feeljealous.I know it’s petty, and that you were with her like forever ago, but I still don’t like the idea of you dancing with her.”

“I don’t like it either. How about this. If you want me to call it off, I will. It’s not worth it to me to make you upset.”

She ponders this, taking a bite of the loaded nachos I made us for movie night. “Thank you, Brady. I guess it’ll be fine.”

“It’s all for the money. You know I have zero interest in seeing her.”

“I know. It’s just, I feel like the last week’s been a lot, between Cherry going back out on bedrest and the three of us running these parties alone. Too many mishaps. And now, to have to worry about you on top of it…” Her voice trails off.

The mishaps she’s referring to include one night of vomiting clientele, another night where the maid of honor didn’t bring enough cash to cover the balance on the party (a fact which Gretchen didn’t find out until after the party ended), a third night where the bridal party surprised the bride with the trip to Cosmo and brought the bride’s mother and grandmother, who were both appalled and took down the entire vibe, and a fourth night where two members of the bridal party got in a fist fight, and Indigo took a shot to the lip trying to break it up. So, yes. Her concerns are fair. I reposition myself on the couch so that I’m facing her, and take her free hand in mine. “I know. It’s been a shit storm lately,” I say. “Summer will be over soon, and then we can all go back to our regularly scheduled programming.”

“What will that even look like for us?”

“I’m not sure, exactly,” I admit. “But it starts with the two of us, happily together, you in your last year of grad school, me working at a good job. We’ll be able to put this whole business of working at Cosmo behind us and move on to bigger and better things.”

At this, she smiles. “I like that picture.”

I lean in and kiss her. “I do, too.”

We table the Miranda issue as kissing turns into a whole lot more on Luis’ couch. We move to the bed and spend the next several hours enjoying each other, showering together, and then returning to the bed for a second round.

We do not watch the rest of the movie.

By Saturday, we’ve discussed it a few more times, but it’s basically been decided that the show must go on, regardless of who’s in the audience. I practice with the guys on Friday – Max teaches me some steamy choreo to a mixed number that begins withSound of Da Policeby KRS-One and includes a very sexy remake ofEvery Breath You Takeby the Police,Wait (the Whisper Song)by the Ying Yang Twins, and ends withChainsby Nick Jonas. It’s an insane compilation of songs that actually all work together surprisingly well. The dance takes about eight minutes total. Also, the props are kind of cool,and include long handled flashlights, handcuffs, and a bulletproof vest.

By the time Saturday comes, I’m almost looking forward to it. Gretchen’s going to think it’s crazy hot.

Me, the boys, and Big Mike pull up to Cosmo in two cars: Mike’s F-350 and Max’s Jeep Wrangler. I’m pumped for the night, looking forward to making some serious cash and hopefully not having to do this anymore. Gretchen’s over it; I think at this point she’s just eagerly awaiting Arrow’s reappearance and the start of the school year. It’s become too stressful for her, but, ever the trooper, my girl soldiers on. And same for me. I just want to be a grown up already. I’ve gotten a taste of what it could be like to have my own place, a serious girlfriend, and almost even a decent, steady job that I didn’t get simply by being a blood relative of Chef Braxton Hawthorne. It’s nice behaving like an adult. I’m ready to retire these shenanigans and do it for real.

But, for tonight, I’m an officer of the law.

We do our thing, knocking loudly on the door. Surprisingly, Gretchen opens it.

“Oh, no,” she says, in a voice of fake surprise. “Officers, what can we do for you?”

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