Page 55 of Bad Summer People
“So, the plan is that I get a drink with Robert, and you break into his house while he’s out to look for, what, exactly?”
“I don’t know,” said Sam with a shrug.
“You’re a corporate lawyer, not a burglar. This is ridiculous. You’re wearing a button-down that cost four hundred dollars,” said Jen. But she got her phone out and pulled up Robert’s number.
Hi! Random, but I was wondering if you were around to meet at the yacht club for a drink? Just want to catch up and say goodbye before the summer ends!
She pressed Send.
“He’s going to know something is up,” she said.
“Make up an excuse. You’re good at lying.”
She rolled her eyes and then got up to get dressed, waiting for her phone to buzz. A minute later, she heard it.
Sure, meet you there in ten.
She slipped on a long white skirt and a striped cashmere sweater.
“How do you think you’re going to get into his house?” she asked.
Sam was hovering, biting his already-raggedy nails. “The front door, if it’s open. Or I can get in the side window. The lifeguards used to stay in that house when we were kids—they’d throw parties. I’ve been there a million times. Just keep him out for thirty minutes. And no fucking him.”
“Very funny. I think Lauren has that last part taken care of.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. Jen smeared on some red lipstick, and she and Sam crept out, passing Luana, who was sitting on the couch watching Bravo.
“We’re heading out for a drink,” Jen called to her as they left.
Jen walked on Bay Prom, and Sam disappeared up Surf. The plan was for Sam to go around the long way to Robert’s house, waiting until Jen texted him that Robert was at the yacht club.
It was past 9:00, dark and cold. Jen saw an unlucky crushed frog on the boardwalk. She hugged herself as she walked, shivering from the bay breeze. The club was relatively empty when she arrived, a few twentysomethings playing pool in the back, an older couple, the Longerans, having a nightcap in the front room, Micah Holt at his normal spot at the bar. Everyone was preparing for the trip home tomorrow. She was glad—she didn’t want too many people to see her with Robert. He was already sitting and waiting for her, in a gray sweater and jeans, sipping a whiskey. She took out her phone and sent a quick text to Sam:
He’s here.
She remembered the last time she and Robert were at the bar together, at the July 4 party, when Jason had interrupted them. She was so happy to be done with him.
“Hi, Robert. How are you? Thanks for meeting me,” she said, sitting next to him.
“Happy to,” he said. “I wasn’t doing anything. It feels kind of weird, the summer ending and all.”
This was a thing that Salcombe did. Seduced people until they had no memory of the bad moments.
“Yes, the end of summer is always like a death,” she said, not catching herself until after she’d spoken. “I don’t mean arealdeath. Though this summer…” She trailed off.
Robert took a sip of his drink.
“I’ve been meaning to ask—what will you do this year? Are you going back to Florida to teach tennis?”
Robert smiled. “No, thankfully. I’ve taken a job with Larry Higgins. I’ll be working with him in the city. And I’ve rented a place in Chelsea.”
“That’s so wonderful, Robert,” Jen said. She briefly wondered if Lauren would continue to see him. No. Lauren was too smart for that. “I’m sure you’ll do great with Larry. He’s a savvy, successful guy.”
“Yeah, I’m excited,” he said. Poor Robert was just trying to get ahead.Whatever had happened with Susan, it wasn’t Robert who’d sent her flying off that edge.
“The reason I wanted to see you was to thank you for encouraging me—I really feel like you upped my game enormously. I appreciate it so much. It was the highlight of my summer, playing tennis. I know that Salcombe can be difficult, and you did a wonderful job navigating it all.”
Robert reddened a bit. “Thanks, Jen. You’ve always been kind to me. I’m glad I could help with your ground strokes, but really I’m just happy you were around to be a normal, nice person.”
