Summer Swap 4.5

An hour before dinner, Byron met Sully for a beer on the shadiest deck, sitting at a table in front of the glass wall that displayed the bluish inside of the yacht’s swimming pool. Byron asked Sully what he made of Paloma’s arrival and Sully took a long time to think about it, holding his beer bottle against his chest, slumped in the chair and looking out at the sea. The sun was beginning to descend, and the sky, though still blue, had taken on a baked golden hue.

Sully took another sip and then regarded Byron. “Scarlet and I messed around last night. . . . And, you know, Philippe was there.”

Byron narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher the clunky statement. “You mean you guys had a threesome?”

Sully nodded, looking down at his bottle, lips puckered, chewing his cheek.

Byron’s scalp prickled, thinking about it. “Was it good or...”

“It was good. No, definitely good.”

“But...?”

“Oh,” he said, looking up again. “But nothing.” He took a swig from his beer then said. “Everything’s different now, though, you know?”

“You think I don’t know.”

Sully looked over. “I know you know.”

“At least half the yacht wasn’t in on it.”

“Like with you? I thought you wanted that?”

“Chey wanted it.” But that wasn’t true. “No, I wanted it, too.”

“You led the way, my man.” Sully held up his beer in a toast.

“I did. So... Like, what; you didn’t lead the way?”

“Maybe that’s it,” Sully said, sighing.

“There’s an it? What is the it?”

Sully blubbered a long exhale. “I don’t know, I guess I’m okay with it and everything, but I can’t take it back.”

“It being what, the threesome?”

“Yup, the threesome. It was good. I was into it. . . . It was great, actually. We all had a good time. I just mean that... Geez, I don’t know.”

“You had a good time, but the shine is off the sanctity of your marriage?”

Sully grunted, smiling. “That’s pretty insightful, Byron. Yeah, good job. That’s it.”

“Ah, it’s overblown,” he said. “Sanctity’s like a comparative term. Don’t let how you would compare your marriage to another’s, past or present, to describe your marriage. Like me and Chey, what we did, I probably feel the same way you do in the aftermath, but I don’t think any less of my marriage. I only worry how others would consider it compared to their own. But why would I care about that? Chey and I don’t have children yet, and what happened doesn’t make me feel displaced from her in any way. I feel closer to her.”

“I feel closer to Scarlet,” Sully muttered.

“Then what’s the big deal?”

“Who said there was a big deal?”

“You, with your glum face staring off into the sunset.”

“Excuse me for having thoughts in my head.”

“Excuse me for trying to help you.”

They both laughed and stared off into the sunset.

Byron said, “Did Scarlet really have sex with Philippe?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Crazy.”

Sully said, “Go on and ask.”

“How? Like how, with that thing...?”

“It wasn’t easy. But it was crazy hot, buddy, making out with her while she was on top of him.”

Byron adjusted his shorts at the sudden mental image that provoked, getting aroused when he hadn’t expected he would. “Hoo boy.”

“Hoo boy is right.”

Later when the sun was lower and their beers were empty Byron confessed what was on his mind. “I want to be with Carla again.”

“You should. Why wouldn’t you?”

“I’m going to, I just...”

“Everything became about Chey. And me and Chey.”

“So?... Oh no, performance anxiety?”

“Don’t say that. You never say that. It’s like saying break a leg to an actor; don’t be supportive—you’ll jinx me.”

“Fine then, bro. Break a dick.”

They both laughed and Sully added, “Carla will probably do that for you.”

Byron admitted, “She’s well-versed in the, uh... dark arts of sex.”

“Are you really intimidated? What changed since the last time?”

Sully thought the last time had gone a lot different than it had and Byron wasn’t ready for that admission yet. He shrugged, not sure what to say.

Sully made a funny face then looked around like he had a secret. Byron leaned closer, frowning. “What is it?”

Sully said, “Carla told Scarlet she has the hots for you. Like the only way Cody could be with Cheyenne was because Carla wanted to be with you first.”

Byron stared at him, waiting for the joke. When it didn’t come, he broke a smile of his own, slinking back in his chair. “Get the fuck out of here.”

Sully laughed too, saying, “That’s what I said when Scarlet told me—no offense, buddy—but you know what Scarlet said?”

“Let me hear it,” Byron said, disbelieving already.

Sully checked over his shoulder again, then whispered, “She like... diddles herself to you.”

Byron rolled his eyes. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Sully laughed, leaning the chair back on its rear legs, putting his feet on the railing. “I’m not kidding. Take what you want from it, believe it or not, I’m telling you what Scarlet told me. She had a heart to heart with Carla and that’s what Carla told Scarlet. She has a thing for boyish men.”

Byron grunted, replaying some of Carla’s talks with him, looking for some truth to what he was hearing. He didn’t recall anything that would verify it, but nothing that would counter it either. “Crazy.”

Sully let his chair thump down, turned and faced Byron like he’d just received a grand revelation. “I got it, dude. A threesome...”

“What about one?”

Sully wagged an index finger between himself and Byron. “A threesome, Byron. You, me and Carla. What do you think?”

* * *

Sully doubted it would happen but still thought it was a good idea. If Byron got cold feet, he’d be happy to step in for a minute and give him a break from Carla, keep the party going, as it were. Maybe they could spring the idea on Carla and make it happen fast before Byron had too much time to think about it. Though Byron didn’t seem keen.

Would it matter? Because how would Scarlet feel about it? That’s what interested him now. He’d hardly seen her today except for their time in Carla’s tub, and that had been strange. Then she’d spent part of the afternoon drinking with Cheyenne up on the top of the yacht.

Now it was meal time and they were on the dining deck, ready to receive another grand slam dinner from their soon-to-be-famous chef friend. Scarlet was at his side, looking refreshed after a long day of rest and hydration following her evening of devastating sex.

And the man with whom they’d shared a bed had been reunited with his estranged wife today.

Philippe sat near the head of the table and looked pleased as punch to have Paloma with him. It was kind of heartwarming to think that they could go through trials and tribulations that led to the downfall of their marriage and yet, with some time apart, could miss one another and long for the old times and feel love again.

What Sully didn’t like was how Scarlet seemed disgruntled with Paloma’s presence. Like she harbored jealous feelings. One night with this other man and she wanted to engage in a catfight over his affections.

How powerful was Philippe’s fucking sexuality?

His wife divorces him, but comes running back to be with him. Probably addicted to the D. Scarlet spends one night with the guy and now she can’t hide from her husband the displeasure she sees in her fling’s reunion with his ex.

And, damn, Philippe’s former wife looked hotter than ever. All tanned and glossy hair, those long legs that shone like she rubbed moisturizer on them three or four times a day. Big old smile, too, shiny lips, bright teeth. Dazzling, really.

Cody asked them all to stand and raise a glass. First he thanked Arlo and Lily for their hospitality, making such a wonderful meal, and Arlo once again thanked Carla for helping prep. Carla looked well-liquored; happy and hazy-eyed, speculative, too. Or maybe sneaky. Her eyes narrowed and glimmering with some secret knowledge.

Then Cody asked everyone to toast their surprise guest of honor. Paloma.

Paloma addressed everyone, standing tall and beautiful, saying, “Thank you, everyone,” in her hint-of-Rio accent, “it’s so good to be here with you all again. It’s an honor, really, and I’m glad you all welcome me.” She nodded then, gracious, one long, graceful arm folded across her middle, Philippe then standing next to her, taking her hand and kissing her cheek. Paloma folded arms around his neck and kissed his mouth, and most everyone said aw. Not Chey, though, and not Scarlet.

Sully shook his head, grumbling to himself, clapping his hands. Byron wolf-whistled and Cheyenne elbowed him. They all sat down to their meal.

As Arlo explained the dish he’d prepared, some kind of Hungarian pork or something, Sully leaned closer to Scarlet. “Why are you so sour?”

She looked at him like he was crazy. “Who says I’m sour?”

“The look on your face.”

She squinted, and showed him a look of incomprehension. “What are you talking about?”

“I thought you didn’t care Paloma was coming?”

“I don’t. Not really.”

“Yeah, not really,” he said, muttering to himself, “you just look like you’re watching someone drink the last bottle of water on a life raft.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Scarlet stared at the side of his head. “I’m the one who’s sour?”

“I’m not sour,” he said.

“I’m not either.”

“Good. We’re a couple of sweet candies then, right?”

“No sours here.”

“Good.”

Scarlet returned to face Arlo.

He leaned closer to her, saying, “Hey, Byron wants me to tag in on a three way with Carla.” See how she liked that one.

He watched her profile as she pretended to ignore him. Then instead of getting mad, she began to smile. She quarter-turned to him, whispering, “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Sure thing,” he said, wondering what she thought of it since she didn’t make it clear. Then he began to feel petty and unsure of why he was trying to charge her up, get her going. He said, “Let me know if you want to come along.”

She shook with a quiet laugh, then slunk nearer to him. “I want you to keep your thing in your shorts until I get to talk to you. Can you do that?”

“I didn’t see you all day.”

Now she showed a little compassion, touching his face. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he said.

“Promise me you won’t put your dick in anything until we talk.”

“You know I wouldn’t.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding, somewhat amused. “We’re going to be careful. Capice?”

There was something more to what she was saying, but for the life of him he had no idea what it was. He shook his head, looking for clarification. “Careful about what?”

Scarlet shushed him with a finger pressed to her lips, returning to her place setting as lily began to serve their dinner.