It was the next Saturday, the day of the barbecue, and Roxanna and I were groggy in the morning. After going shopping, cooking dinner, and getting up early to complete them, we stayed up late on Friday night. With the refreshment, Caroline met us at the residence—the only thing Roxanna entrusted her with.
The food and supplies were loaded into my car and Roxanna's before we left for the lake. As soon as we were checked in, we placed the food inside the cabin and set up the drink station outside, with the coolers placed between the grill and a huge table beneath the pavilion.
A pitcher of sangria that Caroline had prepared was chilling in a beverage dispenser. Her responsibilities were limited to keeping the beers and sodas in two coolers cold. Once again, Roxanna orders.
Roxanna finished cooking her brisket in the oven. There were potato and pasta salads in the fridge. She had already set up the watermelon fruit bowl we made the previous evening, the deli wraps, hummus, pita chips, and vegetable tray. These served as snacks to enjoy while Leon grilled the burgers, hot dogs, and other items that everyone brought and put on the grill.
I made fruit tarts, brownies, yogurt parfaits, my dad's baked beans, and corn on the cob that would be grilled. Everyone else was bringing food, too, but Roxanna insisted on having a large selection even if the others didn't. She also didn't trust other people's meals until she had firsthand experience with them.
We proceeded to the bedrooms to shower and change after finishing our job. Leon arrived just as we were getting ready and enjoying sangria outside. Roxanna flaunted her flat stomach in a black crop top while wearing a floral pleated skirt. Caroline has dressed in a tight blue sundress with a lot of cleavage and a low cut. I didn't care that Caroline disapproved of my choice of a coral razorback top and khaki short shorts. It was lovely and comfortable. Carter would be seduced by me again, once the time was right.
"Hey ladies," Leon smiled at us, before dropping the bags on the table. He turned to Roxanna right away and attempted to grab her, but she resisted him.
"No. I'm already dressed. Hands off," Roxanna squirmed at Leon.
"Hey man, where do you want this?" A deep voice called from behind them.
"By the grill," Leon replied to the man who was holding a sizable quantity of charcoal. His black, muscular tank showed off his biceps to perfection. I and Caroline's eyes studied him as he approached the grill. He was unmistakably Latino, and both his muscular figure and his attractive face were seductive. He came over to the table and left the charcoal.
"Katy, Caroline, this is Nielsen," Leon introduced us.
"Marcus is fine," he corrected him, nodding at all three of us.
"He sure is…" Caroline whispered to me, but it was loud enough so everyone could hear. "Hablas espanol [Speak spanish]?" Caroline asked, turning toward him.
He smiled at her, revealing a dimple. I couldn't believe a man dressed up to be so incredibly beautiful and sexy. Yet, to also find a guy who makes you want to roll in bed—a little bit scruffy, effortless, not-trying-too-hard, still-sexy guy—to be so attractive. That was Marcus.
"Si [Yes]," Marcus responded.
I looked across toward Caroline. She was thinking what I was thinking, we were both wondering why Roxanna left out Marcus' attractiveness. I was fully aware of this since I am also considering it.
"So, y'all are getting started early," Marcus mentioned, motioning towards our drinks.
Caroline scoffed. "We've been up all night working. We are not up early."
"I am not shocked, knowing Roxanna, she most likely kept her servants busy all night," Marcus said. Roxanna was obviously biting her tongue in order to remain silent. I smiled at her, reassuring her. Caroline smiled too.
"This one was…" Caroline nudged at me. "I just volunteered to handle the drinks."
"You seem to be slacking, I guess. I am down on my luck empty-handed, as well as my boy," Marcus said. He threw a look Roxanna's and Leon's way. "If that's okay…"
"Please feel free to handle an open flame while drinking; be my guest," Roxanna said while giving him a fake smile.
Caroline giggled and grabbed his arm. "C'mon, let's get you taken care of," she said to Marcus flirtatiously.
Leon gave Roxanna a sheepish look and shook his head, following them over to the temporary bar.
"See what I mean? Fucking evil," Roxanna said under her breath to me.
"Oh, yes, yes, very similar to the devil. Evil, alluring, and hot…" I joked.
"Oh God, not you too. Caroline is acting incredibly desperate."
I laughed. "He's hot, there's no denying that, but not the person I really want. You should know that."
Roxanna rolled her eyes at me.
*****
Even before the guy I was dying to see arrived, the barbecue was already well underway, and I was having so much fun that I hardly realized he was absent. Leon's buddies were cool. They're typically enjoyable and laid-back types. Thanks to Caroline, I can see the immaturity that Roxanna was lamenting when the drinks started flowing, but it's largely playful and not bothersome. Marcus wasn't able to make sarcastic remarks because Caroline was preoccupied with him all the time.
When I heard my name called, I had just finished eating and was in the kitchen talking to Roxanna's friend Saskia and Sarah, who was Leon's friend's girlfriend, about working out to make your butt bigger, when CJ entered the room through the door.
"Hey CJ!" I waved to him and grinned as he walked toward the kitchen. He appeared adorable in a white t-shirt with a blue star and blue checkered shorts. As I took him up, he hugged me. "You ready to eat, little man?"
He nodded, and I sat him down. I got him a plate of food.
"Do you want ketchup on your hot dog?" As he placed his plate on the outdoor picnic table, I questioned him. He selected the seat closest to Roxanna and Leon.
He nodded. "On-"
"The hot dog, not the bun," I finished for him.
"I need to know who your secret child is. You have a dish in your hand before your dad and I even get to the table. How did you accomplish that? I looked up to see a guy I didn't recognize talking to CJ.
"Tell him, you've got game. That's why…" Marcus joked.
CJ repeated him and I laughed, setting his hot dog on his plate.
"Don't impart that foolishness to him," Carter said, approaching Marcus and giving him a 'man half hug' gesture. I observed him as he approached Leon in the same manner, greeting him before giving Roxanna a genuine hug. With a blue polo shirt and cargo shorts, he exuded effortless sex.
"In my eyes, he certainly succeeded by heading straight to Katy," Carter stated as he turned and smiled at me. I couldn't help but feel let down that I didn't also get a hug.
"Smart kid," the guy I didn't recognize responded, while he openly looked me over. I was able to get over my disappointment and grin at him. Suddenly, Carter cleared his throat.
"Potter, this is Katy. Katy, this is my co-worker Potter," Carter introduced us.
"I'm pleased to meet you. However, I believe we had already met. You're a bartender, right?" Potter asked, reaching over to shake my hand.
"I once did. It's nice to see you once more. And, I don't mind making your plate if you let me know what you want," I offered.
He grinned at me. "Really?"
"Really."
"Don't make his plate. His arms and legs work fine," Carter stated, eyeing Potter.
"Don't get angry because you can't make the game work. Anything you bring me, love, I'll accept it," Potter told me. I grinned as I made my way to the cabin. As I noticed Carter following me, I was thrilled.
"So what did you make?" Carter asked as we grabbed the paper platters.
As I put a little of everything on Potter's plate, I told him.
As he made sure to get everything I created, I grinned to myself. I secretly watched Carter eat as I returned the plate to Potter and hung out by the coolers with Caroline, Marcus, Leon, and George.
Roxanna brought out the fruit tarts, brownies, and parfaits once everyone had finished eating. Someone also brought a cake and biscuits.
Carter gave me a startled glance before turning to the tarts. "You made those?"
"Yes. Although I did purchase each tart's separate pastry crust, the rest is all homemade."
"And they're amazing bro," Leon chimed in.
"How would you know?" Roxanna asked him.
"Because I had one for breakfast," Leon answered. We laughed at him.
"Gordon Ramsay. He has never done me wrong," I commented.
"Oh, so you're okay with Gordon Ramsay?" Carter grinned at me.
"Yep, he can call me whatever he wants as long as he feeds me," I joked.
Everyone laughing at that. But no one disagreed.