Hot Pink by Susan Johnson

Author:Susan Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2004-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

ROCCO WAS SITTING ON THE DOCK AT LAKE Vermillion, smoking a spliff, drinking a beer and trying to figure out how to get himself out of Amy hell. It was a perfect summer day, the sky cloudless blue, the sun warm but not too warm, the lake like a mirror. He’d gotten there late the night before and it was mid-afternoon on Saturday and he was no more near to a solution to his problem than he’d been before.

It was a no go, getting that square peg into that round hole no matter how he tried to wedge it in. He’d reached the stage where he was thinking about staying up here the rest of his life and fishing for a living.

The cordless phone rang.

Paranoid, he checked the caller ID. He wasn’t taking any phone calls from Amy. He smiled when he saw the name and hit the button. “Howzit goin’?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Steve said. “How’s the lake?”

“Great. Peaceful. How did you know I was here?”

“I tried your house. No luck. I thought I’d give the cabin a try, seeing how it’s the height of the summer. Got any news?”

“Not much. The factory’s firing up. We’re pleased about that. I saw your folks the other night. Your dad’s helping us out, you know.”

“Yeah. I heard. Good.”

“So are you coming home this summer?”

“I don’t know. I might if there’s reason. Anything you can think of might bring me home . . . some occasion?” Steve’s voice had taken on a teasing tone.

The hair on the back of Rocco’s neck began to rise. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Amy called me.”

“Yeah?” Rocco tossed his spliff into the water and sat up straight.

“She told me you two were engaged.”

“She’s psycho.”

“I know, that’s why I thought I’d better check it out with you. She’s got big plans. Just a warning.”

“I’m up at the lake to get away from her. She’s driving me nuts.”

“That’s the Amy we all know and love,” Steve said sardonically. “I wish you luck.”

“I’m going to need more than luck. Apparently she’s feeding your folks some crap about us. Your dad made some pretty pointed allusions to son-in-laws when I saw him a couple of nights ago.”

“If I could talk to my dad without the conversation turning into a shouting match, I’d say I could try and give you a hand. But my interference won’t be much help.”

“Thanks. I’ll manage. So how’s the job going out there? I always see your name on the credits after the games. Impressive, dude. Are the ladies keeping you busy?”

“I’m sort of dating someone.”

“Sounds serious.”

“Could be. We’ll see.”

“Is she from out there?”

“San Francisco.”

“Hey, your mom mentioned a girl from San Francisco.”

“I told Mom about her. Anyway, Sarah’s keeping me home at night.”

“No more Playboy babes?”

“Nah. You go through a phase. I suppose you’re still turning the ladies away.” Rocco had always been a magnet for women.

“One in particular,” Rocco muttered.

Steve laughed. “Tell Amy she has to go and get a job if you marry her.

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