I settle on the porch swing, eating my blueberries and yogurt, and the wind has picked up since this morning. It’s still hot and steamy, enough that you feel that sheen of sweat on your skin. The direction has changed, and it’s now coming straight off the ocean. The waves are bigger, and I know only the experienced surfers will be back this afternoon. The ones who are risk takers and love the adrenaline rush.

It’s a typical summer day: hot, humid, and building a new storm.

KURT

“I can’t wait for these sweaty balls to finally dip into the cold water. Surely we’re done for the day?” I hear the voice behind me.

“Just keep hammering, dipshit. The quicker you nail that, the faster we’re out of here.” I don’t even look at him, concentrating on finishing getting this flooring down on the deck.

“Oh, that is just gross, you two imbeciles.” My sister, Jodie, looks at me like this is the first time she’s heard this type of shit come out of Ricky’s mouth.

I roll my eyes at her. It’s not like Ricky’s language is new, he’s never been any different.

My sister thinks that the guys on the building site will speak differently on the days she’s here. Not a chance with Ricky. Being a paramedic, she works shift work, and when she’s in between her roster changes, for some strange reason she likes to come and hang out with us. She tells me it’s because she likes the fresh air and sunshine. I know it’s more than that, but I let her have her little story.

She’s either lonely or she likes Ricky. Please don’t be the Ricky option. Spending all day with him at work is bad enough. I don’t need him to be part of the family too. Plus, the age thing, with Jodie being forty and Ricky being twenty-one, would be just creepy. Part of me thinks there is actually more to it than that, but I haven’t quite worked it out yet.

Jodie and I were close growing up, but with me being away for fifteen years working and not getting home much, she grew up and lived a life I didn’t know a lot about. Since I’ve moved back to North Carolina, she’s never far away from me. It’s kind of nice to have my sidekick back.

“Come on, boss, we need to get out in the waves before the storm breaks. The swell will be cranking by now.”