Page 134 of Maverick

"I hope like fuck he doesn't jump," Maverick says, sitting a little straighter. That would be?—"

Colton jumps. He lands on the back of the bull, wrapping his arms and legs around it. Maybe he sticks the landing. I don't know. Because I, along with everyone else already in the pool, are screaming, doing everything we can to stay afloat as the giant wave picks us up and hurls us to the deep end of the pool.

"Son of a bitch," Maverick says, pulling me tighter. I lose one bag of chips, but lunge for the other and managed to snatch it before it hits the water. Once the chips are safely tucked between us, I immediately search for Nan. She can swim, I'm not worried about that. But I'm worried about her getting jostled.

Thankfully, she and Connie are giggling, riding the waves up and down. They clink their glasses together, and throw them back, tipping sideways into each other. "Do you think they're already drunk?"

"They were pre-gaming in Connie's apartment. I guarantee they're drunk."

My mouth drops open. "You're serious? Oh my god. I knew they were spending more time together, but I didn't realize the kind of shit they were getting into. I thought it was just an occasional game of poker."

"I think they passed poker a while ago. Nan's been taking Connie to the community center to 'flirt with the geezers' as she put it. And they've been having lunch together nearly every day."

"How did I not know this? Why does my grandma tell you all this stuff?"

Maverick winces. "I'm nosy as fuck. Honestly, that's why. I can't stop myself from asking questions, and talking to everybody." The way he says 'talking', makes it obvious, to me at least, that it's not just conversation. There's a lot more to it.

I pin him with a suspicious look. "You have a network of spies."

To his credit, he doesn't try to deny it. He thinks about it, but then gives me the truth. "Um…Yeah, I have a network of spies."

"Huh. Well, maybe I need to ask more questions. And I think I love that Nan and Connie are so close. Not the drinking part, but she deserves a good friend. And maybe Connie needs a friend, too."

"I think she does. She talks to her board and checks in on her company, but I think most of her grandsons are scattered."

"It's tough that her family is— wait, her company? She runs a company?"

"Yeah. She has a board in place, but she's the sole owner. I'm not sure, but I think she's still the largest steel producer on this side of the country."

The largest steel producer?The woman is rich. I guess I knew that, considering she lives here, but I think she's RICH rich. She's also currently stuck on her back, both thin legs in the air, snorting with laughter as Nan tries to help her right herself.

"How many billionaires are in this pool right now?" I ask slowly.

As I suspected, his finger points at Connie as he says "one', then continues counting. But I stop paying attention as it becomes obvious that Connie and Nan, both laughing hysterically, are sinking. And they're both holding fresh margaritas. "Who the fuck gave them more drinks? I mean,we're right here. Did you see who did it? Did David Blaine swoop in and poof, make margaritas appear."

"I don't know…wait. Does their floaty seem…not right?" Maverick starts wiggling out of his spot. "Nan. Just stay there. We'll come get you." He looks like a toddler trying to get off the couch, on his stomach, wiggling his way into the water.

"Nan's sinking!" I yell to anyone in our vicinity. It's getting a little urgent, Nan and Connie are standing on the floaty now, submerged up to their thighs - God that happened fast - and all the men are starting to look pretty worried. Nan and Connie are still sipping their drinks. "Nan what happened?"

"Connie brought her sparkly, pokey cane on the floaty. Did I ever mention she's a little light in the attic?"

Connie chokes on her sip of Margarita, then laughs hysterically. "I am woman enough to admit that was an unfortunate decision." Then they clink glasses again. They are so drunk.

Ransom hops into the water, and he and Mav make it to the women as the water hits their waists. Thankfully, they can touch the bottom as they battle back the white plastic of the float, ballooned around them, to reach the women. There's an intense negotiation, Connie and Nan waving their arms dramatically, and then together Nan and Connie turn, and sit.

Nan on Ransom's head. Connie on Maverick's.

On their heads.

Like, using them for stools kind of sit. Their soaked caftans are draped over the men's shoulders.

Maverick and Ransom are now blind as fucking bats.

And Connie and Nan still have their drinks in their hands

"Marco," Nick yells from the steps. The rest of themen, even Colton, are in the water too, guiding Maverick and Ransom to the steps. They form a sort of human chain, guiding them carefully through the water. Yeah, there's snickering, and somehigh fives for Connie and Nan, but none of the craziness that I would normally expect from them. "Marco."

Actually, that's not fair. I would expect exactly this, because all of the men are super protective of the women and the kids, and the last thing any of them would want to do is jostle Nan and Connie, making them fall.Why did they sit on their heads though? What kind of logic is that?