Page 13 of Made For You
“Oh my God,” I huff and open the sliding door, sticking my head out. I walk off the boat and onto the dock, and I take five steps before I see my parents at the gate with Cooper, Erika, Franny, Wilson, Chase, and Julia all behind them. “You said you were coming,” I say into the phone as I walk down the dock. “You didn’t say the whole family was coming.”
I walk up the silver plank, pressing the button for them to come in. “I like this,” my father says, opening the door. “It’s safe.”
“Glad you approve,” I reply to him, and then I see Wilson, Cooper, and Chase lean down and pick up six massive bags. “What is all this?”
“We brought some stuff,” my mother replies, coming in and holding the gate for Erika. “Just some food and, you know, stuff.”
“It’s not even eight o’clock,” I inform them as my mother walks down the ramp to stand on the dock.
“I like this.” She looks around. “Very nice.”
My father then joins her and puts his hand around her shoulder. “It’s nice.”
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask Franny and then look at her outfit. “What are you wearing?”
“I was on Pinterest and I put in boat outfits and this came up.” I eye her pants that look like a leopard print with a matching bikini top. A black button-down long shirt covers her shoulders.
“I’m sure you searched up safari,” Chase says, walking in.
“I did not,” she snarls and walks to join my parents.
“I tried to tell them that this was too much,” Julia says. “Erika literally said this is too much.” She points at Erika, who yawns.
“I don’t have any kids and I’m waking up at the ass crack of dawn.” She glares at Cooper. “Ridiculous.”
“So where is the boat?” my father yells, and I have to shush him.
“Dad.” I walk down the ramp toward him. “Can we be respectful of my neighbors?”
“Sorry, honey,” he says. “Where is your boat?”
“This way,” I direct, leading them to my boat.
“It’s like its own village,” my mother observes as she looks around at all the boats. “Are people friendly?”
“I have no idea, Mom. I haven’t met any.”
“That’s my girl,” my father says, beaming with pride, the smile across his face. “Make no eye contact.”
I stop right next to my boat. “This is mine,” I announce proudly, pointing at my boat.
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Julia says, pushing past me. “Permission to come aboard the vessel?” she asks.
“She isn’t a captain,” Chase fills in, walking past her. “Nor is she in the navy. I’m sure this boat is big enough for all of us.”
“Go ahead,” I tell her, and she claps her hands, “but take off your shoes.”
“Oh, yeah,” Erika chimes in. “I saw that inBelow Deck.” She looks at me, slipping her Gucci flip-flops off. “This is so fancy,” she adds, following Chase who puts the bags down and holds out his hand for Julia.
“Thank you.” Julia kisses his lips, and then he’s about to hold out his hand for Erika.
“If you touch her,” Cooper growls. “I’m going to make you sleep with the fish.” He pushes past me and onto the boat.
“Can we be normal for one day?” Franny asks me as she steps on the boat.
“You’re dressed to go on a safari,” Cooper tells her. “For one day, can you dress normal?”
I look over at my father, who is standing on the dock with his hands on his hips. He’s wearing shorts and a white polo, a baseball hat on his head with the New York logo. “So what do you think?” I ask him as he looks at my boat. He puts his arm around my shoulder as I watch my mother step onto my boat.