We talked for another half-hour before the delivery truck arrived.
“About time,” I grumbled.
“Nah,” Carter said. “It’s been fun. We have a lot in common.”
“Yeah, it has,” I said. “And we do.” How much was another question entirely.
“I’ll get the gate.” He hopped out of the car, waved to the delivery guys, and opened the combination lock. Then he dropped the chain and motioned them through. I started to remind him to raise it again, but he was already doing it. He returned to the car and jumped into the passenger seat.
“Did I mention we’ve been bored?” he added with a grin.
The delivery van followed us to the Retreat, and I cautiously edged to a stop by the clubhouse. I didn’t see the girls, but I wanted to give them plenty of time to get out of sight.
“There they are,” Carter said. He pointed at the window in our bungalow, the one Christy and I shared. “I just saw the curtain move.”
We helped the delivery guys unload everything first. Then we unwrapped the padded blankets from four round tables, sixteen matching chairs, and four benches, plus a dozen sturdy lounge chairs and a half-dozen side tables. Carter and I unpacked the boxes of cushions while the delivery guys folded their blankets.
“This is teak,” he said as we placed cushions on chairs. “It’s expensive. When does the Retreat open? Soon?”
“Probably not till next season. Sorry.”
The delivery guys closed their truck.
“Do you need to let us out?” the driver asked.
“Yeah,” I said, “I’ll follow you to the gate.”
“We,” Carter corrected. “I’m coming with you. If you don’t mind.”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
We chatted about Susan’s plans for the Retreat as we followed the truck. I kept my answers as vague as I could, but Carter could tell that I was holding back. He probably knew what, too, but he didn’t come right out and say it. He dropped a couple of hints, though, about how the Retreat was exactly what he and Kim were looking for.
“And you and Christy are the type of people we hoped to meet,” he added. “We’ve only known each other for a day, but we have so much in common…”
“We do,” I agreed. “Would you like to join us for dinner? Nothing fancy, but—”
“We’d love to.” He laughed. “I should probably clear it with Kim first, but… yeah. I think she’d like it too.” He studied me for a moment and then decided to say what he was thinking. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m dying to see what you and Christy look like. Naked, I mean. Or nude. Or… whatever you call it.”
I chuckled. “You’re in for a surprise.”
“Oh?”
“You’ll see.”
* * *
I parked behind the clubhouse and we climbed out of the car. I felt sticky from the heat and dusty from waiting with the windows down. Part of me couldn’t wait to strip off my clothes and jump into the pool, but another part was slightly nervous.
I almost laughed when I figured out why—I wanted Carter to like me. I was pretty sure he’d be okay that Christy and I were both shaved, but stranger things had turned me off. Laughter and shrieks from the pool put my worries on hold.
“What’s going on?” Carter wondered aloud.
“I think I know.”
“It sounds fun, whatever it is.”
We rounded the corner of the clubhouse and pulled up short. Christy and Kim were frolicking in the pool, laughing and splashing each other like kids.
“I think they’ve been drinking,” Carter said. He pointed at the empty wine bottle and two Solo cups on one of the little side tables.
“They’re probably on their second bottle.” I glanced at my watch and counted back. “It’s been almost three hours.”
“You’re probably right. Kim doesn’t get silly until her third or fourth drink. Sorry,” he added, although he followed it with a grin. “Did I mention…? We’ve been a bit bored.”
“Yeah. But Christy doesn’t need encouragement to drink.”
“Ah, right,” he said. “Irish Catholic.”
The girls saw us and stopped splashing each other. They swam to the shallow end of the pool and grinned over the coping like a couple of blonde Kilroys.
“We’re a little drunk,” Kim said. “Just a little. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Carter chuckled.
“You can’t blame us,” Christy said. “You were gone forever. Never mind. Who cares. Come join us.” She kicked away from the side and swam on her back toward the deep end.
Carter’s eyes followed her. Her small, tan breasts broke the surface and glistened in the late afternoon sun, but the water swirled between her legs and made it impossible to tell that she was shaved. Kim must have been thinking the same thing.
“Oh my God, Carter,” she said, “wait till you see her cookie.”
He shot me a nervous glance, but I didn’t react.
“It’s completely shaved.” Kim swallowed hard when she realized what she’d just said, and her cheeks turned pink through her tan. “Whoops. Did I mention… we’re a little drunk?”
“I think we got it,” Carter laughed. Then he glanced at me. “Sorry. I hope you don’t mind…” He gestured helplessly.
“No problem. Besides, she’s right.”
“About what?”
“Christy.” I grinned. “Her cookie.”
“The surprise you mentioned?”
“Yeah. But… um… she isn’t the only one.”
His blue eyes widened but then sharpened into understanding. “Ah, right. You are too?”
“Are you cool with that?”
“That depends,” he said. “Are you hung like a horse?”
“Ha! No, not even close.”
“Okay. Then we’re good. Sorry,” he added. “I know you said not to joke about body parts, but…” He shrugged.
“It’s okay. We’re friends. Besides, I think we’re past that point.”
“We’re talking about dicks,” he cracked. “I dunno what point you’re talking about, but we passed it a while ago!”
“No kidding.”
“Should we join them?” He glanced at me and grinned. “Unless you’re ashamed of your horse-cock.”
“My shaved horse-cock,” I corrected.
“Ah, right. Noted. We don’t have to compare, do we?”
“No,” I chuckled. Then I eyed him sideways. “We’ll let the girls do that.”
“Right! Good idea.”
* * *
Carter did his best not to stare when I removed my boxers and added them to the pile.
“I have to say something,” he said at last. “And I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, but… that’s a lot cooler than I thought it’d be.”
My eyebrows ticked up with surprise.
“Yeah, I know,” he added, “most guys don’t talk about another guy’s dick, but… come on! We’re at a nudist camp, right? Besides, we’re the only ones here. Who’s going to object if I comment on another guy?”
“Not me,” I said laconically.
“Right. Hey, hon,” he called to Kim, “have you seen this? Oh, jeez! Sorry,” he said to me. “I didn’t even ask. I’m still learning the etiquette.”
“It’s all right.”
“I just wanted Kim to see. Sorry if that seems a little weird.”
“Not really,” I said. “Besides, I’m the same. I checked you out when we first met.” I shrugged. “We’re guys. It’s what we do.”
“Right! I’m glad you’re cool with it.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Are you guys coming in?” Christy called from the pool.
“’Cause if you aren’t,” Kim added, “would you get us more wine?”
“Oh, and… um… Paul?” Christy said. “I know I should’ve asked you first, but I invited them to dinner. What’s so funny?”
“He invited us too,” Carter said before I could answer. Then he turned to me. “We don’t want to intrude. We can eat back at the main camp if it’s too much trouble.”
“Nonsense.” “No, stay!”
He chuckled. “Wow, it’s unanimous. Is that okay with you, hon?”