He's suddenly free tonight.

Gary and his new acquaintance Abby sat on the towels watching Rei and Kevin skim along the waves.

“You doing anything tonight?" Abby asked. "Some movie producer gave me an invitation to a party he’s having, and he said I can bring a date. I’d like you to be my date if you want to. No commitments, just a date. We’ll see where it goes from there.”

"Sounds pretty interesting," Gary said. He looked up and to the side, thinking. "When and where is it?"

"Well, my friend Rainey from work says nine is a good bet," she says. "It's up in Vista Del Mar."

"Let me check something," Gary said. "My phone's in the van." He got up and walked over to Stuart's Super Surf Van. Plugged into the octopus of wires on the dash was his mobile phone. The voicemail indicator was on, and there was a missed call from Bernie. "Shoot..." he mumbled.

There was a voicemail from Bernie. "Gary, um, Gary sweetie? I'm calling 'cause Lil wants to go to my mom's Sensuality Circle tonight, and she wants me to be there. I think it'll be good for her. We could get together later maybe?"

Bernie had told him she was usually pretty limp after one of her mom's circle things, so maybe she was saying it to try and be nice to him. He texted back. "sounds good B cya 2 hrs good on Lil 4 getting out thanks <3 G". He remembered that Rei and Kevin were going to come back and might be annoyed if the phone rang, so he set it silent.

He stepped out of the van and walked back over the hot sand to his towel. Abby was propped up on her elbows, talking to a damp Rei while Kevin toweled himself off.

"No really?" Abby said. "What a good friend," she said. She laughed.

"Well, ya know, it's really Stuart's van," Reiko said, "And he always lets us use the back. You could come too."

This conversation didn't sound like it was going to end up anywhere good, Gary thought.

Abby noticed Gary standing there and turned to smirk at him. "Were you really gonna watch?"

Gary's face blushed red, blood rushed into his penis, and for the third time that afternoon, his shorts failed to hide his erection. Embarrassed, he tugged at them, but nothing seemed to help.

"S'OK, Abby," Kevin said, explaining on Gary's behalf. "No big deal, y'know, Stuart used to have these parties, it's nuthin' new."

"So Gary," Abby said. "What about tonight?"

Gary let his breath out. "I'm free," he said. "Got to pick up my sister at the mall later this afternoon, but I can make it tonight."

"Got the keys, or is it open?" Kevin asked Gary.

Gary tossed Stuart's Super Surf Van keys at Kevin.

Kevin caught them with a two-handed slap. "Thanks dude," he said. "C'mon Rei."

Rei started to follow, but then turned to Gary. "You coming?"

Gary glanced at Abby.

Abby had an amused look on her face. She tilted her head, flipping her long red ponytail. She rose to her feet. "If you're not, I am," she said. She grinned at Reiko.

"All right, Abby!" Rei said. She skipped forward and took Kevin's hand.

"Come on, Gary, let's go watch your friends," Abby said. "No commitments." She laughed at herself again and walked after Reiko and Kevin.

"Um, OK," he said.

He followed Abby toward the van, his eyes on the quarter inch of rear cleavage peeking out of the top of her emerald green bikini bottoms.