Laughs.

He immediately began laughing.

"NO!" he shouted between laughs. "'Work'?! Who WORKS at the beach?!... Well, besides the lifeguards! My WORK is done at the office, and that's miles away!!"

"Oh!" I said, returning my best laugh. "Well then, if I may ask, why DID you invite me out here?!"

"I DIDN'T!" he said, suddenly stopping the laughter, and becoming very serious.

He stopped walking next, turned to face me, and got right in my face.

"I was TOLD you were being invited to JOIN us at MY beach house, and I didn't have any CHOICE in the matter!" he said, finger pointing in my face.

Suddenly, he backed-off, and continued towards the house again.

"So, come enjoy the Summer with the family!" he said, acting as though the previous encounter had never happened.

"Will do!" I said excitedly, following him with my suitcase.

As I approached the house, though, I wondered... All the females of the family I knew were in serious relationships, so who had INSISTED I join them here?