Venancio Beach
“This is my favorite part,” I said after I hoisted my suitcase off of the revolving conveyor part.
“What part?” said Colton.
“Right there, those doors,” I said. “Once we step through them, we’ll get that delicious blast of warm, tropical air.”
“Yeah, gonna be nice after all that cold rain,” said Colton with a grin, hefting his final suitcase off of the conveyor belt.
“Come on, let’s go!” I said with a smile on my face as we stepped through the sliding glass doors together, the salty tang of the air flooding my mind with memories.
“Wow, kinda weird to be here without our parents,” said Colton with a chuckle as we turned right and began walking towards the rental car counter.
“Are you sure they won’t be dropping by later? It really won’t feel the same without them. I mean, going to Venancio Beach for the summer is a family tradition,” I said.
“Yeah, Dad and Mom are organizing that big tour in Asia. So yeah, looks like it’s just gonna be you and me this summer, sis,” said Colton with a grin.
“Wow, then we definitely should throw some awesome parties!” I said, grunting as I tried to keep up with Colton.
“Willow, listen to me and listen to me good,” said Colton. “I already told Dad we will take care of the beach house, so that means no parties.”
“What? That’s crazy!” I said. “Come on, Colton. We’re both young and single. When are we ever gonna have this chance again?”
“No, Willow!” said Colton. “I don’t want every stoner and drunken frat boy in Venancio Beach coming to our house and trashing the place. Sorry, but no parties.”
“What about a small party then?” I said, hating the whiny tone in my voice.
“No parties!” said Colton as we got in line at the rental car counter.
“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be, eh? And what? You’re not gonna invite Teddy and Bongo over?” I said.
“That’s different,” said Colton, turning to avoid my gaze.
“Ha!” I said. “So it’s okay for your two buddies to come over and drink beers and do who knows what else? But I can’t have any friends over?”
“Look, not here, Willow!” hissed Colton. “We’ll discuss it in the car.”
I then stood around and fumed for the next ten minutes or so as Colton handled the paperwork. Key in hand, he turned and left the rental counter, and I followed him across the parking lot as best as I could.
“Jeez, slow down!” I said.
“Okay, look. We’ll talk about parties and having friends over and everything else once we get to the house, all right? It’s too hot out here to be discussing this stuff,” said Colton, and for the next long while, we wandered across acres of parked vehicles until we came to the one that was reserved for us.
“Whew, hit the AC,” I said as soon as Colton fired up the motor, and within a few moments, we were both treated to a lovely blast of chilled air.
“I always forget how hot it is down here on the island,” said Colton as he carefully backed the car out of its narrow slot.
“Tell me about it! I can’t wait to unpack my luggage and change into a bikini,” I said.
“Listen, uh, Willow, maybe we should talk about that,” said Colton as he wove the car down the long rows towards the exit of the parking lot.
“Talk about my bikinis?” I said. “What? Spit it out.”
“Well, it’s just that, you know, uh... you’ve really developed over the last year or so,” said Colton, nervously chewing on one finger as he drove.
“Yeah? And so what?” I said, turning to glare at him even though he kept his eyes locked on the road in front of us.
“Well, perhaps you might be mature enough now for something a little more conservative,” said Colton.
“Are you serious?” I retorted. “Just because my boobs got bigger, you want me to start dressing like a granny?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” said Colton, his cheeks reddening. “It’s just perhaps you’ve outgrown some of your old swimsuits, so it might be time for some new ones.”
“Well, I won’t say no if you’re paying,” I said with a laugh. “But seriously, bro. Why are you worried about me wearing a bikini?”
“Worried?” said Colton with a nervous little laugh. “It’s not that I’m worried. It’s just... as I’ve said, you’ve developed. And perhaps you don’t realize what kind of effect that can have on guys.”
“Ah, there it is!” I said with a laugh. “You worried your little sister is gonna go boy crazy this summer? Relax! I love Venancio Beach and all, but the guys down here are pretty dumb. I think that I’ll be able to resist their beery charms.”
“Well, it wasn’t really you resisting them that I was talking about,” said Colton, his cheeks now a flaming red.
“Wait, you think that guys will take one look at me in a bikini and lose their minds?” I said, breaking out into a laugh. “That’s pretty fucking funny, Colton, even for you.”
“Willow, you know I hate it when you cuss,” said Colton. “Anyway, never mind. Just drop the subject. Pretend I never brought it up.”
“So, you’re saying I can wear what I want this summer, even if it’s my skimpiest bikini, the one where my boobs practically are falling out?” I said.
“Skimpy? Uh...” said Colton, his cheeks now painfully red. “Yeah, fine. Wear whatever you want. Just don’t say I didn’t tell you so later.”
“Fine,” I said. “Then it’s decided. Now, let’s not discuss this for the rest of the summer.”
“Agreed,” said Colton, and for the next few minutes, we drove along in amiable silence while listening to music on the radio, neither of us realizing just how important my bikinis would become that summer.
