Page 49 of Flowers To Give

“Yeah. Merle Rezai. Nobody calls him by his first name though,” Clark chuckles, thumbing at Jeremy as he says to Merle, “This guy. Let him ride a few horses, am I right?”

Jeremy ignores Clark downplaying him again and turns to Merle, asking out of pure shock, “Is that true? You’re seriously the director?”

Merle puckers his lips, disappointed, “I thought you knew.”

Eneki steps in, asking, “Hold up, how do you two know each other?”

“Yeah,” Clark starts catching on, brow scrunched, “What’s going on?”

Jeremy and Merle glance at one another, neither of them eager to answer the question.

“Um,” Jeremy tries to think up a lie but nothing’s coming to him, “We-”

“We went on a date,” Merle steps up with the truth.

Everyone whips around to Jeremy, Clark blurting out, “What? No you didn’t.”

Merle shrugs, “Yeah, we did. It was nice. Really nice.”

Clark shakes his head, “No, because I would’ve known. The only person Jeremy went on a date with in Hawaii was some surfer dude.”

“Well, we met while I was illegally surfing at the Four Seasons’ private beach at night. Is there a possibility that could be me?” Merle asks Clark then turns to Jeremy, “Or did you go on a date with another handsome surfer you saved from security?”

“Aw!” Ryan swoons from the sidelines, “That is so cute! And you for real didn’t know that he was the director of the movie you were working on? How?”

Jeremy is really being put on the spot tonight, also feeling dumb as he sputters out an excuse, “He was always in a hoodie and sunglasses on set. I- I don’t know, I just never put the two together.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Clark laughs harshly.

Merle ignores him and fully turns to Jeremy, asking, “What are you doing here? Did Clark seriously invite you to the party?”

“Of course I did,” Clark barks, stepping in, “He’s my childhood best friend, for your information.”

“Really?” Eneki says, raising a brow and keeping his eyes on Jeremy, “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, we go way back,” Clark says to everyone but eyes Merle, “And you should know that he’s the best damn cowboy out there. And he just so happens to work on this ranch for me.”

“Is that right?” Merle looks over to Jeremy, saying to him, “Jeremy, I was hoping I’d see you while I was in the state but I never imagined we’d run into each other like this. Why don’t we go somewhere we can be alone and-”

“No way,” Clark physically steps in between them and puffs his chest, interjecting, “Jeremy came here to hang out with me. He just got here and he’s got plenty more-”

“Look, Clark,” Merle interrupts right back, putting up a hand and trying to explain in a friendly tone, “I just want a little time to talk to him. I got some things to say.”

“Well, whatever you have to say to him you can say in front of all of us, right?”

“Oh my god,” Ryan whispers between Eneki and Jeremy, totally mesmerized.

Merle loses his smile and says, “Actually, it’s private.”

“Hey! What’s the big idea, huh? You had your time with him so just let it go!” Clark actually explodes.

The outbreak is so rash that Jeremy can’t stand it anymore. He swallows down the last couple fingers of whiskey in one big gulp and ducks away. Eneki and Ryan follow him as Clark and Merle keeping poking each other’s chests. Jeremy’s head swims not from the alcohol but from the outrageous revelations that the party is bringing to light.

Downing his fourth beer, Jeremy is feeling somewhat lighter than an hour ago when Clark and Merle had gotten into their argument. He finishes this one and grabs another from the six pack he’d scored from behind the bartenders’ backs. He’s been hiding out at the side of the house with Eneki and Ryan, both of them refusing to leave this little drama behind. Eneki convinced Jeremy to go clear the air with both the men and Ryan went out to the party to do some reconnaissance.

Eneki and Jeremy lean against the building waiting for Ryan to get back, Jeremy cracking open the next beer and starting to drink. Eneki’s kept pretty quiet since Ryan left, but he suddenly pipes up and asks, “So you and Clark, huh?”

Jeremy shakes his head, “What are you talking about?”