A bigger living room than I imagined

Starring: Natalie Manes, Joan Cusak and Rienna Young (as herself)

I was in a house by the beach. I remember this distinctly because I was sitting in my living room on a beach towel with Natalie Manes, and the tide rolled in and soaked our bottoms. We had just met and didn't know each other very well, so this was one of those moments where nature intervenes, creating an awkward romantic opportunity.

"Ha ha!" I said, "I guess we're going to get wet," and I squeezed her to my side to brace against the inch high tsunami.

She laughed and did not pull away, and we sat there in the sludge for a moment enjoying the cool ocean breeze.

My aunt Carol, played by a young Joan Cusak, was waiting in a van nearby. I had told her to keep the engine running, and Natalie and I would be along momentarily. We were scheduled to pick up a recently painted upright piano, which I felt would make a nice addition to my expansive living room, once we cleaned up the silt and sand. The teal paint would match the hue of the low pile carpet.

I glanced over at Rienna, who was sprawled out on a twin mattress. She looked up at me expectantly. She was wearing some cheap polyester lingerie, but she carried it off like it was business casual, and no one seemed to pay any mind.

I was considering how to ask her if she'd like to accompany Natalie and I to the van, as we had a piano to move, and we could use all the help we could get, but I just couldn't. It didn't seem fair, me arm in arm with Natalie and all, to ask her to participate in some conscripted manual labor for my benefit. Though we'd parted on good terms, I felt the guilt of disloyalty in that moment. 

Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and I felt the urgency of the piano situation pressing upon me. Aunt Carol did have the van running after all, and that took precedent.