We all gasp at this news. A younger guy in the workplace, and she’s sharing it with us. Addison is surprising all of us. I’m practically picking my jaw up off the ground. She’s liked a few people over the years, but she’s only ever had one serious relationship. Her research lab job is high-pressure, and her career is top priority even over love. She hasn’t made much time to date. This new information is interesting—she likes someone at work, and he is much younger than her. That’s never happened before, so this guy must be hot as hell and super nice. She doesn’t go for the asshole types.
“So, tell us more about him. What does he look like?” I’m excited for her and can’t wait to hear all about him and what she’s going to do.
“Well…he’s tall with broad shoulders, brown curly hair, and caramel skin. His light brown eyes have long lashes—man his eyes suck me in, it’s like he can see me,reallysee me. Then I get tingling in places I probably shouldn't be at work. I don’t know, it may not even be mutual.”
“Nah, girl! If you’re tingling, then he’s got you. What’s his name?” Kendall asks with curiosity in her voice.
She puts her face in her hands, hiding from us. This is going to be interesting. I’m sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for her to answer.
With her hands still in her face, she mutters, “His name is Colt, and he’s only nineteen.”
My hand goes straight to my mouth, my eyes wide. Did she just say nineteen?! Kendall is hardly ever shocked, but she’s got a look on her face that tells me she wasn’t prepared for that age.
“Don’t even think about it, Kendall.” Addison taps her fingers on the table. She is not joking around with Kendall.
Kendall flips her hair and rests her chin on her palm. “I’m the best matchmaker. I could totally make this happen for you.” She points at me. “And you wait and see, Kai and Faith are hitting itoff, and next thing you know, they are going to be dating. Mark my words!”
There’s just silence as we all stare at Kendall. Her confidence oozes out of her body. It’s sweet and her intentions are good, but she can be pushy, like really pushy. We all do our best to let her down easy when her matchmaking antennas go up. And then there are times that we give in and do what she wants. I’m not going to argue; the few exchanges I’ve had with Kai have been intriguing. I’m actually excited to meet him and have a conversation. It’s like some glimmer of hope in this Jude landmine I’ve innocently stepped into.
“Why don’t we wait and see what happens with Kai before you go matchmaking again,” I say as I stare at her and then glance over to Addison, who has only half her face peeking out of her hands.
“He ismuchtoo young for me. Come on, I'm thirty-two, and he’s still in college. Yeah, I think it’s just friends for us and nothing more.”
“Okay, Addison. We hear you, and it’s ok to be friends with him. Keep us in the loop if anything changes, but it’s ok to like someone younger. Don’t even think twice about it, and if the feelings are mutual then there’s no reason to fight it,” Lane calmly says as she rubs Addison's shoulder. “We’ll drop it and move on.”
Kendall teases, “You guys are no fun!”
That’s her favorite line and why she drags her friends to do things that we normally wouldn’t do. We love her for it. It’s also why we’re going on that ATV excursion. When we looked at the website, it did look fun, so she didn’t have to twist our arms too much.
I lean back even more in my chair and prop my feet on the bar under the table. Closing my eyes, I listen to the waves andthe soft music, and I hear mumbling from the couple at the other table.
Tomorrow is snorkeling day. I’m looking forward to going out on the water to watch the marine life swim around me. I take a deep breath and let it out and all my muscles relax. This is a beautiful night…to people watch. As more and more people stream into the tiki bar area, the noise grows louder with everyone talking over each other. It doesn’t help that the music is pumping through the speakers.
“On that note, I’m going to head back to my room. Early morning for me. You sure you guys don’t want to join me snorkeling? It will be a great experience, there’s even a rope swing,” I sing-song the last part enticing them to join me.
“No, but you are going to have so much fun. You better take lots of pictures,” Lane says.
As I go to stand up, I see him…again! Shaking my head, I stay seated and watch. It looks like he’s with his best friend, Max, who I met on the beach earlier. They both are dressed in T-shirts and shorts. Jude looks gorgeous with that T-shirt pulling across his chest and shoulders and snug around his biceps—I can’t stop staring at him.
Why does he have to be so hot?
It’s a sign to leave, go to my hotel room, and wake up in the morning. Instead, I don’t move—at all—it’s like I'm in a trance. I intensely observe them, but especially Jude. He has a drink in his hand and tilts his head back as he laughs. I hear his faint laugh all the way over here. As I continue to watch him, like a creeper, he’s always been confident and laid back, and that’s what he exudes tonight.
Ah crap, he sees me.
We briefly make eye contact. Ugh, those amber eyes of his; they always send shivers down my spine, and my stomach flips…I shake my head, look away, and close my eyes. He caught melooking at him—another woman’s fiancé. Getting off this resort tomorrow will help me put Jude in the back of my mind. When I keep seeing him, it’s not helping my inner turmoil, the squeezing of my heart, or the heat that keeps radiating throughout my body every time I see him. He really is that hot, and my attraction to him hasn’t changed. I’d almost say it's stronger.
As a seasoned therapist, I should be a pro at navigating these emotions. Yet, when it comes to Jude, all my years of education, the countless hours spent counseling others, and the personal growth seems to vanish into thin air. My heart races, and my palms grow clammy. It’s as though I'm transported back over a decade. I press my hand against my chest, trying to ease the tightness, while memories of unfinished conversations swirl in my mind. Words that were never spoken. Seeing him now, so near, stirs everything within me, bringing it all to a head. I massage my temples, attempting to squash this incoming pounding of a headache.
I rush out of my chair as I say, “It’s definitely time for me to go. Let’s meet for breakfast in the morning.”
TWELVE
JUDE
Last night was epic. The tiki bar was packed, music was blasting, and Max and I were laughing, joking around, drinking, and we even jumped in the pool. Yes, with our clothes on!
What I also remember were those eyes on me. She quickly looked away, but not before I was able to penetrate that wall she had up. I can see it when she looks at me. The hesitation in her eyes and her body. I can’t blame her for protecting herself. I hurt her. Badly. I’m not sure she will ever forgive me. There’s this twinge in my heart every time I see her. Maybe things would’ve been different in another life. My mind still thinks non-stop about Faith and how she was looking at me.
