“All of that?” I snicker.
“And then some,” she replies.
“Whoa,” Isla says.
“Right? He was pretty intense. It seemed like he would have been really put off if I’d known who he was. Weird, right?” I ask.
Isla nods. “I wonder what that’s about.”
“He’s got to be someone popular—like, really popular,” Audrey guesses.
“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to see him again. One night and all that. I know he wasn’t anyone from Shell Beach Hall since we went through your yearbook.”
“Interesting. We need to figure this out,” Audrey says, and I cringe. She’s going to be a woman on a mission—a mission to find the guy I gave my V-card to.
“Let’s not. He obviously wants privacy and I’m going to respect that. I don’t plan on seeing him again or doing anything about it, anyway,” I admit.
“Why not?” Isla asks, dumbfounded.
“One: It was a one-night thing. Two: I’m not going to be here that long—”
“Likely another six months,” Audrey corrects.
“Still, that’s not very long. I don’t want to get caught up in some guy and then have to go back,” I divulge.
“What’s three?” Isla asks. “You made it seem like there was a three.”
“Three: I don’t date jocks. Ever.”
Isla curls her lip. “That’s kinda hypocritical. You said Carlos’ rule was stupid and it’s basically the same thing.”
“No, not really. There’s a huge difference between a female athlete and a male athlete. Guys get all puffed up and think they’re gods or something when, in all actuality, they’re human just like we are. That right there is a huge turn off for me.”
Audrey taps her well-manicured nail to her lip. “Maybe so, but you said he’s nice. That must mean he’s humble and not all full of himself, right?”
“Maybe,” I hedge.
“Fifty-fifty chance. Are you going to take it?” Isla asks.
Without hesitation I know my answer. “No.”
Both girls groan and roll around on my bed.
“The world is a cruel place, sometimes,” I admit. Knowing I met someone who could have been amazing boyfriend material, someone I could have grown to care deeply for, someone I’d enjoy spending time with—it sucks. “I wonder what he’s doing right now.”
“Hmm. Likely the same as you. Wondering what you’re doing and who you are,” Isla replies.
“Maybe, but some things are better left alone.” And this is definitely one of them. I could fall for him—Jack. Easily. He’s funny and smart and so sweet… but that’s just not in the cards for me. Sometimes I wish my dad would retire, but then he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Maybe Aunt Ruthie would let me stay, but I can’t ask that. It would break my daddy’s heart, and that’s something I’ll never do.
“Well, that’s depressing,” Audrey murmurs and I can’t help but agree.
“We could still look through the SBA yearbook to see if it’s someone from there,” Isla suggests.
Audrey nods. “It can’t hurt.”
“Fine.”
There’s a knock at my bedroom door.
