“Fine, let’s go back to your friends.”
“Not like that,” she said. “I didn’t say that to force you.”
“But you did. You’re taking control of this relationshipand I don’t blame you. Just give me some time to adjust as we go along, okay?”
He saw her weighing it over and thought she might say no, and tonight, as aggravated as he felt at the world in general, he almost thought that it was okay if she said no. Major decisions could be influenced by things smaller than this moment. And if she said no now he would have no reason to stay.
“Sure, it’s okay. This isn’t easy for me either. I am still trying to find my way forward,” she said.
He knew that and he understood that his coming back into her life had seemed to spur her on some sort of quest.
“Did you invite me tonight to see how much I didn’t fit in or to get back at me?”
“No. I invited you because I thought it’d be nice for you to see what my life is like. To get a chance to know the people in my life and, as much as I want just to get over you, I also have a hard time not liking you.”
“You are a paradox,” he said.
“I’m not. I’m simple and straightforward. You just have to look beneath the surface,” she said, leading him over to her friends—and he let her.
He wanted to go wherever she led him. Which was a sobering discovery because he’d thought he was back in San Diego to make a tough decision but more and more he was coming to realize he was back here because this was where Alysse was.
Chapter Eight
JAYHADN’TEXPECTED to be able to relax with the group at the bonfire, but one man stood up as soon as they arrived and greeted Alysse with a warm hug.
“How are you,amiga?”
“I’m good, Paulo,” she replied. “I want you to meet Jay. Jay, this Paulo Ramones. Paulo, this is Jay Michener.”
Jay shook the other man’s hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
“You, as well,” Paulo said. “This is my wife, Frida.”
A lovely woman with dark hair and olive-colored skin walked over to them and shook his hand. “So nice to meet you.”
Both Paulo and Frida had heavy Spanish accents and were fit and lean.
“The pleasure is mine,” Jay said.
“This is Tommy and Jean. They both work with Toby. And this is Toby’s girlfriend, Molly. She works with them, as well,” Alysse said.
He waved at the group. “What do y’all do?”
“Marine biology. Currently, we’re studying changes in migration habits of whales.”
“Interesting,” Jay said. “You, too, Paulo?”
“Nah. I play volleyball with Toby. We’re on a competitive team in the Cal King tournament.”
“Everyone ready for a veggie burger?” Toby asked.
The food was served and Jay found himself sitting on a large blanket with Alysse on one side and Paulo on the other. The group was all sitting fairly close together around the fire.
“Are you a baker like Alysse?” Paulo asked, after taking a huge bite out of his veggie burger.
Jay shook his head. “No, sir. I’m a Marine.”
“Really?”
