“Someone who doesn’t have issues,” I answer, because that’s the truth. There has to be someone better out there.
Bray laughs, and soon all the guys are laughing.
“What? What’s so fucking funny?” I growl, suddenly wishing I’d gone back to the house with the ladies and Ava.
“Everyone has issues,” Bray says. “Everyone.”
“Not like mine, though,” I explain as I tap my hip. “I have a bum hip. A failed sports career. And a messed-up relationship with my family.”
“I have a messed-up relationship with my family. And I didn’t exactly have an amazing career when I first met Roxy,” Gray says.
“My family is fucked. I’m a reformed partier who had his life covered by tabloids. And half my ex-girlfriends have spilled relationship details to magazines,” Fletcher adds.
“I practically live at the ER. I don’t even have time for a relationship,” Bray says. I sort of want to point out that he needs to go talk to Carly about why they haven’t hooked up yet, but I decide not to delve into that topic tonight.
“You wanna talk fucked up. I’m in therapy for PTSD,” Kasen states. I mean, he has a point. Poor guy went through hell and back.
Al looks at all of us. “Don’t let any of that get in the way of love. We all have vices and demons, but that shouldn’t stop us from loving or being loved. Edith and I didn’t always have it easy, but she was the love of my life. And the only thing I regret is not telling her even more than I did.”
I suddenly feel like a moron. Why haven’t I tried to make something more out of my relationship with Jocelyn? We’re clearly attracted to each other. She’s funny. She’s a good listener. She’s smart. I can tell her anything. Isn’t that a basis for a good relationship?
Al looks at me and pats my hand. “The best relationships start out as friendships. Although I think in your case, you two have just had the longest foreplay in the history of foreplay. You’ve clearly been attracted to each other since you first met. Now, go talk to her before it’s too late.”
“Yeah, mate, go get your woman. Jocelyn is the real deal. Women like her don’t come along every day,” Kasen urges.
The others nod. He’s right. What if I’m too late? What if I fucked it all up without trying? There’s only one thing left to do. Go find Jocelyn and tell her how I feel. Or at least tell her…fuck it, I have no idea what I’m going to tell her, but I have a ten-minute walk to figure it the hell out.
“I’m going,” I say as I stand up and turn to leave.
“Go get her, tiger!” Gray yells.
There’s a ruckus of hoots and hollers from my friends as they cheer me on while I walk down the beach toward the house, hoping I’m not too late to tell her my true feelings.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jocelyn
Roxy leans back in her lounge chair. We’ve turned off the outdoor lights, and both of us are sitting out here in the dark with Cam and Piper while Carly gets Ava to bed. Margie and Cornelia also went to bed. It’s still and peaceful.
“I don’t know how she does it,” Cam states as she takes a sip of a mojito that she just made herself.
“How who does what?” Roxy asks.
“Carly. I mean, she works all day, is a mom all night, and somehow manages to get to happy hour and ladies’ night nearly every week,” she explains before taking another sip of her drink.
“Yeah, no idea. I can barely take care of myself,” Piper agrees.
We all look down at the youngest of our group. “Pipes, you just graduated from college. You should definitely be only taking care of yourself,” Roxy says.
“I know. But someday, I think it would be cool to have a kid,” Piper says in a breathy voice that hints at her big dreams for the future.
“You’d have a big kid,” Cam says with a laugh.
Piper giggles. “Yeah, a real Scottish Highlander type.”
We all burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny out here?” Carly asks.
