Right then, before we even got to our table, I looked at him and saw ahideousman.
Because I don’t learn from my mistakes or that some men are too beautiful for their own good, I soonmetAndy.
Andy was good. He pulled the wool over my eyes like no man had before. He opened doors. He didn’t take selfies. He didn’t stare in the mirror, and he even told me I was pretty on occasion. It was a step forward from what I had experiencedbefore.
Oh, Andy. What aprick.
A year into our “decent” relationship is when I found him in my dorm room with my friends. That’s when I realized it didn’t matter how much time I invested into what I thought was a monogamous relationship or making future plans, it still takes less than five seconds to erase all of it and shatter myheart.
After our breakup, I found an Andy Rake Facebook “Fan” page. Seriously ... it was the biggestwhat the fuckmoment of my life. It turns out; he wasn’t just cheating on me with my two friends. There were at least twelve others. Most of them found out before me and were already busy planning his demise. I left the group and the idea of good-looking men behind for the indefinitefuture.
Another year later, here I am, facing the option to go back down that path or to go running in the opposite direction. I realize there are good-looking men who aren’t total assholes, but I’m not sure my radar is working the way it should be, so I’m not sure which category Sterling fits under yet. I hope I’ll figure out quickly ifhe’sjerk.
When I pull into Jade’s parking lot, I recognize Sterling’s Jeep out in front, and for like the twentieth time today, my stomach twists into tiny little knots. Why must we do this dating thing? Why can’t a man just be walking around holding a limo sign with my name on it, informing me he’s the right guy? Life would be so much easier. Knowing my luck with men, though, the right guy lives in Antarctica or hasn’t even beenbornyet.
I hike up the stairs and open the door to a super awkward scene, which is strange for Jade of all people. Sterling, and what looks like a mirror image of Sterling, are sitting at the edge of her bed while she leans against the back wall with her arms crossed over her chest, touting anannoyedlook.
“You’re late,” Jadescoldsme.
I glance down at my phone, finding I’m less than sixty seconds late. “Not really,” Ilaugh.
“We should get going then,” Jade says, making her way over to me quickly and looping her arm through mine. “Readyguys?”
Everyone is quiet as we load into Sterling’s Jeep. Jade and— “What’s your name, Sterling’s brother?”Iask.
“Cleary,” he says. He’s so quiet, I can already see a vivid difference between the two brothers. Sadly, for Jade, though, quiet is not her type. I still don’t think Jade is in any position to be dating so soon after breaking off an engagement anyway, but I’m a supportive friend, and I will keep my lipssealed.
“Everyone good with the Beach Fire?” I remember Sterling mentioning that place last night, and I’m not sure if it’s on the beach, or if it’s the name of a restaurant, but whatever it is, I hope it loosenseveryoneup.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Jade pipes up from thebackseat.
“Sure,” Iagree.
The only one who doesn’t say anything is Cleary ...strange.
“So, did you recover from nearly drowning today?” Sterling announces. Well, if that doesn’t break up the uncomfortable silence in the Jeep, I’m not sure whatelsewill.
“Yeah, I’m breathing on my own and on solid ground, so all is well,” I respond, glaringathim.
Jade leans forward from the back seat and places her cold hand on my shoulder. “Excuse me? What did I misstoday?”
“She almost drowned trying to save the kid she’s caring for ... except he wasn’t drowning. He got snapped by a crab, and Guppy here got hit with a big bad wave. Prince Merman had to save her butt.” Sterling tells the story with so much sarcasm it almost sounds like he’s making fun of the situation. Maybe someday I’ll laugh about it, but I was truly scared today. The wave dragged me at least twenty feet deeper into the water I couldn’t swim through. If Liam hadn’t saved me, would Sterling have sat there watching inlaughter?
“It wasn’t funny,” Icorrecthim.
“It was a little funny,” he croaks, trying to sound cute. “Tomorrow morning, I’m showing you how to swim.” So, when he says tomorrow morning, does he think I’ll be rolling out of bed with him to hit the beach at an early hour, or does he think I’ll be meeting him there? The thought has my head in a jumble, and I can’t figure this guy out, even a little bit. So, that now makes two guys in one day that I can’tfigureout.
“I can’t believe that happened,” Jade says, snorting through her stifled laugh. “Did you need CPR or anything?” Why wouldn’t she have asked that before laughing? What if I seriously almost drowned? She’d feel bad right now.I’dhope.
“No,” Igrunt.
Sterling glances over at me, “So, how’s it been working with the jackiestassever?”
“I thought you guys were friends?” They looked chummy last night. Liam obviously had his warning and disclaimer about Sterling, but they appeared to befriendly.
“Eh, we surf together, so we’re justbrochachos.”
“Sorry, what was that?” I’m twisted in my seat, staring at Sterling’s profile, waiting for clarification of his non-Englishword.
