“They’re surfer friends,” Cleary inserts his second comment in the last fiveminutes.
“Brochachos,” Irepeat.
“What would Jade and Ibethen?”
“We don’t surf, dorkus,” sheremindsme.
“Well, we might,” Iretort.
“After almost drowning today, I don’t know about you,” sheargues.
I roll my eyes and straighten my position on my seat, keeping my gaze set on the street of the downtown area in Ogunquit. It is so cute here at night—white lights line the streets, and there are so many people strolling down the sidewalks, walking in and out of small mom-and-pop shops. Live music echoes from one of the outside restaurants, and it’s like a small town out of a movie set. “I love it here. Is it always so lively atnight?”
“From Memorial Day to mid-September it’s pretty much just like this. It’s a New Englander’s weekend go-to spot,”Sterlingsays.
“I can see why.” Enamored by the lights and music filtering in through the open Jeep top, we pass through the small area and continue up the street about a mile where I spot the largest fire pit I’ve ever seen. “I take it that’s the Beach Fire?” which is not so much at thebeach.
“You’re so attentive,” Sterling jokes. Taking his sarcasm down a notch wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, especially since we’re on a date. Is that too muchtoask?
After pulling into the full lot, we unload from the Jeep and walk toward the restaurant. “Are you guys starved?” Sterling askseveryone.
“Not starved, but I could eat,” Itellhim.
“Same,”Jadesays.
Oddly, or not so oddly enough, Cleary doesn’t evenanswer.
“Okay, how about some apps and drinks? We should grab those seats before the pit fills up. It’s still early enough that we can claim those bar stools for the show,” Sterlingcontinues.
“What show?” Iquestion.
“Just wait,” Clearyfinallysays.
“We’ll be right back. Go grab those four seats.” Sterling takes Cleary’s arm and drags him into the restaurant. As they walk in, he places his arm around Cleary’s neck and says something intohisear.
“Dude, this fucking sucks,” Jade whines. “He’s likeamute.”
We take the seats on the farthest end of the fire pit, closest to the street. “It’s not like you’ve been talking up a storm,” IinformJade.
“I tried talking to him before you got there. It was like talking to a brick wall. What the hell is his problem?” she continues, placing her feet up on the stone siding ofthepit.
“Maybe he’s just shy?” Isuggest.
“That’s ridiculous.” It may be ridiculous to someone like Jade, who seems to make friends with every passing person she meets, but not everyone is like her. “Whatever, I’ll get him drunk and figurehimout.”
I huff a quiet laugh, imagining how the night will likely go down. “TypicalJade.”
A cheesy smile stretches across her face, and she pulls her phone out. “Selfie time.” She wraps her arm around my neck and pulls me in close as we try to center our faces inside of the viewer. She snaps a few and starts her posting procedure, which is typically Facebook, Snapchat, andInstagram.
As I’m staring aimlessly into the flames, a limo pulls into the dirt lot, and a group of dressed-up girls nearly falls out of the open back door like a bunch of clowns smashed into a VW Bug. They’re shouting and laughing, and it takes less than a second to see the sashes announcing a bachelorette party. A Tuesday night bachelorette party? Must be one hell of an upcoming wedding. Though this does seem like a vacation spot, and there isn’t a shortage of places to partyaroundhere.
Two by two they fill up the chairs around us, and I place my clutch down on the chair next to me, saving Sterling’s seat. I glance over at Jade to make sure she’s doing the same for Cleary, and I see the hesitation in her eyes while she does so. “Jade, come on, give the guy a chance. Seriously, he might just be shy. Besides, you know what they say about theshyones...”
“Blah blah blah, they’re always the best onesinbed.”
“See? You could get your brains screwed out tonight. Isn’t that what you’ve been dreamingabout?”
Jade cocks her head to the side, giving me a look as if what I’m saying is a lie. “I just want to have some fun, Jules. I don’t need to get my brains fucked out.” She pauses for a minute, fidgeting her feet around on top of the stone wall. “I mean, it wouldn’t be horrible. It would probably clear my mind for a bit atleast.”
