Their conversation continues for far longer than I could imagine, and it makes me wonder if Sterling loves this location for its opportunities to hit on women glowing aroundafire.
As the spatter of awkward questions dies down, one of the bridesmaids drags the bride-to-be into the restaurant and up to the bar. Almost immediately, Sterling loops his arm effortlessly around my shoulders and takes a swig of his wine. “Marriage, ugh,” he says with a laugh. “I wonder if that poor girl knows what she’s getting herself into. The douche sounds like a loser too ... an accountant’s assistant in Boston?” So, in less than thirty minutes, I have learned: A: Sterling is a flirt; B: He’s the type who would call himself a friendly guy in response to being called a flirt; C: He thinks marriage is a joke, and D: He’s insulting a man the bride-to-be vaguely mentioned in passing. Conclusion? Sterling is falling off of my barely-there radarquitefast.
On the contrary, Cleary and Jade are in a quiet but serious conversation. It’s so quiet, I can’t make out what they’re saying, and it makes me wonder what she could be talking about so passionately. By the look on her face, she’s completely entranced by the fact that he’s just listening to her sointently.
Sterling’s arm tightens around my neck as he clutches the metal of his seat between his legs and scoots over a little closer. “How’sthewine?”
“Not bad,” I tell him, keeping my answercasual.
“Not bad?” he responds, soundingoffended.
“Did you make it or something?” I jest backtohim.
He places his hand over his chest and clutches at his white polo that I have diligently ignored because it’s a perfect contrast between white and the tan on his chest. “It was a hundred-dollar bottle,” hecomplains.
Good God. I don’t think anyone has ever spent that type of money on me, but I can’t help questioning his motive for buying a bottle of wine that’s that expensive on our first date, especially when we’re just sitting around a bonfire. It also doesn’t impress me that he felt the need to brag about it. “Well, gosh, in that case, it’s delicious.” I lay it on thick because I honestly feel guilty that he spent so much on a beverage. It truly isn’t that good, but I’ll keep that little tidbit tomyself.
“Yousurenow?”
“I’m sure.” I smile and take another big sip, hoping to get rid of it quicker than Iplanned.
An older couple takes the seats that were previously occupied by the bridal party, and the woman pulls in a deep, relaxing breath as if this were her finish line at the end of a long day. The man pulls out a cigar and leans back in his chair, matching the woman’sdisposition.
“Think we’ll be like that someday?” Sterlingasksme.
His words completely wind me, and I lean back, flashing my gaze over at him. “Sorry,what?”
“Kidding,” he mutters quietly, accompanied with a cocky smirk, ofcourse.
“You scared me,” Itellhim.
“I just got finished making fun of that girl for getting married. It shouldn’t have scared you too much.” This is true. The one glass of wine I drank went right to my head, and I’m not thinking straight. I don’t feel drunk, but I don’t feel completely sober either. I was not planning to have much tonight, knowing I need to watch myself around Sterling. “Plus, I wouldn’t talk about growing old together until after our first kiss at least.” As if I skipped all levels of drunk stages and went from mildly buzzed to inebriated, a nauseous wave crashes around inside of my gut. I knew this wasn’t a good idea tonight; yet, here I am, queen of not following my ownadvice.
Jade and Cleary have been sucking face for about ten minutes now, and the old couple contently watching from the other side has not taken their eyes off the scene. It’s mildlycreepy.
“You have a good point,” I tell him, gently pulling away to insert some more spacebetweenus.
“I get the feeling you aren’t feeling this,” he says. Sterling pulls his arm from my shoulders and relaxes in hisstool.
“I just know I’m going back home at the end of the summer and—” honesty won’t get me anywhere right now. Beyond the cocky behavior he has exhibited several times tonight alone, he’s just too good-looking. That means trouble if I pursue a relationshipwithhim.
“Don’t you ever just live in themoment?”
“Sure I do,” I snap back, but it’s a total lie. I don’t live in any moments. I’m aplanner.
“So, how about this, you kiss me, and if you feel nothing, I’ll leave you alone, and we can see each other when we see each other. If you like it, though, we’ll take it one day at a time. What do youthink?”
I think my lips are speaking louder than my heart and it’s scaring me. If I open my mouth, I might answerirresponsibly.
While considering his offer, Jade’s hand is in the center of my back, pushing me. I glance over my shoulder, finding her still lip-locked with Cleary.Nice,Jade.
Sterling stands up from his stool and offers me his hand. “Come for a walk.” Again, Jade’s hand pushes me.God, okay, I can takeahint.
“Where are we going?” Iaskhim.
He takes the empty wine glass from my hand and places it down on my stool, just as he did with his. Without offering a response, he guides me around the restaurant toward the back, where we walk down a quiet path. “Have I come across too strong?” His question surprises me. It sounds sincere, but unusual after the way he has acted since I met him. Obviously, he’s come on strong. He shouldn’t need me toclarifythat.
“A little,” Itellhim.
