“Liam doesn’t tease anyone,” Jade counters quickly. “He’s usually just quiet and anti-social.”
“Then, why did you say he’d come around?” Iaskher.
Jade giggles against a muffled sound on the phone, and I think I hear kissing.Oh, come on,really?“Jade...”
“I’m sorry, sorry. Cleary, wait,” she giggles again. “I said that to ease the aggravation you’d have to deal with while working with him. He’s got a stick uphisbutt.”
“Oh my God, Jade. Cleary is going to go back to Sterlingwiththis.”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t. Look, go enjoy your date with Sterling because one silly kiss does not equal commitment.” That was not onesillykiss.
I glance into the mirror on my visor, briefly catching the reflection of my lips and somehow still feeling the sensation of Liam’s. “It wasn’t justanykiss.”
“But your kiss with Sterling last night was?” Jade asks, trying to comparethetwo.
Knowing Cleary is sitting right there is making this awkward and uncomfortable. “I don’t know, Jade. I don’t know what I thinkrightnow.”
“Well, it’s not the worst decision to have to make.” I can hear her smiling on the other end of the call. “Just have fun. That’s why you’re here, remember? Your dad is going to be okay, especially if he’s staying with my dad. Everything is going to be fine.” Everyone keeps saying that, but I’m notfeelingit.
“Okay, well ... just don’t get yourself pregnant,” Itellher.
“Ahhh, yes, I’ll be safe,” shegiggles.
“Tell Cleary I said hi. I’m pulling into a parking spot now, so Igottarun.”
“Later,girly.”
I drop my phone into my purse and glance back into the mirror one last time to apply a little gloss to my lips.If there were two men left on this earth, and I had to choose one, the burning question would be hanging over my head as it is now. I’ve always given myself the option of a good-looking guy with a shitty personality or a semi-doable guy with a decent personality. They are low standards, I know, but if I have to choose, I think a decent personality should win. However, I’m stuck with two good-looking guys. One has asshole qualities, and I’m still unsure about the other. I guess that’s what I need to figure out, but if Sterling turns out to be anything like the guys in my past, I might make a life-long commitment toShermanator.
Stepping out of my car, I tug my dress down over my hips and walk across the sidewalk to the outdoor pizza restaurant with decorative white lights encasing the interior. There’s a two-piece jazz band playing in the back corner and votive candles placed in the center of each table. It’s adorable and a pretty perfect night for dinner outside. The chatter is loud, drowning out the sound of nearby waves, but the salty smell is as pungent as ever, and even if I were sitting here alone, this could be my definition ofperfect.
“Guppy,” Sterling’s voice sounds in the distance, and I turn in every direction, searching for him, but with so many people in the area, it’s hard to see until he’s standing in front me, which he is now. He places his hand on my hip and guides me to the entrance withoutsayingmuch.
The hostess leads us to a small table, and Sterling pulls out my chair. That should earn him at least one point or something. I need to come up with a point system if I’m going to write a book about all of this. Although if I create a point system that allows me to rank every guy, my perfectionism might land me in a lifestyle like Jade’s dad with twelve cats and a furrycouch.
“Earth to Guppy,” Sterlingsings.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head around as I grab the menu he’s reaching over to me. “I was just lost inthought.”
“Hopefully, it was a good one about me,” he says alongside aflirtatiouswink.
I smile because I don’t know how to respond. I’m making this awkward. I made it clear last night that this was all too much too soon, and I caved this morning to piss Liam off. “How was your day?” I ask, blatantly changing thesubject.
“It was okay. Had to do some bookkeeping for my freelance business, but at least I got in some good waves this morning.” He sounds monotone, not so full of life like he has been the last few times I’ve beenaroundhim.
“Well, that’s good,” I offercheerfully.
“Julia, you seem pretty distracted.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand, holding it within his. “Are you okay? I was hoping to catch a glimpse of your smile tonight. I mean, it’s just sort of entrancing, so I guess I can blame you for my endless attempts to get your attention.” His words makes me melt a bit, but at the same time, Liam’s words about notches on bedposts and point systems are ringing loudly in my head. Is this his game? Not that I wasn’t just considering a point system too, but mine would be much different and for differentreasons.
“I think it’s just been a long, well just a hard kind of day.” A long, hard day.Long.Hard.
“Well, maybe I can fix that.” I pull my hand from his because it feels too intimate.Yet, I kissed Liam just two hours ago and didn’tresistthat.
“I think I still want to know more about you,” I tell him, stalling against more flirtinginnuendos.
A quiet sigh spills from Sterling’s lips, and he repositions his chair so he can lift one leg over his other without kicking me. “Let’s see here; I’m twenty-five. I think I told you I have three brothers. Cleary and I are the oldest, and the other two are twenty-two and eighteen. My parents have been married for twenty-eight years and both run a small gift shop together right outside of Ottawa. I’ve been surfing since I was seven and used to be competitive, but life got in the way, and it became more of a hobby than a lifestyle. I come here every summer to get my fill.” He glances down at his menu, creating a pause in his summarized autobiography. “I’ve had four girlfriends, and my last relationship ended about ayearago.”
“Why’s that?” The question sort of flies from my mouth faster than I intended, but curiosity is eating awayatme.
