It takes me a second to reply, “Yes.”
“I like it.” But there’s a hint of melancholy when he smiles. “Shitting rainbows, huh?”
“Is it okay that I put it on your chain?”
He almost seems confused that I asked this. “Of course, Blythe.”
He traces his fingers over my eyebrows, my cheekbones, down to my jaw. I know how he looks when he’s thinking hard, so I wait until he figures out what he wants to say.
“You get to have both of us, you know. You do.”
“Chris, it’s not like that—”
He stops me. “It is a little bit. It’s not what we have, but it’s something strong. And you get to have us both.”
I start to protest, but he stops me.
“And another thing? I smell like scotch sweat, and I’m starving. How about I shower and then take you out to lunch?”
“How about I shower with you and then you take me out to lunch?”
“Almost the best offer I’ve had today.” He winks and stands next to the bed. Then, he grabs my hand and pulls me to follow him to the shower.
As much as I could happily spend every moment of this vacation sitting on the deck and staring out at the California seashore, I take Zach’s arrival as impetus to get us all into downtown San Diego to explore. One night, we explore the Gaslamp Quarter and grab dinner at Searsucker, and on another night, we feast in Little Italy.
Yesterday, I insisted that we all go on a whale watch. Yes, we have similar tours that leave from Bar Harbor.
“But these are California whales!” I said enthusiastically.
The eye-rolling and grumbling about “stupid tourist activities” quickly quieted down though when we were treated to a dramatic display of breaching by gray whales migrating to Mexico. Not to mention, we saw plenty of dolphins and sea lions.
This morning, there’s a winter festival downtown, so the seven of us have been strolling through parades, eating at food carts, and stopping at tables displaying local businesses with plenty of handmade crafts.
“Arts and craps,” Sabin keeps muttering under his breath.
The air is a bit chilly, but the sky is a stunning bright blue. I zip up my jacket and stand near Zach while he gets a giant pretzel from a vendor.
“I think this is five meals in one,” he says happily as he slathers it in mustard.
Steam rises off the hot pretzel, and the salty smell makes me salivate.
I’ve already eaten plenty, but I go ahead and get one, too. “Oh my God, this is amazing,” I manage to say through mouthfuls.
“Right?”
We walk together and stop when Estelle and James pull our group over to watch a street performer hurling bowling pins up in the air while somehow juggling and riding a unicycle at the same time.
“I’m glad you could come out here for a bit,” I say.
He nods. “So am I.”
“Eric seems to be doing really well, huh?”
“He is,” Zach agrees. “Estelle and James are totally back together, too, I see. They have a nice feel this time around—more settled, less extreme.”
“I agree.”
“And you and Chris—you guys are in good shape, too. I like being around you both.”
