The blondes don’t interest me. I mean, they should. One looks like she does porn to fund her education, the other has small tits on alert and skin that gives off the “I spent winter vacation in Cabo San Lucas” glow. But it’s Heath’s comment that has my attention.
“You mean Amanda?” I ask, bringing his attention back.
“Maybe she’s good for you. You still haven’t fucked yet?”
I snort. “Right. Like that’s on the agenda.”
“Still a stick in the mud?”
“Uh, still something that hasn’t even crossed my mind.”
Not really.
“I’m impressed,” he remarks, his eyes going back to the blondies. “I think.”
“She’s become easier to be around,” I admit. “But in this situation, we’re strictly partners.”
“Are you just saying that because you’ve already tried to get in her pants and you failed miserably?”
“Heath, dear, you know I don’t try anything. I just do.”
“That sounds borderline rapey.”
I ignore that. “All I have to do is be myself and the rest is up to them. Why do you think I’m not making eyes at the girls over there? It wouldn’t be fair to you otherwise.”
“You’re full of shit,” he says, flipping around his coaster. “I think I liked you better when you were with Rachel.”
“Of course, less competition,” I say glibly even though his remark felt like a hot poker to my gut. There were a lot of things that were better when I was with Rachel.
Heath lowers his sunglasses and waggles his eyebrows and I glance over my shoulder to see one of the girls giggling behind her menu. “Seriously,” I say. “You’re going to woo her from afar?”
“Whatever works,” he says, flashing her a grin before turning to me. “Hey I’m renting the cabin near Sooke again this weekend, Watchtower and Damon are coming. You in? You can borrow my spare drysuit again, you practically stretched it out last time.” I open my mouth. “Not in the cock area,” he quickly adds. “That would be impossible.”
Even though I’m not as good at surfing as Heath and his surfer buddies Watchtower and Damon, I’m a fast learner and have been picking up the pace each time I go. The last time we packed up Heath’s jeep with the boards and rented a cabin up north on the coast, we discovered a cabin of surfer chicks nearby. There was a bonfire, loads of booze and drugs, and things got pretty out of hand. I ended up having sex with two of the girls at low tide. It was pretty fucking magical – until one of the girl’s boyfriends showed up. I’m not proud of my naked run down the beach and to safety but he was wielding a piece of driftwood like a fucking baseball bat.
“This time will be even better,” Heath says, trying to tempt me.
“I’m sure it will. But I have to pass.”
“Dude, what? Why?”
“I have plans,” I say and hope he’ll leave it at that but of course he won’t.
“Don’t tell me it’s because of that bitch.”
I’m surprised to find myself glaring at him. “She’s not a bitch, she’s just…prickly. And yeah, I do have plans with her. We’ve both got exams coming up – as do you, by the way – and we need to get together on Sunday to start finalizing things while we can. One more chapter each and it’s almost done.”
He groans and leans back in his seat, shaking his head. “It’s like I don’t even know you, man.”
“That’s because I’m Bruce Wayne.”
His forehead crumples in confusion. “What?”
“Never mind,” I say, picking up my beer. “I’ll pay for the drinks. You just go say hello to the blondes before they lose interest. I’ll catch you later.”
“Works for me.” He finishes his drink and gets up. “Thanks, bro. See ya.”
I signal over the waitress to get the check and she’s halfway to my table before I realize her shift must have ended and there’s a new girl on duty.
The Nair girl.
Bollocks.
“Blake,” she says coldly, stopping by the table, one hand on her hip, a tray of beer in the other. “Didn’t expect to see your face around here again.” She glances at the top of my head. “How’s your hair?”
“You’re lucky I don’t keep conditioner in my hair for very long. One minute and it’s rinsed.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says, though I see the flash of anger and disappointment at her revenge not working.
I decide to push it. “In fact,” I tell her with a grin, tugging at a strand. “I think it’s shinier and thicker than ever.”
I know I’m playing with fire here but I just can’t help it.
“Do you even remember my name?” she asks, her tone pure ice.
“Do we have to go down this path?” I tell her, shooting her another smile that I know makes my dimples pop, one of the things she kept commenting on when I took her out. Because, no, I don’t remember her name. Susan comes to mind but I think that’s because she’s the character in The Heart Thief.
She takes a few steps until her petite frame is right beside mine and brings the tray of beer dangerously close to my head. “Tell me my name or this beer is going all over you.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say to her in a hush.