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“Yeah well, I have a few choice adjectives for you of my own.”
“Do you now?” He pops a chip into his mouth and I don’t think it’s fair that someone can look so good while they eat – while they do anything, really. It’s ridiculous. “Care to share?”
“No. No, I don’t.”
He just grins that infuriatingly sexy grin at me in reply to my answer. “Alright then, ask me whatever you want. And next time you don’t need to ask permission.”
Hesitation makes me pause, but then maybe it’s the alcohol that makes me blurt, “I was wondering, what Justine thinks about the fact that you basically took off with barely a notice. The couple times I’ve met her she seems to…” I pause, not sure how to continue. Truth is she basically looks at me like a bug she wants to squash under her shoe. I guess I kind of understand. Oliver and I have been friends for years and to my chagrin, it’s never been more than that. But, seeing each other once a month for lunch or dinner meet up’s could hardly be threatening.
“She seems to… what?”
“I guess I would say that I’m under the distinct impression that she wouldn’t be thrilled with the fact you’re here with me.”
Oliver looks out to the ocean and slides his sunglasses from the top of his head back over his eyes. When he looks back at me I wish I had the guts to take them off his face. It’s hard to decipher his face with them on. “She wasn’t exactly thrilled.”
“Dammit, Oliver.” I set my drink on the table between us, “I don’t want to be the source of any problems between the two of you. Don’t get me wrong, this is… this is more than I could have dreamed. This place, spending time with you…”
“What? You were going to say more and stopped. Tell me.”
I look out to the ocean for a moment, then back at him when he says my name in question. “The truth is, I’ve missed you. We see each other monthly, but this is the first time in a long time that I feel… it feels…” I gesture between us helplessly, “That we’re…”
“Closer? Kind of like old times? Like something you’ve been missing and you didn’t really realize how much until now.”
“Yes. Exactly. I can’t say I’d do anything differently, but at the same time, I feel bad about it creating any problems too. I know how important she is to you.”
“It doesn’t create a problem.”
“But you just said she wasn’t happy.”
“I know, and I meant it. She was downright angry. I mean, I can’t blame her. I basically told her what I was going to do, gave no warning, held no discussion, not even a reason other than I need to spend time with you.”
“I can’t really blame how she feels then.”
“Yeah, I guess, but when she started getting mad I realized that I don’t really care. Not about her anger and not about her.” He sighs, “That makes me sound like a douche, but it’s a fact. I just don’t care about her like I used to. Being so busy at work, the time we spent together was minimal so I didn’t realize it right away. Then when she told me to choose between you or her, well I was done,” he chuckles. “Clearly, you know my decision.”
“Wait, you’re saying-“
“I’m saying that Justine is a non-issue. She isn’t more important than you – never was. Don’t you know you’re the most important girl in my life?” His words and the look on his face make my stomach burn. I’d read into those words, but I know better. “I’ll always choose you. No question.”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I don’t regret my decision at all. There wasn’t even a contest. Besides, there was far more to it than just that.”
He stares at me and again I wish I could see those beautiful unique eyes of his. I’m not sure how long we stay like that, but we’re startled when the waitress returns and asks if we would like anything else.
He orders us each a couple shots which really I should decline, but when is the last time I’ve indulged? I don’t even know. So we drink those shots, and a couple others. My head feels like it’s floating and I find I enjoy the feeling very much. I feel detached from any and all worries – and maybe my legs.
“I would like to offer you a challenge should you choose to accept,” I smile mischievously making him raise an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“I bet I can build a better sand castle than you.”
“Oh, bring it!”
I’m not sure why I offer the challenge. We have nothing but our hands to make anything, but when I laugh about that he says that it just makes the challenge better. I’m too focused on my own digging, stacking and piling that I don’t notice what Oliver is doing until after a bit he comes over and looks at my two perfect towers. Okay, perfect may be a stretch. One is already crumbling and the other is lopsided. I’m startled when suddenly he begins stomping all over my creation. “Hey! What are you doing? You’re cheating!”
“I already won! Mine is better than yours!”
