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I watched as he walked directly to a group of men seated at a table and eased himself into his chair. All three men at his table had Cheshire-cat smiles, almost bigger than the ones smeared across my family’s faces. I had no idea who the other men were, but if Lydia’s hormones were flaring up from John’s good looks, she might go into cardiac arrest at the sight of the other male models at his table.
What is it with all these gorgeous men? Why don’t these types of guys ever have ugly friends? Is it all just Prince Charmings and no Shreks?
“Do they just plant gorgeous seeds and grow these California men? My God,” Lydia said, her eyes only pulling away from that table to ask us that question.
“One would think,” Mom said as I watched John raise his glass of wine toward me. He grinned and then, as if nothing ever happened, returned his attention to the table of men he sat with.
“Why the hell are you crying over Jesse when you could have that guy? He’s clearly interested in you,” Lydia said.
“First of all, I’m not crying over Jesse anymore. And secondly, that guy is not interested in me,” I answered. “He’s interested in himself and all the women who appreciate him as much as he does.”
“He seems like the playing type,” Lydia smirked at me. “And those boys are a lot of fun if you know how to play them.”
“Now you sound like Aunt Bev,” I chuckled, my nerves slowly unwinding.
“Really?” Mom said as Dad turned his attention to his cell phone. He was most likely checking scores on pre-season football. This type of talk was something Dad avoided at all costs. “So, Aunt Beverly gets to hear all about?—”
“Mom, stop,” I said. “Seriously, there’s nothing to hear. John loves attention from the ladies, but I will give him more credit than that. He’s a damn good doctor, and I am fortunate to work with him.”
“Now,” Mom smiled, “I can appreciate that statement, but he doesn’t seem the type to warrant such a compliment.”
“That’s a bit rude,” I said, irritated that she could sometimes be judgmental.
“Well, I’m being honest, sweetheart,” she said. “He just doesn’t seem like he would have the type of class or character to be an excellent and well-composed doctor.”
“She’s kind of making a great point,” Lydia said, and my sister was definitely one to judge harshly.
“Well, I’m glad that the man’s great humor and rude manners, barging in on our dinner, has brought you both to this conclusion. But I can tell you that he’s not only exciting to work with, making everyone’s job more enjoyable, but he’s also brilliant, and I appreciate his seriousness when his job calls for it.”
“Quite defensive,” Lydia said, beating my mother to punch. “Seems like you might like this man.”
I tossed my napkin on the table. “I’m not doing this with all of you,” I said. “The guy is a good time. He’s a great doctor, and that’s the end of it. I have no desire to be in a relationship, especially with another doctor. It would be doomed before it started.”
My mother’s playfulness left her face. “I’m sorry I insulted him,” she eyed Lydia and me. “Perhaps my judgment is premature. However, I will saythat I don’t like seeing your heart so closed off.”
“Mom, I can assure you that my heart is not closed off. I’m just being smart about who I date going forward.”
“I know Jesse had a lot of red flags at the beginning of your relationship, flags that even I failed to see.”
“There were a million red flags that we all missed, Mom,” I said. “Jesse was all about himself. Everything was his way or no way, and I’m glad it ended when it did. And now, it’s over; he’s out of my life and moved on with another woman. I’m happy and focused on my career, and I honestly don’t want to ever think about him again.”
“And that’s healthy. We’re wrong to keep bringing up Jesse, and I’m sorry for that. But I have to say,” Lydia said after I smiled in gratitude for her words, “you need to give that doctor a chance. You deserve a little fun in your life.”
“I’m not getting hurt again.”
“You don’t have to date the guy,” Lydia said, her eyes shifting toward my mom’s approving smile, “but go out and have fun with him. He seems like your type, you know?”
I looked at my sister as if she were crazy, “He’s the exact opposite of me. I’m more uptight, and that guy is running around half the time cracking jokes and?—”
“No,” my mother said, correcting me with her tone. “You weren’t always this serious and uptight, you know. You became that way because that was expected of you with Jess—” she stopped herself, “with your previous relationship.”
“Mom’s right. You were the goofy one in the family. You were always playing pranks on all of us, stuff like that,” Lydia said with a cute expression that made me laugh. “You need to live life to the fullest, and that guy,” she pointed her thumb over her shoulder, “is the perfect man to help you do it.”
I eyed John again, imagining how disastrous it could be if it went wrong.
“You’re not dating him,” Lydia said. “I can see your wheels turning. You’re not ready to date, and from what I’ve just picked up from that guy, you certainly don’t want to date him. He’ll get bored and move on to the next best thing.”
“Yeah, so how about I don’t?” I said.
