“Sorry,” I sputtered. “I just didn’t picture you driving.”
Now I felt like an idiot. Who didn’t drive? Oliver almost felt like a character in a book to me. Like he was so far out of my typical reality, that he was almost fictional. It was hard to picture him doing normal things like driving, buying a home, going to work. But those were thoughts I really should have kept to myself.
“I drive,” he promised, a small sound of disbelief escaping his throat. “I really have some ground to make up on this date to impress you, huh?”
“Date?” I choked out.
He waved a hand. “You know what I mean.”
No. I absolutelydid notknow what that meant.
“I’m excited,” I said, franticly needing to change the subject. “I could use the distraction.”
“Job hunt not going so well?” he asked.
“You could say that.” I sighed and dropped my gaze to the bar top in front of me. “I got my first rejection—well, interview rejection.”
“Oh well. You’ll get ‘em next time.”
Casual. Not a worry to be had. Exactly how I’d known he’d react.
“If there is a next time,” I muttered.
Oliver sat up, reached across the bar, and ruffled my hair.
“Hey!” I jerked away.
“Don’t be such a pessimist. There will absolutely be a next time, and until then, I will be dragging your ass out to have more fun because clearly, I underestimated how badly you need it.”
“Fine,” I breathed out, as if spending time with Oliver was a chore and not the most exciting aspect of my life as of late. “In the meantime, I’ll start drafting up a ten-year plan for you to fill out. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten about our deal.”
His smile dropped at that as he leaned away from me. “That’s alright. I’m not much of a planner.”
“Oh, but you will be. Trust me, a plan and goals can be so satisfying.” I watched as Oliver squirmed in discomfort. “Perhaps a ten-year plan is too extreme. What about five?”
He ran a hand along his jaw. “Five months? Seems a little far out to make plans.”
I let out a snort and followed it with a mock tsking sound. “Be ready, Oliver. You might have your plans for me on Monday, but I have plans for you too.”
He almost looked worried, and I loved it. If he was going to push me, then I was going to push him too. Or try to, at least. Oliver was a tougher nut to crack than he seemed.
We continued making chitchat long after he finished his dinner. I’d occasionally leave him to serve drinks or see if a customer needed anything, but any free second I had, I always spent circling back to him. Oliver was nothing like the guys I’d hung out with back in Atlanta. When I used to find time to socialize, it was usually with people in similar careers as mine. They were always sizing me up, unsure if I was competition or someone suitable for companionship—never both. With Oliver, everything felt easy. Obviously, too easy. This wasn’t anything that could actually go somewhere. But it was fun.
ELEVEN
Oliver
“You’re killing it,man. You sure you’ve never boarded before?” I held out my hand for a high five, and my lesson of the day slapped it with his thick glove-covered hand.
Kevin was visiting Key Ridge from California and was easily the best person I’d taught in the few weeks since I’d been out here. He was maybe thirty-five, forty? I couldn’t tell, and the fact that he was so in shape made it hard to gauge his age. His laid-back attitude gave him that youthful glow too.
“I’ve only ever skied, but I am pretty good at that,” he admitted, pulling down his bandana.
“I know the lesson is technically over, but how about one more run?” I asked.
Kevin pulled out his phone and checked it briefly before sliding it back into his pocket. “Let’s do it.”
It was unusually cold today, with light snow flurries drifting down during the few afternoon runs we’d completed. Usually, days like these were reserved for late January or even February, but by March, I had come to expect blue skies and warmer temps. I’d always take freshsnow though. It extended the season and made the conditions better.
