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“Are you okay?” Even as she asked the question, Zoey held back a giggle.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Thanks for your concern.”
“I wouldn’t be too worried, babe. Your rescuer is disgustingly good-looking, and it looks like he could take on the world if he wanted to.”
I snuck a peek back at the guy. He certainly had a confident air about him, and he was quite attractive. Not that he would ever give me a second glance. Guys like that usually ended up with women who looked like Lily.
I turned back to Zoey with my mouth twisted to one side. “Trust me to trip up in a busy bar in front ofeveryone. It’s the story of my life.”
“You need a drink.”
“I certainly do.” I summoned the bartender. “I’ll have a beer, please. I don’t care what kind.”
“I’ll need to see your ID.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. No ID, no beer.” He held my drink just out of reach.
With a huff, I drew out my international driver’s license and held it out.
The bartender took it from me and checked it over thoroughly. “You’re twenty-three?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
The bartender shrugged and handed the license back. “Here.” He handed me a local beer I’d never heard of before.
“Thank you.”
“I can’t believe you got carded,” Zoey said with a giggle.
“It’s a common occurrence, sadly.” With a roll of my eyes, I tucked my license away and took a long pull from the beer bottle. The refreshingly cold and bitter amber liquid rolled down my throat. It was no Aussie brew, but it did the trick. I hoped it would calm my nerves as well. This was the first night of my American vacation, and I wanted to shut my mind off and enjoy myself. It was summer, and I was here with my new friends.
“Cheers, my friend.” I clinked my beer bottle against Zoey’s glass of vodka and orange juice, and we both drank. “So, why is Virginia Beach the most popular beach to come to?”
“It’s close to New York, Philly, and DC. It has kickass hotels and an amazing night life. Plus, it’s the beach and it’s beautiful,” Zoey responded.
“There aren’t beaches that are just as great up north or at the Hamptons?”
“The Hamptons are crawling with snobs, and the water is too cold up north.” Zoey sighed. “Okay, so maybe Lily and I also like the appeal of Virginia Beach because of the strong military presence.”
“There’s a military presence?”
“Oh, little Aussie, how much you have to learn,” Zoey sing-songed.
It was the first time anyone had ever called me little. Damn, I loved Zoey.
“Virginia Beach is right by Norfolk. A lot of sailors and marines have homes all along here, or they come here for their leave, especially at this time of year. This bar is a well-known SEAL hangout.”
“So, you and Lily are looking to hook up with SEALs?” I asked.
“Lily, perhaps. Frankly, I’m hoping to find a duo.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m kind of hoping to find military personnel of both genders.”
I hoped Zoey didn’t mistake my look of surprise as one of disgust. Thankfully, she was cooler than that and was good enough to remember that I wasn’t so experienced at this side of life.
