“He’s a surfer dude,” I say.
Vance scoffs. “We’re surfer dudes.”
“But you’re successful surfer dudes. He looks like a surf bum.” The hottie looks over at me again and I lick my lips. I wouldn’t mind running my hands down his rippled stomach. Or my tongue.
Leo turns around. “Surfer bum? That’s—”
I tear my eyes away from the guy to look at Leo who’s looking at Jagger.
“Do you know him?” I ask.
Leo shakes his head, his gaze still on Jagger. “Nope. He looks like someone but…”
Teegan looks over her shoulder, feeling I think like me, that something isn’t quite right with Leo’s reaction either. But she shrugs when she turns back.
“Just go.” Jagger nudges me. Why didn’t I choose the other side of the table to sit? “I’d be your wingman, but I’m off the market.” He puts his arm around Quinn and his other hand rubs her belly.
“Okay. I’ll probably be back.”
“Hopefully you won’t. He’s delicious,” Teegan says.
“Excuse me?” Leo asks and the table laughs.
The one thing I envy about these three couples is their sense of security with one another. The trust that remains amazes me. But maybe that’s because I come from a divorced household where both parents didn’t understand the meaning of monogamy.
I stand and tuck in my chair, eyeing the cutie one more time before I head toward the bathroom.
As luck or hormones would have it, he’s waiting for me in the small hallway outside the bathrooms when I come back out.
He kicks off the wall, wearing a threadbare T-shirt now with some surfing logo on it. “Hey. I’m Trent.”
“Sophie.” I smile.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“Only a drink?” Look at me. This day has pushed me to my limit. I have nothing to lose, so I might as well be straight.
He laughs. “What else did you have in mind?”
I shrug.
“Oh, now you’re gonna be shy.” He grins and pushes his hand through his long hair that’s blondest at the tips.
“I figured my meaning was implied.”
He shrugs. “I’m just a surf bum, all that sun has made me slow on the uptake.”
There’s something about the way he says it that catches me off guard. I hope he didn’t overhear me at the table.
“I’m thinking we pick up some drinks from a liquor store on the way back to my place. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Crystal.” He slides his hand down my arm, eliciting goose bumps in its wake and escorts me out of Surfer Tacos with his hand in mine.
I glance back at the table and wave. Teegan tries to wave me over but no way am I delaying myself one moment of being this guy’s sole attention. He’s exactly what I need to turn this day around.
2
Sophie
We climb into a beat-up Bronco with two surf boards sticking out the back, his wetsuit hanging off one. I’ve never been with a surfer guy before but I’m digging the whole vibe. It makes me feel like I’m eighteen again.
After stopping at the liquor store, I give him directions to my apartment. I’m glad he hasn’t tried to suggest we go to his place. I’m more in control this way. The only downside is that I can’t sneak out in the middle of the night. But who am I kidding? This guy isn’t the type to hang around except for maybe a free breakfast.
“I have an early morning,” I say on our way up the stairs.
“Cool.”
I insert my key and gesture for him to go in ahead of me. He places the beer we bought in the fridge like he’s here all the time.
“Want to go out on my balcony?” I ask when he brings me over a beer.
“I thought you’d have me strapped to the bed already,” he laughs and nods toward the balcony.
“I should probably know at least five things about you before I sleep with you.”
He chuckles. “You already know five things.”
“Which would be?”
“I like beer, I like tacos, I surf, I own a Bronco and I love brunettes.” His wicked smile melts my insides. Now that we’re here I can’t believe that this gorgeous man is in my apartment.
I do all right on the dating front, but this guy’s looks are next level. All my lady parts are lit up wondering when he’s going to give them some attention.
“True enough.”
“Your turn.”
“You want to know five things about me?” I sit down on a chair and he sits down in what is usually only Teegan’s chair.
“I think it’s only fair, no?”
“True. Okay. Um… I’m brunette.”
“No physical qualities,” he says, tipping his beer back.
I nod. “I like beer.” I hold up the bottle. “I like tacos.” He nods and rolls his eyes.
“I must like surfers, especially the abs.” He lifts his shirt and I wouldn’t be surprised if drool drips out of my mouth. “I live in an apartment. And… my parents are divorced.”
He pauses bringing the beer to his mouth and I inwardly reprimand myself for revealing something too personal. Let’s call this what it is. A hookup.
“Sorry.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, as long as you’re not expecting me to divulge my shit.”
The journalist in me perks up. Now I want to ask him all the questions. What made you want to wake up at an ungodly hour to surf? Why do you crave the peace of being in the cold water before most of the world has woken up? Are you from California or were you a Midwest boy who grew up with cows and corn only to find your love for the ocean once you arrived in Los Angeles?
“What are you thinking about now?” He asks with curiosity instead of the annoyance I’m used to from people when my mind wanders. I don’t really want to tell him I’m a journalist though because he might get some weird notion that I’m actually a professional or something and this guy doesn’t seem like he’d be into that. Not that I’m all about changing myself for a guy, but the goal here is to get laid.
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
“So, anymore rules you need fulfilled?” He slips off his vans and straightens his long legs out, so his feet press to the railing of my balcony. Even his legs are sexy.
“No. Do you have any rules?”
He takes a moment to think about it. “Everything I want to know, I will. Soon. Want to come over here and sit on my lap?” He lowers his legs and pats his lap.
My patio furniture is exactly what you would expect. Cheap and beat up. So, the fact that I could sit on his lap and the chair might just crumble into pieces is a genuine concern. But because I’m eager to see how he feels, I stand and slip off my own sandals, sitting with my back to his chest, extending my legs so that my feet press to the wrought-iron railing too.
The one good thing about my tiny apartment is that I have a sunset view. As the sun descends in the sky in front of us, it’s only the rise and fall of Trent’s chest on my back that I feel. It’s nice to lay here with him appreciating the sky illuminated with golden hues.