Stepping back, I bump into someone. “Shit, I’m so sorry,” I say, as I turn around and when I see who I’ve bumped into, I smile. “Hi,” I say, still staring at her. She looks beautiful today in a black long-sleeved sweater and denim jeans.
Reese hesitantly smiles back at me. “Hi,” she shyly offers, brushing a tendril of hair behind her ear.
“Hi,” I reply back, internally scolding myself because I already said that.
The air around us is crackling as we continue to stare at one another. The moment is interrupted when the waitress yells, “Order for Reese and Jesse.”
“That’s us,” I say, turning back to the counter. I pick up one of the coffees and hand it to Reese, our fingers brush when I pass it to her and a spark jolts between us.
“Do you, umm, wanna take a walk down to the jetty?” I ask, still staring at her.
She nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Grabbing my coffee and burger, we silently exit the diner and turn toward the jetty. Neither of us speaks as we walk side by side along the boardwalk. In unison, we walk toward an empty bench just near the jetty and sit down. Staring out at the water lapping at the shore.
“It’s so peaceful here,” she says, breaking the silence.
“My favorite spot is out at the end of the jetty just at dusk. The way the water shimmers in the afternoon light is gorgeous.”
“I’ve never been down here at dusk. Only at sunrise. Maybe—” She stops.
“Maybe what?” I probe, leaning into her.
“Maybe we can stay and watch it at dusk together?”
“I’d like that,” I pause, “and maybe we can get dinner afterward?”
She looks to me and smiles. “I’d very much like that.”
“It’s a date,” I say, trying to hold back the grin wanting to break free and from the look on her face, she too is excited for our date. We go back to silently drinking our coffees, staring out at the water.
“Can I ask you a question?” I ask, breaking the silence.
She turns her head toward me and nods. “Go for it.”
“Why do you hate me?”
My question takes her aback. She begins to shake her head. “I don’t hate you. You just piss me off.”
“How so?”
“You’ve taunted me since the tenth grade.”
For a smart chick, she really is clueless when it comes to the opposite sex. “Don’t you know what they say about boys who tease girls?”
“What’s that?”
“That they like them?”
“You like me?” she asks, her voice laced with shock.
Nodding my head, I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Yeah, Reese, I do.”
“But you’re a jackass to me most of the time.”
“Well, you’re a bitch to me most of the time, Short Stack.”
“Yeah, I’m a bitch ‘cause you’re a jackass. I treat people how they treat me. You’re a big meanie head most of the time,” she pauses, “and stop calling me Short Stack.
“A meanie head, really, Short Stack?” She shrugs her shoulders at me. “Well, I apologize for being a meanie head, but I’m not stopping calling you Short Stack. It’s an affectionate term.”
The air around us begins to sizzle as our relationship takes a happy turn.
“Really?”
“Yes, really and I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to piss you off.”
She grins and it warms my heart seeing her like this. “And I’m sorry for being a bitch.”
“But you're my bitch, Short Stack.” My eyes widen when I realize what I just said. “I don’t mean you’re mine, I just—”
She reaches over and presses her finger to my lips. “Stop, I know what you meant. Jesse, I’m your Short Stack bitch and you’re my jackass.”
We both laugh and I love that she feels like she’s mine. We fall into easy conversation, our hands clasped tightly together as she tells me all about life here since she returned from college, and I tell her about my travels and studying in California. Before we know it, the sun is starting to set.
“We better head down the jetty if we’re going to see the sunset.”
She nods. “Okay, let's go.”
We stand up and walk down the jetty. My heart is racing with nerves. The afternoon with Reese has been amazing, unexpected but amazing. I think we’ve turned a corner in our friendship, or whatever we are now.
Reaching the end of the jetty, I turn around and lean against the railing. Reese does the same and we both stare up at the sky. Tonight’s sunset is on point. The sky is a mixture of colors going from red to orange and into a warm mixture of purples and indigo. “Wow,” she says. “It’s beautiful.”
“It sure is.” But my eyes are locked on her.
She looks over at me.
We stare at one another.
Something takes over my body and I step toward her. Gripping her cheeks in my palms, I lean down and press my lips to hers. She places her hands on top of mine and deepens the kiss.
As the sun dips below the horizon and the sky turns dark, Reese and I kiss, confirming this is the turning point for us but like everything else, it’s a sharp, stilted turn.
15
Reese
The next morning there’s a really loud banging coming from my front door. “UGH!” I moan. Opening my eyes, I squint at the brightness, rolling to my side and my stomach lurches. “Why did I drink so much last night?” I whisper to myself, as the knocking aka really fucking loud banging continues. “Coming,” I shout, wincing at the shrillness of my voice slicing through my brain.
Staggering from the couch, where I clearly passed out last night, I walk over to the front entrance and swing open the door. “Jesse,” I say with shock. “What are you doing here?” My head throbs as I stare at the man before me; he’s the last person I expected to see on the other side when I swung it open.
“You invited me over last night?”
My eyes bug wide open, “Whaat? When did I do that?”
“When you drunk dialed me at about 2:00 a.m.” He smiles at me and brushes a tendril of hair behind my ear. He cups my cheek and stares intently at me. His gaze heats my skin and brings my body alive. “You’re cute when you’re drunk…and very truthful.”
My mind is blank right now, I have no recollection of calling Jesse last night…or of anything I might have said to him. “Ohh God, what did I say?”
“How about you let me in? You can eat this,” he lifts a greasy brown paper bag from the diner up, “and I can catch you up on the events of last night.”
He doesn’t seem angry so I guess I didn’t make too much of a fool of myself. “Okay, yep. Sure. Sounds good.” I step aside and allow him in. The smell of the food causes my stomach to roll and I think I’m going to vomit. “Shit,” I scoff.
Pushing Jesse out of the way, I race to the bathroom and empty my stomach into the toilet. I only just make it. Resting my arms on the seat rim, I continue to vomit and purge my stomach contents. Regurgitated rum balls do not taste great.