pause long enough to consider anyone but themselves.
“Oh,” I say with a wave of my hand and a squish of my lips. “Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s just not something I would do,” he explains further. “She knows that. We’re very close. I’m sure this is great for some people.” He’s being so nice now, I’m actually starting to get uncomfortable.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I shrug one shoulder. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m getting paid to be a part of it.”
I shut my mouth immediately after that one. I swore up and down to myself that I wouldn’t go there—that I wouldn’t allow myself to even consider that I’d rather be doing something other than these articles. All that negativity will only make the work ten times as painful.
He takes a deep breath, but eventually types out a message on his phone that I can’t actually read without seeming far too creepy. I’m curious, but it looks like I’m just going to have to stay that way.
He looks up when he’s done typing, narrowing his eyes as he considers me for a moment. “You really want to know what I said, don’t you?”
I shake my head vigorously. “What? Me? No way! I would never dream of invading your privacy like that!”
He snorts. “I just told her to meet me at home because we have to talk.”
I suck my lips into my mouth and nod. Man, it feels so good to know what he said. Even more than that, I’m glad I agree with it.
Not that I need to at all. Obviously. It’s not my business.
Yet you just can’t seem to stop making it your business.
“I think that’s a good move,” I comment. “In person is better.”
He surveys me closely, looking over my sand- and water-soaked, haggard body before landing on my eyes. His are earnest and friendly—and only a small percent amused by my appearance.
I look ridiculous. I know it, and he knows it too. But he’s chosen to be nice.
“Are you going to be okay? You know, to drive and everything? Because—”
“Who me?” I say, far too casually. “Are you kidding? I’m great. Terrific. Totally A-OK.”
I look like a wet rat and I’m going to find a new Bachelor Anonymous for the contest in a crazy short amount of time, but that’s just minor details…right?
“Are you sure?” he checks, and despite the internal battle that’s beginning inside me, I nod.
“I’ll be fine.”
He jerks his chin upward, just once. It’s smooth and casual, and… Wow. I’ve never seen a man pull off that move without looking utterly ridiculous before. But he’s done it.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
I shake my head. “I’m good, promise. You have important things to get home to.”
He nods and then chuckles a little. “She is my kid. She’s probably going to join an animal shelter and pick up forty-five hours of volunteer work in the next two days, just to have a good excuse to avoid coming home.”
“I’d be practicing my crying if I were her.” I giggle. “Heck, that’s what I was doing when I was her.”
Jake smiles, and it feels like a reward. I keep going.
“I was a teenage girl once. I know the feeling of impending punishment. I have many years of training for an Oscar. Can’t believe I didn’t use it to make buckets and buckets of money.”
Mouth still curved toward his eyes, he holds up the paper between us and asks, “Mind if I keep this?”
I shake my head. “Not at all. I have another copy.”
“But do they all have a heart drawn on them?” he teases, and I almost faint.
“My dog did that,” I blurt, despite the fact that it’s both preposterous for an animal to be drawing and I don’t have a dog.
He chuckles, and I’m almost tempted to think of some more dumb things to say.
God, he’s cute. The women in the Bachelor Anonymous contest would have eaten him up. And I’m still considering all the ways I can make a fool of myself for the benefit of his laughter when he bids me goodbye.
“It was nice to meet you, Holley.”
“You too, Jake.”
With one more chin jerk and a smile, he scoops up his bag and his towel and heads for the sidewalk at the top of the beach. I watch as he goes for a moment, but I finally snap myself out of it.
I look down at my toes and sigh. I’m a fucking mess. I don’t know if I have any extra clothes