Page 43 of California Waves

When she reached Erin and had taken her first slug of beautiful, reviving coffee, she said, “I thought we’d go to the coffee shop.”

Erin shook her head. “You think I don’t know you? I could tell it was an emergency.”

Mila dropped her board, and they turned and began to walk together. “Not an emergency, exactly.”

Erin shot her a look. “Is it about Herschel?”

She nodded. “You see right through me.”

“I’m an investigative journalist. It’s my job to see beyond the façade to the deep core of truth. Did something happen?”

“Yes. How do you know so much?”

“Because I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. And so has Arch. Frankly, we agree it almost scorches our eyeballs.”

Mila jabbed Erin’s shoulder. “You didn’t say anything to Arch, did you?”

Erin looked shocked. “Of course not. But he said you guys were pretty weird around each other at his house the other day. He asked me if something was going on.”

Mila groaned. So much for keeping her sex life private. A gull wheeled overhead, and the surf pounded as they walked on the sand. “Hersch had a housewarming party last night.”

Erin’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t get an invitation.”

“I was the only one invited.”

“Aha.”

“The party went on until this morning, when I woke up in his bed.”

“Aha,” she repeated, this time with a wicked glint in her eye. “I can’t help but ask—was it…?”

“The hottest thing I’ve ever experienced? Oh yeah.”

It seemed to her that Erin was trying very hard to suppress a grin. But all she said was, “And this is a crisis why?”

“Because he’s a maybe,” she blurted.

Of all the people in the world, only Erin would get the significance of this comment. She actually stopped walking. “You’re kidding me. He’s an actual maybe?”

“Yes.”

Erin was so shocked she had trouble keeping up with Mila’s much longer stride. Finally, she scampered to catch up. “I can’t remember when you’ve been a maybe about a man. You’re always a no.”

“Well, this time I’m a maybe. Only, you know what the crazy part is?”

“There’s a crazier part?”

“For him, I’m a no. This can’t be anything serious. He actually told me that.”

Erin didn’t laugh out loud, but Mila could see her shoulders shaking as she tried to control herself.

“I can’t believe you’re laughing at me while I’m having a crisis.”

“You have to admit it’s kind of funny. Talk about having the tables turned on you.” And then Erin stepped in front of her with a devilish look in her eyes. She held out her hand and said, “I want you to pinkie swear that you’ll give this guy a chance.”

Mila was so frustrated now she wished she hadn’t even called her. “You know I hate pinkie swears with you.”

“Yes, I do. That’s why I’m making sure you do one. Because I know you, and the minute you get even the slightest bit uncomfortable, you will run. If he’s as good as a maybe now, then one day he might be a yes.”

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