Page 18 of Boys Like You

“JD. Is that short for something?” Mac asks.

“Nope, just JD.” I try to tune him out, he eventually leaves and I’m thankful.

“Girls usually go crazy over Mac, especially with all the press around Prince Harry this year – he has given red heads extra sex appeal.”

“I’m good. I do declare you should wear spandex all the time – I don’t remember shit, but I know not all guys look like you.” His face goes red. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“You didn’t, just not a great time to give a guy compliments, especially ones where you’re checking me out.” He looks down.

“Oh,” I say, and this time it’s me who goes red.

“Yeah, oh.” He reaches around me and grabs his bag, pulling out a pair of sweatpants. “Will you be right to hang with my dad until I shower?” I nod and take my seat while I wait for Rick. I can see him talking with Mac, who keeps looking over at me. He is a decent-looking guy but he’s no Rocky. The thought of Rocky calms me. How crazy is that? I have zero idea who I am and where I came from, yet after a few days these guys have made a huge impact on me.

Rocky and all his energy; Mercer knowing a small touch calms me; Maximus just being in my presence, and his big brown eyes; Levi and the way he looks out for his friends without even knowing it; and Rory the way he looks at his friends with utter compassion in his eyes. The little things they probably don’t even realise they do – taking on a new friend, no questions asked, because she has no one. I have a feeling it’s how they all became friends; because each of them needed someone. Rick joins me, and I stand while we wait for Rocky. He asks generic questions about my memories, how I feel about not having any. I answer like I have when the doctor, Marlene, Beth and the guys asked; no memories, and I don’t know how I should feel when I don’t remember anything. I do add that maybe it’s a chance to find my true self because when I look in the mirror, I don’t feel like I should look the way I do, even though that sounds crazy.

Rocky walks out of the change rooms in his sweatpants and a white, long-sleeve, Hurley T-shirt and my knees go weak. Rick grabs my arm and steadies me It’s the damned black Billabong beanie that does it for me – it just screams sex appeal.

“He has that effect on a lot of girls,” Rick says with a laugh.

“I bet he does, I didn’t think he could look better in clothes than he does in spandex.” I cover my mouth; there I go again, saying shit before I even think whether it’s appropriate. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that out loud, and to his dad.”

“Don’t sweat it, he’s almost seventeen, girls have been showing interest for a while. I don’t want to be ‘that dad’, but he doesn’t have time for a girlfriend – he trains for at least four hours a day and studies to keep that scholarship. And he has a job. I have seen so many girls think they can change that.” There’s no malice in his voice; he isn’t being cruel, just stating facts straight up. I can respect that.

“A relationship is not something I was even considering. He and the guys have been so great to me; I only want to be his friend.” Rick nods.

“What’s this about friends? Is my dad giving you the friend-zone chat?” I nod and Rick laughs, saying he will see Rocky at home tonight.

I take a deep breath when Rocky stands next to me. He is so damn tall, my head barely reaches his shoulder.

“Ready to meet Mercer? He’s outside, and I’m starving.” His stomach rumbles at the exact moment he says starving, which makes me laugh.

“Let’s go.”

Mercer is waiting by his Hummer, with Rory and Levi on either side, leaning on their respective cars.

I smile, not even caring about who I used to be, only who I am right now. I feel special and cared for – turning up washed up on a beach, I doubt I was anything special to anyone last week.

I ride with Levi in his jeep to the café on the beach. As we walk in, the young girl behind the counter instantly runs her eyes over the guys. I don’t like the feeling that courses through me, I have no right to feel jealous, I barely know them. They had a life before they met me and that would have included flirting with girls, yet none of them even notice her. They talk amongst themselves as she flits around.

When she takes our order, she ignores me, fussing over the guys and what they want to eat. They order enough to feed a small country.

Being seated at the end of the table with the guys down the side gives me a perfect view of them. Mercer is the closest to my left, Rocky to my right, Levi next to him and then Maximus. Next to Mercer is Rory. I watch as they all talk amongst themselves. I want to point out that the snotty waitress didn’t take my order, but I also don’t have any money, so I stay quiet.

The girl finds excuses to come back to the table; she brings not one but two jugs of water, at various times, also cutlery. She is kind of cute, a short pixie-styled haircut, almond-shaped eyes, and while she has a small frame, she has nice curves and massive boobs that look odd on her. She makes a point to angle her breasts towards the boys faces each time she comes out. At least she remembered to bring my cutlery. I twist the fork in my hand and slam it hard on the table when she comes over again. She jumps at the sound and the guys all look towards me.

“For shit’s sake will you go and do something else? Your hovering is annoying and not one of them has even noticed you.” Her face goes red and her eyes start to water.

Great, now I feel like shit.

Is having a temper something new or was I always an asshole? She wasn’t hurting anyone, and I just snapped at her. She races away and I look down at the table, too afraid to look up. What if they don’t want to be around me anymore?

“Are you okay, JD?” Mercer asks, placing his hand over mine. I nod, still looking down at the table.

“I didn’t mean to snap at her, she just zeroed in on you guys as soon as we walked in. She didn’t even take my order, sh—”

“What?” Levi snaps. I glance up to see he doesn’t look happy.

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