Page 17 of Beach B!tch
She nodded at me, leaving me unsure if she was forgiving me or just wanting me to continue my explanation. She hasn't pulled away from me yet, so I rushed to finish and hopefully put the incident behind us.
"He was drunk. He made comments about my little brother. Crude comments that were totally out of line. My brother's spent most of his life in a wheelchair and I've always had his back. The guy wouldn't get out of my face, so I punched him. I've worked hard to not be the hothead I was in high school, but that's a touchy subject for me. Like I said, I regret punching him. I should have just brushed him off and walked away. But there you have it." I finished and looked at her face, trying to judge if my answer was good enough for her.
Her face never changed expression. She blinked and asked, "Do you drink a lot?"
I tilted my head to the side. This was the craziest line of questioning and not what I was expecting but I had nothing to hide so I'd spell it out for if that's what she needed. "No, actually. I rarely drink as I don't have many days off work between life guarding, training, and taking care of my brother. But I'd gotten off work that day and didn't have training the next day, nor did my brother need me that evening, so I figured I'd indulge in a beer or two. I'd planned to drive home, so two beers was my limit." I paused, squinted my eyes at her and asked my own question. "Why do you ask?
Brinley swallowed hard, her eyes fluttering as she blinked. The girl was gorgeous when she was nervous.
"I saw you get a beer at the party when we were talking. And then when you punched that guy, your beer flew all over and I wondered how much you'd had to drink," she said quietly.
"I'd had one beer at the party. That was his beer that flew everywhere, which I helped clean up afterwards. And I didn't have another drink after you left." She nodded that she understood. "So, why are you asking about whether I drink, or about punching that guy?"
"You asked me to think about being your friend but I had to see what kind of guy you were," she answered, eyes wide.
"So what did you decide about me?"
She flashed a shy smile and shrugged her shoulders. "Unless proven otherwise...you're good peeps in my book."
"Why, thank you, Brinley," I teased her. Then I dropped all joking and grabbed her hands again. "And just so we're clear. I wasn't asking you to be my friend. I said I was 'interested' in you. As in, I want to take you out on a date. So how about it? Go on a date with me?"
Her eyes broke contact with mine and she looked over my shoulder, a frown forming on her face. Her being flustered was damn adorable, even if it meant rejection was imminent.
"Oh, um...I'm not sure that's something I can do. Besides, you're my trainer and I really need to be focused--"
"Brin," I interrupted. "It's just a date. One date to get to know each other. I promise not to ask you to marry me." She struggled to stop a smile from forming. "At least not on the first date."
"I don't know..." The blush on her face, along with her hand still holding mine, told me she wanted to go out with me, I just needed the final push.
"How about this: why don't we meet up tomorrow and test out your ankle on a walk, possibly a run if you're feeling good? It's like a rehab date. Totally safe and part of your therapy programming." I winked at her, which made the blush burn brighter.
She let a chuckle passed her lips and I knew it'd worked. "Okay, fine. A rehab date it is. Speaking of which, what do you call a free treadmill?"
"Um, I don't know." I couldn't think of an answer quick enough. She said yes to my date, that's all I could focus on. This girl was keeping me on my toes and I loved every second of it.
She paused for dramatic effect.
"Outside." She bit her lip with an apologetic smile.
I laughed out loud, more because her joke was terrible and we both knew it. I brought her in for another hug. "Be careful, Brin. You keep telling these jokes and I may have to ask you to marry me after all."
"Aaahhh!" She was laughing with me while she pushed me away and stood up to leave.
I stood up with her, not ready for her to be out of my sight. "So, tomorrow at seven a.m. okay with you? We can meet by the pier?"
She nodded and said, "I'll see you then."
I watched her leave like the creeper I'd turned into since I met her. Then I smiled like a goddamn love-sick fool all day long as I trained clients. Tomorrow morning couldn't come fast enough.
