Page 60 of The Mistakes I've Made
I couldn’t help but notice a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“How do you know I was talking about you?” I said, taking a cursory glance around the shabby lobby.
She let out a laugh. “Okay,” she conceded, clearly not believing me for a second. “What can I do for you?”
I stepped forward. “It’s actually what I could do for you.”
Her breath faltered. “Oh?”
God, I loved messing with her.
“You promised me a maybe.”
Her face went through a series of emotions. First, confusion, followed by what appeared to be understanding, and then a sly smile tugged at her lips.
“I don’t recall actually promising it, but, yes, I do recall agreeing to…what was it again?”
Now, who was messing with whom?
“Ponies,” I said. “I want to take you to see the famous Ocracoke Ponies.”
I actually just want to take you right here on this floor, but ponies sounds all right too.
“Right.” Her pointer finger rose to her lips as she dramatized her decision-making process. “Well, I guess I could take a bit of time off. I mean, if you think it would help inspire me.” Her eyebrow rose in a way that made me think this was a deciding factor.
“Oh, yes, definitely. Absolutely inspiring,” I said, going along with her insanity. “No hotel should be erected in Ocracoke without seeing the famed ponies first.”
“Great.” She grinned. “I’ll grab my purse.”
“Grab a swimsuit, too,” I added.
She immediately turned back around and gave me a dubious face. “You know, you already told me that part of the hustle, right? I know the ponies don’t actually roam the beaches anymore.”
I laughed. “I know. But it’s a nice day. I thought we’d end with dinner on the beach.”
“So, why do I need my swimsuit?”
She seemed pretty nervous over a silly swimsuit.
“Because it’s the beach,” I answered.
She bit down on her bottom lip.
“What?” I finally said.
“I didn’t bring one.”
I let out a laugh. “You didn’t bring one?”
She shook her head.
I motioned toward her. “You’re like Miss Hawaiian Tropic, and you didn’t bring a swimsuit to a beach town?”
She held up a single finger in my direction. “Okay, first, don’t call me that.”
I tried not to chuckle.
“And, second, I guess I didn’t plan on doing anything but working.”
