Page 11 of Ask Me To Stay

Chapter 5

Summer 2001

Willow

“I am never doing that again.” Aimee groaned as she rubbed her eyes.

“Regretting that last beer?” I laughed. We’d stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, and Aimee had finished the twelve pack on her own. Now that I’m seeing her, I’m glad I opted to stop after three.

“It’s too bright. Turn it off,” she whined as she poured herself into a chair at the table.

I brought us each a cup of coffee. “What? The sun? You’ve got like ten more hours.” I laughed.

“Ow. Stop.” She covered her ears, and I laughed harder.

“This is why I don’t drink much. Nothing good comes from it.” I handed her the cup.

“Something did. We met that cute guy. I wonder what he’s doing today?” She gave the look, and I knew she was plotting something.

“Whatever you’re about to suggest, the answer is no,” I warned.

“Fine. You sit here and sulk, about whatever. I’m going to look for him. I bet David is sitting at home too. No way would he be hanging out with a woman,” she mused as she carried her cup into the bedroom and closed the door. “I’m going down to the beach,” came through the door muffled.

“I thought you wanted to turn the sun off?” I shouted as I slumped back in the chair. It only took a few minutes before I was stalking into my room and slipping into my bathing suit. She was right. David was not waiting around. I shouldn’t be either. I didn’t come down here looking for a fling, but it wouldn’t hurt to have one.

ooooooooo

When we reached the sand, we found the perfect spot, at least that’s what Aimee said. The tide was on its way out, so we’d have plenty of time before we got chased away by the waves. The beach was much more crowded. Families had set up umbrellas and a few cabanas lined the area to the right. Kids were splashing in the shallow surf, while moms and dads watched from the sand. One group of kids was building a sand castle. After coating myself in sunscreen, I slipped my sunglasses on, and leaned back in the beach chair. I’d learned the last time I was here that beach chairs were better than a towel. I could carry this down to the water, and sit in the surf without the bottoms of my suit filling up with sand.

“I wonder where he’s staying?” Aimee’s lips curled into a knowing smile. Her head lolled to the side as she stared down the beach.

“Who?” I played dumb. I wasn’t thinking about the guy from last night, and I was hoping she’d drop it.

“Taco. I want to see Taco again.” She giggled.

“Aim, let’s just try to enjoy the day. You have to go home in a few days, remember?” I wasn’t looking forward to being here alone, but I wasn’t the one on a time crunch. I didn’t want my best friend to get fired because she ignored the fact that her boss said three days. Today was Monday. She had to go home on Wednesday. When we’d planned this, we said we’d take two cars. Aimee insisted that we could take one. She was going to come back, over the weekend, and we’d drive home together. I told her she was crazy, but she insisted that that’s what best friends did.

“I just want you to be happy.” She sighed. “I sat back for six years and watched you waste your time on that douche canoe. I don’t want to watch you waste more when you have a hot guy who seemed to like you.”

“He smiled, Aim. Smiling is not a marriage proposal.” I laughed, and at that moment, Taco came bounding down the beach from the opposite direction he went the night before.

“Well, seems someone knew we were talking about him.” Aimee giggled just as Taco reached us.

“Hey, boy.” I reached out and scratched his ears. Where’s your dad?” I glanced around, and didn’t see the guy from last night. Taco sat down and offered his paw to shake. Aimee sat up straighter and scanned the beach.

“I see him, I think.” She shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand, and pointed down the beach with the other. Far in the distance, I could just make out a guy jogging toward us. He was wearing swim trunks, I think. He stopped about a hundred yards away, and bent over, placing his hands on his knees. He shook his head as his shoulders sank. Taco looked back at him, and then back at me before licking my cheek. The guy laughed, and then walked toward us.

“Now I know he likes you better,” the guy puffed, out of breath. “You wearing some kind of sunscreen that smells like dog treats?” he joked before helping himself to the spot beside me on the sand.

“Maybe he just likes girls better,” I mused as I petted Taco. “Where’d you come up with his name?” I turned to face him.

“I’d rather not share that. It’s not something women usually like.” He grimaced.

“Lovely.” I rolled my eyes, but he couldn’t see it behind my glasses. It was in that moment that Taco decided we were good enough friends and chose to sniff my lady bits.

“See?” The guy grabbed Taco’s collar and pulled him over to his other side. “Sit,” he commanded, rather harshly.

“I get it.” Aimee started laughing uncontrollably. “Taco. I get it.” She slapped at her leg, and I laughed lightly. It was a total guy thing.

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