Ocean Breeze

by Laura Conway

  Hayley reached up to pull out her hair tie, combing her fingers through her hair until she had it up in another messy bun. She tugged at her black tank top when she heard Jenna’s key in the door, taking one last look in the mirror at her slightly disheveled appearance before leaving the bathroom.

  “Hey,” Jenna said as she set a brown paper bag down on the kitchen counter.

  “Hi.” Hayley hadn’t seen Jenna since she’d given her the keys three days ago.

  Hayley had been half expecting Jenna to withdraw her offer after the way she behaved that night. Hayley was still embarrassed, but it could have been so much worse. Nothing had actually happened. She hadn’t said anything inappropriate. She’d just kind of, sort of, tried to flirt with Jenna.

  “Do you need help bringing your things over?” Jenna asked as she put away the contents of the bag, mostly fruit and vegetables.

  “It’s all here but thank you.” Hayley stood in the middle of the living room, her hands on her waist. Why was this so awkward? It shouldn’t be.

  “That was fast.”

  “Hope you’re not having any regrets,” Hayley said, hoping it sounded like a joke and not her voicing her concerns.

  “None at all.” Jenna’s smile was warm, and Hayley inhaled a sharp breath as she looked away. When had she become so attracted to her?

  Hayley had to get this under control or the next few weeks were going to be tortuous. She knew she thought Jenna was beautiful the first night they’d met. That blazer looked like it was made for her. Kyle’s words were still floating around in her head too.

  “She blatantly checked you out.”

  Hayley wished she’d been more observant. She didn’t know if Kyle was jumping to conclusions or not, but it didn’t matter now. Hayley had to forget about it, which was easier said than done, standing just a few feet away from Jenna. Her back was to Hayley as she stretched to put a jar away on the top shelf of one of the cabinets, and Hayley’s eyes were drawn to her tanned legs and the way those khaki shorts clung to her ass.

  Hayley gave herself an imaginary slap across the face. This was getting out of control. She could not be looking at her new housemate like that. She also didn’t know what sort of delusion she was under that night to think she even had a chance with someone like Jenna. What would a successful lawyer from New York City want with a surfer chick who was at least ten if not fifteen years younger than her?

  “Hayley?”

  “Yeah? Sorry,” Hayley said, her cheeks heating up. “I was thinking about all the unpacking I have to do.”

  “I said, what do you eat? Or what don’t you eat? I’m making dinner later. I’m not an amazing cook or anything, so keep the expectations low.”

  Hayley joined her in the kitchen, putting away the last few groceries in the refrigerator. “I eat just about anything, really, so whatever you’re making is fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. I have three lessons this afternoon, but I’ll be back around five. Is that okay?”

  “I’ll have dinner ready for six,” Jenna said, leaning back against the counter. “I’m not sure what it’ll be yet, but it definitely won’t be anything fancy.”

  Hayley had the feeling that Jenna was a good cook. She came across as one of those people who excelled at just about anything.

  “I’m sure it’ll be lovely,” Hayley said. “Anyway, I’m always starving after being out in the water. I’d eat anything, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Jenna pulled out a corkscrew from the cutlery drawer and opened a bottle of red wine. “I have a craving for sangria. Do you want some?”

  “Can’t,” Hayley said, glancing down at her watch.

  “Work. Right, sorry.”

  “Maybe, when I get back?”

  “Sure,” Jenna said as she started slicing an orange. She paused and looked up. “It is after twelve, right?”

  “Almost one-thirty.” Hayley avoided staring at the way Jenna’s white tank top showed off her toned arms. Instead, her eyes landed on the way her long fingers gathered up the orange slices and dropped them into a pitcher. “Perfectly acceptable,” Hayley said, practically mumbling as she tore her eyes away. “I have to get going,” she said. “Enjoy your sangria.”

  “Oh, I will. Good luck with your lessons.”

  Hayley retreated down the hall and into her room where she stripped out of her clothes and put on her bikini. She stepped into a pair of board shorts, grabbing her keys from one pair of shorts and putting them in the other. She slid her feet into a pair of black flip flops and picked up her surfboard, tucking it under her arm as she angled it through the door. Hayley gave Jenna a wave as she passed through the open-planned kitchen and living room area.

  She’d have to talk to Kyle about this. How had this happened? She’d met a few women over the years who she’d had a great night with or a steamy kiss outside a bar, but this was... What even was this? A crush? Infatuation? She barely knew this woman.

  The apartment door clicked closed behind her, and she carefully maneuvered her surfboard down the stairwell. A few hours with her clients would clear her head.

  What about when she got back home this evening? She’d be sitting across from Jenna at that small white table tucked underneath the window, and she’d have to keep it together.

  She’d hate for Jenna to think of this as a chore, to regret offering Hayley the room. She needed Jenna to see that she was mature, and it had nothing to do with being attracted to Jenna. She just wanted the next few months to go as well as possible, for Jenna’s sake too. She was supposed to be relaxing, unwinding. She didn’t need Hayley disrupting her life.

  Hayley squinted against the hot afternoon sun. She’d forgotten her sunglasses, and she didn’t have time to go back up for them. Nina’s place was even closer to the beach than her older apartment, yet another stroke of luck.

  Hayley smiled to herself as she crossed the street. Things were going well for her right now. If only she could forget about Jenna.

  Chapter Seven

  Jenna carried over the wooden chopping board that was stacked with a variety of cheeses and ham, setting it down beside the two reliable dishes that she’d often made for herself: shrimp cooked in olive oil with garlic and a few slices of chilies along with a Spanish omelet.

  The only thing that was missing was the fresh batch of sangria she’d made. Jenna grabbed the pitcher and two wine glasses as Hayley opened the door, and Jenna somehow managed to hold on to them. In just a bikini and shorts, Hayley gave her a smile as she came in with her surfboard underneath her arm, her wet hair draped across one shoulder.

  “Sorry I’m a few minutes late,” Hayley said as she closed the door. “I’m just going to jump in the shower. Start without me.”

  Jenna managed to nod, her eyes focused on the droplets of water that trickled down her chest and over her flat stomach, her black bikini top contrasting against her tanned skin. Jenna was still looking at her as she disappeared down the hall. She was still standing there when she heard the shower in the guest bathroom turn on.

  Jenna shook her head as carried the sangria over to the table, pouring out two glasses and taking a long drink. She pulled out her chair and sat down, wishing she had something to distract her. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.

  Cooking had turned out to be surprisingly relaxing. It wasn’t something she’d ever loved doing. She ate out more often than not in New York, mostly with clients or potential clients, but she did cook once or twice a week. She wouldn’t have called it relaxing though. She almost always had someone on speaker phone, another lawyer or a client.

  This evening was the first time in a very long time that she’d opened up the fridge and the cabinets and spent a few minutes thinking about what she wanted to make. She took her time putting it together, and she even had some music playing in the background while she sipped on her sangria.

  “Sorry about that,” Hayley said as she bree
zed into the room, her hair wet and tied back in a messy bun. She was wearing a gray tank top and black gym shorts. “Wow.” She stood beside the table for a few seconds, admiring the food. “This looks amazing.”

  “Thanks,” Jenna said, watching her sit down. “I kept the Spanish theme going. There’s shrimp, a Spanish omelet, and five different kinds of cheese along with some Iberian ham.”

  “This looks like something out of a magazine.”

  “Taste it first,” Jenna said with a smile. “I had an ex who was a chef. We weren’t together that long, but I did manage to pick up a few tips from her.”

  “This,” Hayley said, pointing to her glass as she licked her lips. “This is one of the nicest drinks I’ve ever had.”

  “You’ve never had sangria before?”

  “No. All of this will be a first for me, except maybe some of the cheese.”

  “Well, dig in. Eat as much as you want,” Jenna said, filling her own plate with shrimp and a slice of bread to dip into the olive oil.

  They made small talk over dinner, and it was Jenna who asked most of the questions, letting Hayley do the talking. It was what worked with clients. Most people were happy to talk about themselves, and given this new situation they were both in, Jenna wanted Hayley to feel at ease. Letting her talk about her day, about the people she’d spent the afternoon giving lessons to, lightened the mood.

  They’d only met two days ago, and even though Jenna had enjoyed the few hours they’d spent together, they really didn’t know one another. Living together was going to be challenging. There was no way around it, and Jenna was going to use everything she’d learned from working with her clients over the years. She’d become an expert in making connections with strangers and showing them that she was someone they could trust, all within a few hours. Apparently, that made her charming.

  This situation was similar. The only difference was that Jenna wasn’t trying to close Hayley, and well, if she was being honest, this was the first time she’d ever been unsure of herself. A fluttering had started in her stomach as soon as Hayley had come home. Jenna had put it down to the fact that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but even as she sat back, full and satisfied with the dinner she’d made, that uneasiness was still there.

  “Jenna?”

  “Hmmm?”

  Hayley’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying her almost. “I said, are you going to get that?” Hayley threw a glance over her shoulder.

  It took her a second to figure out what Hayley was talking about. Her phone was vibrating its way across the kitchen counter. “Ugh.”

  Hayley took a sip of her drink. “It’s nothing to do with your job, is it? Don’t they know not to contact you?”

  Jenna picked up their empty plates and brought them into the kitchen, silencing her phone once she had them in the dishwasher.

  “It’s not work,” Jenna said as she came back to the table, refilling both of their glasses. “Nina signed me up for this dating app before she left.” She sat down, crossing one leg over the other as she used her spoon to scoop out a piece of fruit from her glass. “I need to delete it. It’s driving me nuts, and it’s a complete waste of time.”

  “Oh. Okay, sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosy. It’s none of my business,” Hayley said in a rush.

  “It’s fine.”

  “Thank you for dinner,” Hayley said after a few minutes.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Hayley helped her clear the table and load up the dishwasher. “So,” Hayley said as they carried their drinks into the living room and sat down on the couch. “What’s the story with rent? Is it at the start of the month or the middle? Should I send it to you or Nina?”

  “There’s no rent. I’m house sitting for Nina.” Jenna brought her glass to her lips, assuming that would be good news, but Hayley shook her head.

  “I can’t not pay you anything.”

  “Nina’s happy with this arrangement. I offered to pay her rent, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She said I was doing her a favor, looking after this place while she was gone. She wouldn’t have to worry about break-ins.”

  “Yeah, but that’s you,” Hayley said, her arm draped over the back of the couch. “I don’t think that she’d-”

  “I spoke to her this afternoon. She was glad to hear that I’d offered you the extra room. She said she would have done the same.”

  “She did?”

  “Yes. I mean, she was surprised. I’m not exactly known for sharing,” Jenna started, but then quickly switched directions. She didn’t need Hayley hearing about all her negative qualities. “But I am trying something new here,” she said, her eyes sweeping across the living room.

  “I’m going to take you out. For surfing lessons.” She said it with such certainty that Jenna stared at her for a few seconds.

  “I really don’t think I’d be-”

  “I can’t stay here for free,” Hayley said. “And that’s the only way I can think to repay you for being so generous.”

  Jenna was about to finish her point about how she didn’t think she had the fitness level required for something like surfing, but she bit her lip instead. She’d let Hayley have this one. Jenna could go for a quick lesson with her, and if it didn’t work out, she wouldn’t waste her time with another one.

  “Okay,” Jenna said, taking a drink to keep herself from saying anything more. They couldn’t have an argument on their first day living together, which is exactly what would have happened if Jenna hadn’t backed down.

  Is this how it’s going to be? Two stubborn and determined women living together always on the cusp of a fight?

  Maybe Jenna could use a lesson in compromise. She’d always been so used to pleasing herself, to getting her own way. Maybe these next few weeks could help her tone down that intensity, that competitiveness, her need to always win. In the courtroom, it was her superpower. In real life, it had almost ruined her.

  Chapter Eight

  Hayley’s feet sunk into the hot sand, the waves crashing into the shore just a few feet away. She adjusted her path, letting the water wash over her feet and cool them down.

  Kyle had wanted to go out tonight, but Hayley was too tired and somehow still worried about money even though she was saving money right now by not paying rent. This had been the compromise; a walk on the beach. She didn’t want to drift away from Kyle now that they weren’t living together.

  “So, how’s your new place?” Hayley asked as the sun sunk further in the sky.

  “It’s great. My room’s bigger. My only complaint, really, is that I’m a bit further away from the beach,” he said with a laugh. “But I can live with that. What about you? How’s things with Jenna? Have you settled in?”

  “Yeah. They’re good.” Hayley inhaled the fresh, salty air. Was she really going to get into this now?

  “Are you sure?” Kyle stopped walking to get a better look at her.

  Acting had never been one of her strong suits. “Okay. There’s a problem.”

  “Is she messy?”

  “No.”

  “An alcoholic?”

  “What?” Hayley stared at him, her eyes narrowing. “No. It’s got nothing to do with her. This is my problem.” She sighed. “I have a massive crush on her.”

  Kyle grinned. “That’s not a problem.”

  “It definitely is,” she said as they started walking again, the cool water speeding across her feet as it receded. “I don’t even know how it happened, because I hardly know her.”

  “You should go for it.”

  “What? No. I just moved in,” Hayley said. Telling Kyle was pointless. “I can’t go for it.”

  “Then go for someone else.”

  “Who?”

  “You should try that new dating app. The one I told you about two weeks ago. Didn’t I make you download it?”

  “Yeah but-”

  “No. I’m serious,” Kyle said, glancing over at her. “You need a distraction. Just fill in your profile and message a
few women and see what happens. What have you got to lose?”

  “Nothing,” she mumbled. She hated it when he was right. Thankfully, it wasn’t that often. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “I don’t know,” Hayley said, sliding her hand into her pocket and pulling out of her phone. “I am serious. I’m going to do it right now.”

  “Let’s go to Nina’s.” Kyle reached for her hand, a smile on his face. “I’m buying.”

  Hayley shook her head as she trudged through the sand, making the short walk back up to Nina’s. She wasn’t sure about this, but she had to do something. She couldn’t spend the next three months lusting after Jenna. It was such a waste of time.

  First of all, she didn’t have a chance with someone like Jenna, someone who was successful, who had their life on track, who was... Stunning. Secondly, Jenna would be going back to New York, and thirdly, Hayley didn’t have the time or energy to get involved with someone. Going on a few dates was about all she was going to manage, and it was just to distract her.

  “Beer or wine or a cocktail?” Kyle asked as they went inside, the fans whirling above their heads. “Something stronger?”

  “A bottle of beer is fine. Thanks.” Hayley pulled out a free bar stool and sat down, resting her arms against the wood as she logged into the app. She might as well just get this over with.

  She typed in all the basic info, adding a picture she took on the beach last week. She wasn’t in it, but she didn’t want to have her photo on there for everyone to see. If she got chatting to someone she liked, then she’d send them a photo, but she doubted she would even get that far.

  Then why am I even bothering?

  “What part do you need help with?” Kyle asked as sat down.

  “What?”