by Jackie Lau
“You mean when you were twelve?”
She ducks her head. “Yeah. I was just starting to think about those sorts of things. You were handsome and all grown up—I would have put a picture of you in my locker if you’d been a celebrity. And you seemed...cranky and dangerous.”
I chuckle. “Cranky and dangerous—that’s how you choose to describe me? And that appealed to you?”
I can’t believe she wanted me when she met me in my dorm room.
The fantasies of a preteen girl. Who is now a lovely woman.
“It did,” she says. “I had a crush on you for a few years, believe it or not.” She bends her knees and wraps her arms around her legs. “I have to admit something. I did want to go to this get-together with a boyfriend. But the only reason I asked Jeremy to find me a fake boyfriend, rather than finding someone myself, was because I knew he would suggest you.”
“You sneaky girl.” I try to tickle her, but she jumps off the bed before I can get her.
“Not that I expected this would happen.” She gestures between us as she comes to sit on the bed again, looking at me warily, as if afraid I’ll pounce on her and tickle her to death. “Though I did hope.”
“Do you still have a crush on me?”
She shakes her head, which is both a relief and a disappointment at the same time.
“I didn’t ask you to be my fake boyfriend because I had a crush on you,” she says. “But I still thought you were attractive, and for some reason, you were the one I could best imagine in that role.”
“Because I’m so cranky and dangerous?” I wrap my arms around her.
“Mm. Yes.”
We kiss and we kiss, and when we look at the time, more than twenty minutes have passed. We laugh as we pull on our clothes and prepare to face the world.
Chapter 18
Naomi
Will heads downstairs without me, and I stay in the room to call Courtney.
“How’s the weekend?” she asks.
“Awesome,” I tell her, despite the rainy day and the shoe game incident. After spending hours in bed with Will, I’ve never felt better. “It’s awesome.”
“You slept together, didn’t you?”
I can’t help but laugh. “We did. And it was awesome.”
“How does he rank?”
I hesitate, even though I know the answer. “First. Definitely.”
“Maybe you’re saying that because it just happened. Some kind of recency bias.”
Yeah, that’s the sort of thing my sister would say.
“I’m not biased,” I protest. “It really was that good. Promise you won’t say anything about this to Jeremy, okay? He’d flip out.”
“Of course I won’t say anything.”
“How about your weekend? Did you have sex in the lab?”
“That would be unsanitary,” she says. “Plus, it would require someone else to actually be here on the long weekend.”
“Are you still in the lab?”
“Yes.”
“Courtney! Go out and do something. At least have a gingerbread latte at that coffee shop you like.”
“It’s too late for coffee.”
Sometimes my sister really is no fun, although she’s good at appreciating the small things in life.
“I’m sure they can make it decaf,” I say.
“What’s the point of having a latte if it’s decaf?”
I don’t always understand her logic.
We talk for a few more minutes and make plans to have dim sum next weekend with Jeremy. I haven’t had dim sum in forever, and I’m craving it. And it’s not like I can find proper Chinese food in Grand Bend.
“Courtney,” I say. “I have a question. When I was dating Jordan, did you like him?”
She hesitates. “I didn’t mind him.”
“Well, that’s high praise. Really, what did you think of him?”
“He wasn’t horrible, but I didn’t think he was quite right for you. Sometimes you weren’t yourself around him.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You seemed to like him, and it was your choice, after all. I didn’t want to start an argument.” She pauses. “I need my sister. It’ll be five years this fall.”
“Right.” I exhale slowly. Courtney has recurring depression that seems to be on a five-year cycle. I hope it won’t return this year, but she’s fairly confident it will. “But even if you hated the guy I was dating, I would be there for you. You know that, don’t you?”
Before ending the call, she asks me one last question. “What’s going to happen with Will once the weekend is over?”
“Nothing,” I say. “We agreed we’re just having fun while we’re here. Nothing more.”
That’s all I want, isn’t it?
* * *
“We’re okay,” Ridhi says. “I never wanted to cancel the wedding. I was just so tired of Ian letting me do all the work and acting like it was no big deal. I think he gets it now. Still, it’s nice to have a girls’ night out.” She licks her ice cream cone.
After having pizza for dinner, we split up by gender. The men are playing poker at the beach house. The women are out in Grand Bend. First, we played mini-golf, and now we’re at the ice cream parlor. I’m having butterscotch ripple, which is heavenly.
Krista is here, too. I’m surprised she’s actually eating ice cream. I figured she’d be one of those fat-free frozen yogurt types, but she’s having a double scoop in a waffle cone. Maybe she burns lots of calories because she’s fucking Jordan night and day.
The thought of them in bed doesn’t bother me much. I’m blissed out on ice cream and sex.
Krista turns to me. “How long have you and Will been together?”
Huh. My ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend actually asked me a question.
“Not long,” I say. “About a month. How about you two?”
“Four months.”
A part of me wants to tell her that it’s okay if she doesn’t agree with Jordan about everything, and that he really isn’t that great of a catch. But I don’t say anything.
“When you get engaged,” Ridhi says, looking at me and Krista, “don’t fall into the trap of doing all the planning because you’re the woman, and you’re supposed to have been dreaming about your big day since you were five. Make sure he does some of it, and consider getting a wedding planner.”
“I’m grateful I have one,” Julia said, “though it seemed like an exorbitant expense when we hired her. But with this big case at work, I couldn’t do everything without her. I can’t wait until I can go back to working ten-hour days.”
“I don’t know how you do it.” Ridhi shakes her head. “My mom never wanted me to be a lawyer, but she talked about me being a doctor, even though I wasn’t great at science. I’ve heard people describe what residency is like, and I could never handle those hours.”
I’m relieved everything is okay between Ridhi and Ian. I’ve known them for a few years, and they’re great together. One of those opposites-attract couples. They’ve never been as demonstrative as Jordan and Krista—thank God most people aren’t—but I can’t help noting the tender touches and looks between them.
We finish our ice cream and walk down the strip. Although it’s not raining anymore, everything is still wet, and there’s a cool breeze. It’s a pleasant night, actually.
We pass restaurants and bars. Fast food stands that smell of delicious fried food. Beachwear shops that are closed for the day. There are lots of people about, though it would probably be busier if the weather were nicer.
“Anyone feel like a drink?” Julia asks. “I know a good place.”
“Yes!” Ridhi says eagerly.
We head to a bar, where we alternately drink and dance to “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” and other songs I’ve heard a zillion times before. I order a Sex on the Beach. I haven’t had one in years, but for some reason, the name amuses me tonight.
I’m easily amused ri
ght now.
I’m on my second drink when a young guy, barely old enough to be at a bar, stands in front of me and starts moving his hips.
“You want to dance?” he asks.
Normally I would dance with him, just for fun, though he’s not the sort I’d go home with. For one, he looks like he’s only twenty or twenty-one.
But I’m not interested in any man but Will Stafford at the moment. Plus, my friends think Will and I are a real couple, so it would be inappropriate to gyrate my hips with this guy anyway.
“Sorry,” I say, struggling to be heard above the music. “I have a boyfriend.”
I stiffen a little, afraid that’s not enough to put him off, afraid he’ll think it’s a lie. And it is a lie, but a much more elaborate one than he would imagine.
Fortunately, he just says, “Lucky guy,” and winks before stepping away from me.
My friends and I stay at the bar for a couple of hours, dancing in a little circle. I feel happy and free, and it’s not all because of the alcohol. Ridhi looks like she’s having a good time, too, like she’s able to relax after what happened earlier.
We stumble out of the bar at midnight, and Jordan comes to pick us up. We laugh as we enter the beach house, a little giddy after our night out. When I don’t see Will downstairs, I head up to our bedroom, tripping on the stairs only once.
My “boyfriend” is lying in bed and reading a book. I grin even wider at the sight of him. He’s wearing boxers and a T-shirt, and he looks as delicious as a double scoop of butterscotch ripple and chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone.
I’m rather pleased with myself for coming up with that simile.
“Somebody had a good time tonight,” he says.
I pull off my shirt and bra and strut toward him.
“How was poker?” I ask. “Did you win any money?”
“I kicked ass at poker. I won sixty bucks.”
“I think you won more than that.” I try to pull his shirt over his head.
“Naomi,” he says sternly, pushing his shirt down. “No.”
I pout. “Don’t you like it when I’m half-naked?”
“I do.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “But you’re drunk. We’re not doing this.”
“Aw, I’m not drunk.” I hiccup.
“You are. Not black-out drunk, but... I’m going to get you some water.”
He heads to the washroom and returns with a glass that’s half full. He hands it to me. There are blue stripes on the glass, and I examine them.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Looking at the stripes. Following them around the circum-brence of the glass.”
“Circumference.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Drink the water, Naomi.”
“You’re bossy.” I drink it anyway. “Is a goodnight kiss off the table, too?”
“You can have a goodnight kiss once you change into your pajamas.”
I dutifully take off my jeans and put on a tank top before climbing under the covers.
“What about your pajama shorts?” he asks.
“Not wearing them tonight. You’re not wearing shorts, either.”
He seems to accept that.
“A guy hit on me at the bar. I told him I had a boyfriend.” I giggle. “You’re my boyfriend.” I poke Will in the stomach.
“Yes, I am,” he says. “Sort of.”
“You should be my real boyfriend.”
He doesn’t say anything to that. He turns me onto my side and wraps his arms around me from behind. “Did this guy give you any trouble?”
“Nope. He just said you were lucky and left me alone.”
“I am lucky.”
“You could be getting lucky tonight, but you refused.” I hiccup again.
“I’ll make up for it tomorrow morning, assuming you’re not too hungover.”
“I won’t be.”
He gives me my goodnight kiss, and I fall asleep in his arms.
* * *
I wake up at nine o’clock the next morning. I don’t feel too bad when I’m lying down, but I’m a bit woozy when I sit up. Nothing a painkiller won’t fix. I grab one from my purse and swallow it with the glass of water that Will placed on the bedside table.
“Sleep well?” he asks, turning to look at me. He’s sitting at the desk, working on his laptop. “You hungover?”
“Only a little.” I hold my thumb and forefinger a centimeter apart. “I’m certainly not too hungover for sex. I’ll just shower first, and then you can do what you refused to do last night.”
He chuckles. “I like that you’re thinking about it from the second you wake up.”
“How long have you been awake?”
He opens his mouth but doesn’t say anything. He’s looking at the wall, from which there is a furious squeaking sound.
It’s not a mouse.
I put my hand to my mouth and laugh. “Ridhi and Ian and some crappy bed springs.”
“So it would appear.”
I think I can make out some moaning, but it’s faint.
I shuck off my panties and shirt and step toward Will. I start massaging his shoulders.
“If you keep it up,” he says, “I’m going to jump you before your shower.”
I scurry to the washroom.
When I get out, he more than makes up for last night.
Chapter 19
Naomi
I pick up my phone and take a picture of the crowded beach. It’s a beautiful day, and we’re all out in the boat on Lake Huron. Tom is driving.
I’m wearing my bikini and sitting beside Will. The cool air runs through my hair as Tom speeds up. I take another picture looking behind the boat, of the wake and the boats in the distance. The water is a deep blue with a greenish tinge, not too choppy, and there are a few fluffy clouds in the sky.
I put my phone away and lean against Will. As I close my eyes, I tip my face up and smile at the sun.
This is the life. I’m on a boat with my friends on a beautiful summer day. There’s a man next to me. Though he can be standoffish at times, it’s actually quite easy to be with him; I’m completely comfortable when we’re together. He smells like pine and sunscreen and rosemary—he seems to have started using my shampoo. His strong arm is wrapped around me, and he thinks I look smoking hot in my polka-dot bikini. In fact, he almost started drooling when I put it on. We barely made it out of the room without him jumping me. Again.
I don’t know much about boats, but this is a nice one. It can fit ten people, and there’s a door to the lower level, which contains a small bed and bathroom, so theoretically, you could sleep on it overnight, although I doubt it would be very comfortable.
We continue along, parallel to the shore. We’re past the public beaches now. There are a few houses along the water here, and some are even more impressive than Tom’s family’s beach house.
“Would you want to own one of these?” I ask Will.
“I can’t afford it.”
“But if you could.”
“I’d rather get a cabin in the woods up north.”
“Of course you would,” I say. “A remote cabin where you could retreat from society.”
“Exactly. I’d go up there for a week at a time, and there would be no distractions.”
“Unless I decided to join you. Then I would be very distracting.”
“Mm,” he says. “You would.”
He could spend time up there alone, and I’d visit him on the weekend. We’d read and go for walks in the woods, and I would entertain myself while he did some writing. And then at night... He’d strip me naked and lay me on the bed in the rustic cabin, and he’d admire and pleasure every inch of me in the dim lamplight.
I shiver when I think of it.
Afterward, he’d wrap me in a blanket, and we’d drink hot chocolate and look at the stars before falling asleep in each other’s arms, just like last night.
I have this cabin-in-the-woods fantasy all
planned out.
But it’s the final day of our act. We’re going back to Toronto later this afternoon, and we won’t need to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend any longer.
The thought fills me with sorrow.
This getting-him-out-of-my-system business sure didn’t work. No, he’s burrowed himself deeper inside me. I want even more with him. Not just another few days in his bed, but a relationship.
That’s right. I want a real relationship with Will Stafford.
I didn’t admit it when I was on the phone with Courtney yesterday, but I can admit it to myself now. I feel something for him, and it’s certainly more than lust. More than my teenage crush.
There’s no reason I shouldn’t say something. I won’t do it when we’re all in the boat together, but perhaps on the drive home, if I’m not critiquing his driving skills the whole time.
I look back on our arguments in the car and smile. When he was telling me I shouldn’t have Timbits for lunch, I never would have imagined we’d start kissing to shut each other up and end up having so much fun together this weekend. I never would have imagined the joy it brings me to simply feel his arm around my waist.
I glance at Ridhi and Ian on the other side of the boat. Relationships can be messy at times, but I’m sure they both think it’s worth it.
It would be worth it with Will.
He’s a much better guy than Jordan is. Although he’s a bit of a grump, Will is sensitive and thoughtful beneath the surface. He was very sweet when I was drunk and took good care of me.
Actually, I have a vague recollection of calling him my “real boyfriend” last night, but I can’t remember what he said. He probably thought I was just kidding around because I was drunk.
Apparently, I’m quite smart when I’ve been drinking.
Later today, I’ll ask him whether he wants to continue this—for real—when we get back to Toronto. I suspect he’ll say yes. Even though we just talked about having a weekend fling, I don’t think this is all one-sided. The three hours we spent in bed yesterday were some of the best hours of my life. I felt so close to him, and I’m convinced he must have felt it, too.