Queen of First Dates

by Case, Jaimie

  11

  Queen of First Dates by Julia Montgomery

  The First Date

  Hello readers, my name is Julia and I hope you’re ready to follow me on my dating journey. Dating has always been an exciting part of most people’s lives, yet in this day and age, the process of dating has really changed. My weekly articles will be here to try to help you navigate the process of online dating. I’m no expert, but hopefully, we will both learn on our journey together. Normally, in online articles and books, names are changed to protect the privacy of the people named, but to ensure these articles are transparent, real names and photographs will be used. I want you to be able to relate and trust me on this journey. Wish me luck. And without further ado, let me introduce you to Jose, my first date. My first piece of advice is to set boundaries from the beginning, otherwise, your date might take things down a path you’re not willing to go. And always remember that good-looking doesn’t always equal good…

  Thanks to the Canyon Beach Flower Shop for sponsoring this first date.

  I should have known when Jose gave me a long slightly too intimate hug as soon as he met me and started talking to me in Spanish that something was amiss, but I dismissed the warning bells in my head because he was even more handsome than he’d looked in his photos.

  “Hola, mi preciosa Julia, eres más linda en persona que en tus fotos. Y tu cuerpo está encendido. Espero que esta noche podamos divertirnos y no como si estuviéramos jugando juegos de mesa,” he said smoothly and I just smiled at him not knowing what he was saying as his eyes ran up and down my body.

  “Uh, hi, Jose,” I said and then he reached down and grabbed my hand and raised it to his lips.

  “Sorry, I will speak in English. It is really nice to meet you.” When he spoke in English, he had no accent and I wondered if he had been faking his heavy Spanish accent when he’d spoken to me in Spanish. “Is that your photographer?” He nodded over to Nolan who was standing right behind me, a red light shining on the front of his camera, letting me know that he was already taking video. I could already feel myself becoming self-conscious and stopped myself from glaring at him.

  “Yes, and thanks for sending me the contract back this morning. I know this is a bit weird,” I mumbled almost incoherently, not really knowing what to say.

  “Hey, I would have signed anything if it meant I got to go on a date with you,” he said smoothly and I could see Nolan rolling his eyes as he filmed us.

  “You’re too nice.” I laughed as he led me toward a table.

  “Coño tu estás tan buena. Como yo deseo sentir tus labios por todo mi cuerpo,” he said as he stared at my lips.

  “Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish.”

  “No worries,” he said, but he didn’t translate what he’d said. “I can’t believe you’re still single.”

  “Oh, thanks I guess.”

  “You’re a woman right?”

  “Sorry, what?”

  “No judgment, it’s cool and all that.” He looked me up and down. “And I can tell you’re all woman.”

  “So, Jose, tell me more about yourself.”

  “What do you want to know?” he said to me, but I could see him looking at the camera, his perfect white teeth shining.

  “Is the camera bothering you?” I asked with a sigh. This was never going to work if he was more interested in the camera than he was in me.

  “Cara,” he started, and I held my hand up.

  “Can we keep it in English, please?” I asked him with a small smile. “I have to plead my ignorance at not knowing another language. I wish I had been one of those smart enough to have paid attention in school and actually picked up a second language, but I’m afraid I didn’t.”

  “I can teach you all the Spanish you want to know.”

  “You’re a big flirt, aren’t you?” I said with a sigh. Okay, there had to be a way to salvage this date. This could not end up as my first date in ages. It didn’t even matter that it wasn’t officially a real date. This was just plain embarrassing; especially seeing as Nolan was witnessing everything.

  “No, I’m not a big flirt.” His expression changed and he sat back. “What would you like to drink?”

  “Um…” I nibbled on my lower lip. We were at a bar, but I didn’t know if it was okay to drink on the job. Shouldn’t I have my wits about me? But then, shouldn’t I do what I would normally do on a date and night out. “Sure, I’ll have a Pear Martini, please.”

  “Fancy,” he said in a very deep American accent and I looked at him with narrowed eyes. “What?” he said as he saw me staring up at him.

  “How was your accent so different just now?” I asked him curiously. “Five minutes ago you sounded like…” I paused as I didn’t know how to state what I was thinking in a polite way that didn’t come across as rude.

  “You can say it.” He raised an eyebrow at me and I blinked.

  “Say what?”

  “Five minutes ago, I sounded like you expected me to sound, a heavily accented Mexican.”

  “I didn’t even know you were Mexican until you told me.”

  “Okay then, a heavily accented Latino.”

  “Sorry what?” My jaw dropped. “I never expected anything. I was just confused because five minutes ago you were speaking with a deep accent and now you sound like you came from Arkansas.”

  “I did grow up in the South, we can’t help our accents you know.” He laughed, and I just stared at him. Was he joking around or was he seriously upset with me?

  “I didn’t mean to make you feel like I felt like you should have a deep Spanish accent.”

  “You didn’t.” He gave me a guilty grin. “Sorry, I was a little peeved when you asked me where I was from and wanted to play a little joke on you, but I forgot you don’t know me well enough for that to be funny.”

  “Oh.” I sat back nonplussed. He had a point. I had asked him where he was from. Not because I assumed he wasn’t American, but more because I was curious about his heritage, given his darker good looks. As the thought crossed my mind, I immediately realized that even though I hadn’t consciously wanted to offend him that I most probably had. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel like I thought you were an immigrant.”

  “Nothing wrong with being an immigrant,” he shot back and I stifled a groan. This was going down a more serious path than I had expected. I wasn’t opposed to political discussion and I even had strong feelings on the subject myself, but this wasn’t really the time or place for our first serious discussion. “Sorry.” He started laughing as he reached forward and grabbed my hand. “I’m just joking. I’m not upset.”

  “Okay,” I said weakly. “I’m an immigrant as well. Well, descendent of immigrants.”

  “Cool. From where?”

  “My dad’s parents are from England,” I said with a small smile. “Boring.”

  “Not boring, England is cool.”

  “Yeah, I think that’s why I love Shakespeare so much,” I said. “And my mom’s parents were quite cool, her mom is from South Carolina, and her ancestors were slaves from Africa and her dad was a Jew from Poland.”

  “Whoa.” His eyes widened. “No way.” He looked me up and down. “I never would have guessed.”

  “Ha ha.” I laughed lightly, not feeling offended at all. I knew that most people were surprised at my background when they found out. “I just wanted you to know that I understand what it can feel like when you feel like people are questioning who you are, I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything.”

  “This is a pretty deep start to a first date, isn’t it?” He looked at me with a really surprised expression. “You’re not what I expected.”

  “Oh?”

  “Well, you’re so hot I just assumed you were one of the Canyon Beach bimbos that I always meet.”

  “I’m not a bimbo.” I accepted his hot comment and grinned.

  “Yeah, you’re not.”

  “And you’re way hotter than me,” I said wi
th a small laugh, at this point having forgotten that Nolan was in the corner witnessing everything. “So I don’t think there should be any doubts as to why I or any girl would want to go on a date with you.”

  “I am pretty good looking, aren’t I?” He grinned at me. “Okay, let me get the drinks.”

  “Okay, thanks,” I said, and I smiled to myself as I watched him walking toward the bar. Before I knew what was happening, Nolan was headed to our table with a scowl on his face. “Hey, Nolan.”

  “You’re really just going to sit there smiling?” He looked annoyed.

  “What?”

  “He basically said he wanted you to lick him all over.”

  “What?” My voice was louder now. “What are you talking about?”

  “When he was speaking Spanish, he said something like you’re so sexy. I wish I could feel your lips on me.”

  “What? No, he didn’t.”

  “Trust me, he did.”

  “Why didn’t you say something before?”

  “Because you were giving him an attitude, and I thought you were over him, but then you guys talked…” He rolled his eyes. “And now you’re acting like everything is okay.”

  “Okay,” I said, my voice short.

  “I wanted to come over here and let you know he’s still a pig.” Nolan’s handsome face looked aggravated. “Just because you think you’re having some come to Jesus moment with him…”

  “Come to Jesus moment?” I shook my head at him. “What?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe that was the wrong term to use. I just meant, just because you feel like you’ve bonded over the fact that you both have parents or backgrounds that are…” His voice trailed off and I gave him a look.

  “That are what, Nolan?”

  “You know.” He shrugged.

  “Nope.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”

  “Sigh,” he said out loud. “Why are you so difficult, Jules? Why can’t you just trust me?”

  “This is a first date, Nolan. I’m not about to marry the guy.” I rolled my eyes. “And just because we both have diverse backgrounds doesn’t mean I’m going to drop my panties for him.” I glared at him but to my surprise all he did was laugh. “What’s so funny?”

  “I just never expected to ever hear you say drop my panties.” He winked at me. “But I wouldn’t mind you doing that for me.”

  “Nolan! That is so inappropriate.”

  “Why?” He licked his lips slowly as he stared at me. His eyes devoured my face and then looked down at my chest. “It’s the truth.”

  “It’s inappropriate because I’m here on a date with someone else.”

  “Then hurry up and end the date.”

  “Why?”

  “So we can do something.”

  “What?” My jaw dropped. Was Nolan asking me out? What was going on here? I’d never seen Nolan like this before. And he’d certainly never asked me to do anything as just the two of us. Never.

  “Hey, everything going okay?” Jose walked back to the table with the drinks with a huge smile. “I hope you’re making me look good on camera, man.”

  “As if anything could make you look bad,” I said to Jose. “Thanks for the drink.” I took it from his hand and sipped. “Oh this is so good.”

  “You’re welcome. Cheers.” He held up his beer mug to me.

  “Cheers,” I said and then looked over at Nolan who had taken to scowling again. “Anything else?”

  “No,” he said tightly. “Nothing else, mi corazon.”

  “Sorry what?” I asked him, not understanding what he’d just said.

  “Nothing.” He walked away and headed back to where his camera sat upon the tripod.

  “That camera guy,” Jose said looking at me and then at Nolan. “Do you know him or something?”

  “I would hope so, he is my cameraman.” I laughed.

  “But do you know him as more than a cameraman?”

  “Well, he’s my best friend’s brother.”

  “Oh, Beach Canyon.” He laughed as he shook his head. “I forgot how small this town was. I guess you’re a local.”

  “Yeah, born and bred here.”

  “Cool. It’s a nice town, though to be honest, it’s a bit small for me.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “I moved here because it was close to the beach and affordable, but there’s like nothing going on.”

  “So you’re going to move then?” I asked curiously. Not that I really cared about his answer. My mind was still on Nolan and his asking me to do something. What had he wanted to do with me?

  “I suppose if I say yes, you’re not going to sleep with me tonight.”

  “I was never going to sleep with you tonight.”

  “Oh yeah, I guess that wouldn’t look good for your article.”

  “It has nothing to do with the article. I’m not interested in sleeping with you.”

  “I’m not cute enough?” He gave me an impish smile and I shook my head.

  “Yeah, you’re definitely not cute enough.”

  “Ouch, my heart has been broken,” he said and I noticed he was looking back at the bar.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  “Well, yeah, but, look, Sandy, the bartender, has made it clear that she’s willing to have some fun tonight and well, you know…” He shrugged as he took another chug of his beer.

  “No, what?”

  “You’re a nice girl and all, Jules, but we haven’t really hit it off and I don’t think we’re looking for the same thing.”

  “Oh, okay.” I felt humiliated. I couldn’t believe that this shit was being documented.

  “I mean, I think it was pretty clear from my profile that I wanted to bump and grind and well, you seem to want to go on some philosophical debate on something.”

  “WHAT?” My jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”

  “Look, girl, I’m not here for any deep talks, I’m here to salsa, if you know what I mean?” He raised his eyebrows and did a little dance and I just stared at him speechless. I could see Nolan standing behind his camera laughing and I couldn’t believe it.

  “You know what, just go.” I placed my drink on the table. “This date is over.”

  “That’s what I’ve been saying, chica.” He nodded. “My only hope is I look good on the camera.”

  “Whatever.” I jumped up and headed over to Nolan. “Let’s go.”

  “What happened?” he asked, pretending to look confused.

  “Not now, Nolan. Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Take me somewhere I can get drunk,” I said and with that Nolan packed up his equipment quickly and we headed out of the bar. I looked back as we exited and I could see Jose flirting with Sandy and laughing at something she was saying.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Nolan said as we got into his car.

  “Do I look like I want to talk about it?” I said shaking my head. “I’m confused as heck.”

  “He wasn’t the guy for you.”

  “I know that. I’m just confused as to what happened. How am I supposed to write about dating when I don’t even understand the date myself?”

  “He was a douchebag, Jules.”

  “Sigh,” I said and then actually let out a long deep sigh and buried my face in my hands. “This sucks. In fact, this actually sucks more than I thought it was going to suck when Malcolm pitched this idea to me.”

  “You looked good on camera, does that help?” Nolan offered with a small smile and I laughed slightly.

  “A little bit.” I grinned. “Ugh, why do men have to be so predictable?”

  “Oh?”

  “You guys only think with your small head.”

  “Small head?” he asked as he started the engine.

  “You know what I mean?”

  “Do I?” He chuckled, and I hit him in the shoulder. “Explain it to me.”

  “No, Nol
an, I won’t be explaining anything to you,” I said. “Where are we going?”

  “I’m going to stop by Al’s liquor to get you some ciders and me some beers, then I’m going to drive to my place.”

  “Nolan!” I looked at him shocked. Was he suggesting what I thought he was suggesting?

  “To park, Jules.” He grinned. “I don’t want to drink and drive. I was thinking I could park and then we could walk down to the beach and start a fire in one of the fire pits.”

  “Ooh that would be cool.”

  “You have blankets?”

  “Yes, Jules.”

  “From other dates you’ve taken there or….” My voice trailed off as I realized the words I’d used. I hoped he didn’t notice that I’d said from other dates, as if I was calling this a date.

  “No, Jules. Actually, I don’t take dates down to the beach at night,” he said with a small smile. “Don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.”

  “The wrong idea?”

  “Taking a date to the beach at night is quite intimate,” he said.

  “Really?” I scoffed. “I don’t think it’s that intimate.” I made a face, but then I remembered something. “Oh, well, maybe to you but that’s only because your dad proposed to your mom there one night. To most people, it’s not that intimate of a date.” I thought of his parents and the epic proposal his dad had done for his mom. He had taken her out to watch the stars and had already set up three hundred and sixty-five rose petals on the sand, one for each day he’d known her. He hadn’t thought it through properly and the cleanup afterward had taken him a couple of hours. That night had been the night of a meteorite shower and as they’d watched the sky, he’d declared that his undying love was bigger than the universe and oceans combined and would she marry him. Obviously, Mrs. Montgomery had said yes and from what I could see they were still madly in love. I had no idea why Nolan was so opposed to marriage and serious relationships, but I didn’t think we were close enough for me to ask him that.