Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (29 page)

I’
ve been feeding her details of our little tryst, and even more when it turned into something serious. She was the first person I called this afternoon after my run-in with Tanya. She was happy to lend a listening ear and even happier to offer me a night out to take my mind off of things. By the looks of this place, it would definitely offer some sort of distraction.

I see a fanatically waving hand through some of the crowd, and change my trajectory. Steph has managed to secure us a tiny little table and I gladly see not only some frozen drinks set out, but also some appetizers. The girl must have read my mind...

“
V
!
” She leaves the comfort of her chair to meet me halfway.

Her skin is still radiating that post vacation sun-kissed island bronze that I jealously knew she would have. Although my own skin is olive colored,
I’
ve been so busy planning the ATH event that I have
n’
t been able to darken my complexion with sun-tanning. I look at my carefree friend and envy her. No guy drama, no family pressures, and no job yet to monopolize her summer.

We hug each other tightly. We were each such a big part of each othe
r’
s day-to-day routines, that i
t’
s been quite an adjustment not to see her every morning. I squeeze her petit little frame.

“
You look so fantastic
!
” I offer up the honest compliment.

Steph rolls her eyes,
 “
Oh stop! Next to you,
I’
m chopped liver
.
”

Now i
t’
s my turn to deflect a compliment. We sit at our table, pulling up our chairs to create an intimate little conversation amidst the background of mixing voices.

“I’
m serious, V. You look so... different. So grown up! I
t’
s unbelievable
.
”

I smile, feeling my cheeks begin to heat up and change the subject
.
“
So how was your vacation? You barely told me anything about it
.
”

It was true, almost all of our email exchanges and few phone calls were devoted to my answering her questions about Dom.

She shrugs her shoulders.
 “
Not bad. Lo
t’
s of time lying around doing nothing, swimming..
.
”

Her voice hitches and raises in pitch. I know her well enough to pick up on it, and I press further,
 “
And...
?
”

She smirks, reaching for her drink
.
“
And, there was this guy...
.
”

I knew it. Ther
e’
s always a guy. Steph is the very definition of boy crazy. I lean forward and arch my eyebrows high to implore her to spill the details.

Steph sips deep and long on her drink, probably weighing how much to divulge so quickly.
 “
He was my surf instructor. His name is Alex. H
e’
s gorgeous, built like you wo
n’
t even believe and such a great teacher
.
”

I laugh out loud.
 “
Ha!
I’
ll
bet
he was
.
”

Steph almost spews her drink over me at that comment. But, she does
n’
t deny it. She swallows her mouthful before it makes its escape, and waves her hand around.

“
Enough, enough. So tell me... have you spoken to Dom yet?
,
” She begins the interrogation.

I hold up my phone screen to her to indicate the two unread text messages awaiting me
,
“
Nope. I do
n’
t know what to say to him right now. I just... want to let it breathe a bit
.”
I take a sip of my drink before I add,
 “
I was going to call him tonight, but after that whole thing with Tanya today... I just ca
n’
t think straight
.
”

Steph nods, offering her support as well as a small plate of vegetable wontons. I gladly accept both.

“
What do you think she meant by
deep, dark family secrets
?
” Steph wonders.

I nod my head back and forth, crunching on my snack.
 “
I have absolutely no idea. Part of me is thinking that sh
e’
s just a bitter, washed-up, ex, but there was something in her eyes. Something cold and determined. She looked like she really had something that she was sitting on, you know. Not just trying to rattle my cage
.
”

I reach for another wonton,
 “
I do
n’
t know. My head hurts from thinking about it. Enough of Tanya, enough of Dom, I just want to have a good time like we used to. Before my life got so complicated
.
”

Steph smiles and holds up her glass to gently collide with my own. I lift my half-full slushy drink and clink my glass to hers as she proposes a toast.

“
To gir
l’
s night
.
”

~*~

The drinks are flowing and the appetizer plates are picked clean. Steph and I are engaged in hysterics as she recounts how Conrad was stung by a jellyfish on their vacation and the very hot, very sexy, and very male lifeguard had to pee on his leg. My sides are aching and sore from the repetitive laughter. Just when I think I ca
n’
t bear anymore before landing on the floor, Steph proceeds to tell me that she has now nicknamed Conrad
 “
Golden boy
.
”

She offers to show me the video, but I shy away from her phone screen. I do
n’
t think
I’
ll ever be able to look Conrad in the eye again if I watch that.

“
You kno
w…,
”
 
Steph begins as she puts the unwatched video on her phone back into i
t’
s hiding place,
 “
Conrad was really pissed when he found out you have a boyfriend
.
”

I look at my friend in shock,
 “
What
?
”

She nods.
 “
Um hmm. He has a little thing for you. I guess he was holding out hope that h
e’
d have a shot
.
” She shrugs her shoulders.

I widen my eyes in shock. Wow. I do
n’
t know what to say to that.
“
Steph... tha
t’
s so weird for me to even think of. Why would he have a thing for
me
?
”

My dearest friend shakes her head,
 “
You are like the quintessential hot little innocent girl next door. You show me one guy that
does
n’
t
  have a thing for you. You could have any guy here if you wanted. Seriously
.
”

Her drinks must be getting to her, as she has no idea what sh
e’
s talking about.

“
All right, genius, if tha
t’
s true, then why was I a virgin for so long
?”
I tilt my glass out to her to emphasize the irony in the situation.

Steph leans forward, close, her forearms crossed on the table as if sh
e’
s about to reveal some confidential secret,
 “
Because you... are one of the few truly die-hard romantics that waited for the right one
.
”

I roll my eyes at her revelation.
 “
Look what good it did.
I’
ve got a boyfriend who likes to control every little situation, especially if
I’
m in it, not to mention his crazy ex liar-wanna-be baby-mamma. Maybe I should have just done what every other girl does and just pick a bad boy
.
” I scan the room, my eyes landing on the first insanely attractive age appropriate guy I see.

“
That one. Why could
n’
t I have just found him a few months ago
?
” I swirl the remaining liquid in my glass, pondering the simplicity of the statement. Could it have been that easy? Could I have fallen for someone else instead of Dom if life had taken my down any detour other than the path I chose?

Stephanie laughs.
 “
He looks cute, but he looks a little... empty between the ears.
I’
ll bet he plays some kind of sport that involves a ball... that made contact with his head one too many times. H
e’
s not your type
.
”

I balk at the assessment,
 “
I do not
have
a type.
I’
m an equal opportunity person
.
”

We both laugh at the thought. Well I guess I have some sort of a type... I mean conversation is an important thing. I need the other person to at least be able to keep up. I watch my mystery man from across the room.

“
You would have gotten tired of him before the first date was even over,
I’
m sure of it
,
” Steph states matter-of-factly.

I place my glass down on the cardboard-circle of a coaster,
 “
Wanna bet
?
”

She eyes me, judging my seriousness. I lay out the terms.

“I’
ll go see for myself. If a) he is a contact sport athlete, and b) he sticks to mono-syllable words when he speaks... you win and I pay the bill tonight
.
”

Steph sticks out her hand,
 “
Deal
.
”

We shake, officially marking the beginning of the bet. I straighten my top and skirt, throw some lip gloss on, fluff out my hair and plot a course for my target. H
e’
s a bigger sort of guy, not as muscular as Dom, but definitely has some strength behind his size. His light blond hair hangs shaggy in a carefree way around his ears. Dark rinse jeans, untucked light blue button-down dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up mid-forearm. I do
n’
t know what Steph was talking about... he coul
d’
ve been my type.

“
Excuse me..
.
” I interrupt the group of three.
 “
Do you have a younger sister named Audrey
?
”

I bat my eyelashes sweetly while addressing the object of my fictional conquest. The conversation within the group dies down to allow him to answer with his friends showing interest in the exchange.

“
Uh... no. I have a younger brother, though. H
e’
s only eighteen though, so I doubt you know him
.
”

I put on my best expression of disappointment,
 “
Oh no.
I’
m so sorry. You looked so familiar. I could have sworn you were my old college roommates brother. I
t’
s uncanny... you really look like just like him. Sorry again
.
”

Random thoughts of my actual roommat
e’
s older brother swirl in my mind. I try hard to suppress the thoughts of Conrad laying on a beach, crawling away from the lifeguard lowering his shorts to administer the urine-based first aid, with laughter threatening to ruin my plan, here.

The guy switches his beer bottle between hands, using his now free palm to place on my turning shoulder as I pretend to make an exit,
 “
No please... let me at least buy you a drink. You came all the way over here
.
”

His friends nod to us and casually abandon their buddy. So far so good. No signs of brain damage,
 “I’
m Ryan. So what school was it that had you rooming with my
younger sister
?
”

“
St. Barts. In Connecticut
.
” I offer as he orders two beers from a passing waiter.