15. Nat #2
Chase was the quintessential gentleman. He wore a button-up plaid shirt, with sleeves and everything, even in eighty-five-degree heat.
It must have been stifling. It also may have explained why they were accidentally misbuttoned, but I didn’t want to say anything.
His jeans were dark blue and snug. His shoes weren’t covered in dirt.
It might have been a low bar, but we did live in the wilderness.
Despite his overeager look, he seemed perfectly comfortable and was easy to talk to.
We ordered our food, along with their nicest thirty-dollar bottle of sake, which Chase had asked for with a grin.
Once the small talk was out of the way and our server had left, we were all alone. I twiddled with the napkin in my lap and stared at the paper tablecloth, which was temporarily blocked from view when Chase handed me a crayon to draw.
“I’ve always wanted to know, what’s it like to be a travel influencer?”
I sketched some evergreen trees. Chase was drawing what looked like a dog. “It’s great. I get to go all over the place, obviously. Um… I try food from all over. I meet a lot of cool people.” Why did this sound like a middle school report on what I did last summer?
I lifted my head and found him smiling at me. Again.
I continued, this time a little more eloquently.
“I like being able to see how different cultures are, even across the continental US. The helpful locals, their favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and the waterfalls off the beaten path. I create my itineraries in advance, but I always leave some wiggle room for when someone local recommends somewhere specific I need to try. It’s a lot of work maintaining both the business and social sides, but it’s worth it.
” I took a sip of my wine, swishing it in my mouth.
“I like being a nomad because it allows me to fly under the radar a little.”
“Under the radar? You don’t run into people who know who you are?”
“I mean, occasionally, but interactions are usually harmless these days. It’s nothing compared to how they used to be when I was little.
” Shit. I tried to let it go, but he waited patiently for an explanation.
“I was in the public eye, even before this, I guess. My last name is Breckenridge.” I kicked myself for my slipup. I didn’t need people to know who I was.
Chase’s eyes went wide. “Like, the famous Breckenridges?” His face shifted from confusion to understanding. “Wasn’t your grandfather a vice president?”
“Yep.” My grandfather’s platform when he ran for president was family first. I’d been to more political events than I could count. My father’s unexpected death had been fodder for months. And now my mother ran one of the biggest holding companies in the country, spanning generations.
“That must have been really hard as a kid.”
I had a lot of privilege, but my childhood wasn’t a cakewalk.
“It got a lot better once they stopped forcing me to go to events. But there is a reason my real name isn’t tied to my account.
I still get randos messaging me when they figure it out.
” I shrugged, ready for a subject change.
“What about you? What state are you from again?”
He talked about his hometown in Montana, which was even smaller than Wildwood.
I watched him light up, talking about the differences, and found myself thinking about how handsome he was when he smiled, which was pretty much always.
He’d never fit into my family, who were more known for their drive, not their kindness.
Chase had this boy-next-door look. He exuded friendliness in a way Jack never could.
His face couldn’t hide anything if he tried, and his dimple made me want to pat his cheek like an auntie.
He had cared about his outfit today. There wasn’t a wrinkle in sight, unlike the well-worn T-shirt Jack had on before I left.
His ruggedness and off-putting attitude that he always showed around me definitely didn’t belong in a nice restaurant like this.
And now Jack was back in my head, the last place I wanted him to be.
Had I really just attempted to get myself off to him on the same day as this date?
Guilt washed over me. Was it wrong to use your enemy as masturbation material when you had a date with another person?
If the orgasm didn’t happen, did it even count?
My answer was no, and this was a first date anyway, so I should stop being hard on myself.
The event was a fluke, triggered by feelings stirred by a dream.
They weren’t real. And it was never going to happen. But it still aggravated me.
“Nat?”
“Sorry, what?”
Chase seemed unfazed by my inability to pay attention. “I asked about your time at Starlight last year. Were you a counselor the entire summer?”
“No, I was only here for six weeks. Someone had to leave, and Hazel asked if I could make myself free. It’s nice having a regular bed for a little while. It can get rough living out of a car.”
He nodded. “I bet. And now you’re dealing with it again. How has that living arrangement been?”
“Oh. Well, that’s been tricky.”
Chase smiled, waiting for me to elaborate. I reached for my nearly empty glass of wine and realized it was starting to go to my head, so I held back.
“If it had been anyone other than Jack, I’d be fine. But he’s exhausting. And messy. And he does this thing where he thinks the temperature should be kept at sixty. I’m going to freeze, Chase. Death by AC. Not to mention he’s more moody than he’ll admit to and even more stubborn.”
“Oh, boy.”
“He also wears shoes in the house and purposely uses the hot water while I’m showering.” I was on a roll. “And he doesn’t know when to just admit he’s wrong. And he has zero taste in music. But it’s fine. Just fine.”
Right as I realized I’d been bitching, I noticed a couple walking our way. Kai, the craft store owner, greeted us, accompanied by his boyfriend, Simon, the general store owner.
I waved. “Hi, you two. How was dinner?”
“Good,” they said in unison. “Great,” they both tried, as if to sound original but failing. The four of us laughed, garnering the attention of a few patrons.
“The lobster gyoza is really good if you haven’t ordered yet,” Simon pointed out.
Chase nodded in agreement. “That’s what I said.”
The men lingered as if waiting for something, and I realized how rude I’d been. “I don’t know if you’ve met, but this is Chase. He’s a counselor, too.”
I made their introductions, and Chase stood to shake hands, garnering supportive looks from the couple.
Kai smiled at me as if we were in cahoots. He seemed to approve. So why was my head not here with Chase?
“Well, we’ll leave you to it.” Kai grinned. “Nat.”
“Kai,” I said with the tone of a disgruntled teenager. “Simon.”
The two walked away, whispering as if they had a juicy secret.
I lightly drew a sideways oval on the paper. Without thinking, I sketched a bird. A fucking bird.
“So, who do you think is going to win the competition? First person to say themself pays for dinner.” He beamed.
“I don’t know. If it’s not me—and no, that didn’t count—I’d say Lamar. What about you?”
Before he could answer that question, our server arrived with our food. It smelled like perfection, and for a moment, I almost forgot about the competition.
“My money’s on Sawyer. Or Jack.”
Blood rushed in my ears. “Jack.” I stabbed a gyoza with a little too much force.
“Well, I figured it’d come off as pandering if I said you. But if it isn’t one of us, I’d put money on him. He’s pretty ruthless.”
“Ruthless, petty, asinine. Take your pick.” I took another sip of wine, finishing the glass, and Chase bit his lip, probably regretting his choice instantly. “He’s a perpetual annoyance. Oh, and he snores.”
The server dropped our bill on our table, and Chase pulled out his card at the same time as I did. I planned to place it on the bill, but instead of gracefully landing where it belonged, it flung across the table and landed in Chase’s water glass.
I had a feeling I’d completely fucked up this date.
Chase walked me to my door even though I told him I’d be fine. My previous interactions with him had proven that arguing with him was pointless when it came to chivalry.
The flickering light on Jack’s porch went out suddenly, catching both of our attention and creating a romantic ambience I didn’t think either of us wanted. Chase smiled at what was probably a wince on my part.
“Well, I had a great time,” I said, like you were supposed to. I didn’t want him to read into it.
“Yeah, me too.” The strain in his voice further cemented my failure.
“I’m sorry, I was a bad date,” I blurted.
“You’re not a bad date. You’re just… Look, I’ve been on enough first dates to tell when it’s not going to happen.”
“You have?”
“Let’s just say I’m a hopeful romantic who hasn’t been at the right place at the right time. Yet. But it’s all good. Have a nice night, Nat.”
“You too.” My eyes hadn’t quite adjusted as I reached out a hand to shake his, but he pulled me into a hug with my arm trapped between us, putting the cherry on top of this awkward date sundae.
I opened the screen door, surprised to find Jack pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Had he seen that interaction? God, I hoped not.
“The porch light went out.” I pointed behind me as the screen door creaked shut.
Jack looked up, stunned. “Oh. I’ll get to that.”
Might as well make “I’ll get to that” his middle name. His schedule was challenging, but did he really not see that he was putting off his own needs for those of every other person in this camp?
“You know I can help, right?”
He stared at me, but didn’t respond.
I shrugged, toeing off my shoes, and made my way to the couch, pulling my feet up and massaging my tired instep.
I let out a groan and lifted my eyes to find him staring.
“Did you want to sit down? I can move over.” I didn’t expect him to take me up on the offer, but he was there in five seconds, and I pulled my feet under me.