12. People are staring
Twelve
PEOPLE ARE STARING
Liv
Mmm… This coffee is good.
I hum with pleasure as I take another sip.
Back in my room, Sunny is in front of the window on the cat condo, watching little birds flutter in and out of the bushes. His tail twitches and swishes while little chirping sounds pour out of him. I give him a butt scratch and open the curtain wider so he can see.
Me: Brunch is at 10:30. Want to walk and stop at some shops along the way?
Viv: Def. Let me just kill this bird real quick.
Me: Please tell me you're joking.
Viv: A girl can dream. Give me fifteen, and I want more coffee. This shit is delicious.
I pull out a soft pink romper with flowy half-sleeves, a fabric-belted waist, and flowing shorts. I slip on my sandals, and with a little lip gloss and mascara, I’m good to go. I tell Sunny to be good, quickly scoop his too-small litter box so the room stays fresh, and head out for the day.
Viv is in the great room, pouring another cup of coffee, looking much more herself now.
“Let’s have a day, shall we?” She sweeps her arm out toward the front door.
“Let’s!”
We round the corner to find Holly at the desk. She waves at us, sending a cheery good morning our way, and we push open the doors to the bright sunlight of Maple Cove.
“Okay, so I, for one, am very excited,” Viv says.
“What about?”
“Your reintroduction to the world of sex, of course. You're about to have one very happy vagina, my friend.” We wander down the street that leads to Main Street. I stop and stare at her, forever at a loss with her choice of words.
“What in the world…?”
“What? Are you serious? Luke is a hottie. Did you get a look at those hands? Whew! You are in for a pleasurable ride, my friend.” Viv is fanning her face as we wander down the sidewalk. People passing by stare wide-eyed at us as they catch bits and pieces of what she’s saying.
“Can we just… tone it down a bit? People are staring.” I look around.
“What people?” She pulls down her sunglasses and glances around. “The two we passed? Oh, please. They’re excited for your vagina too, I promise.”
“The last thing I need is to get involved with anyone, Viv. I’ve sworn off men, remember?”
Viv sighs, clearly exasperated with me. “We’re back to that, huh? I think a vacation fling is exactly what you need. Get yourself back in the game before your V-card is reinstated for lack of use.” She twirls her finger down toward my hips.
“Eh. I don’t know.”
“Why the hell not?” She stops in her tracks, turning to face me.
“Because we’re only here for ten days, and then we go home.” The excuse sounds so lame when I say it out loud.
“Exactly!” She tosses her hands in the air. “That’s why it’s called a vacation fling! No one’s asking you to marry the guy. Just give that little pleasure center of yours some action for a change. I mean, why not go for it? And with a guy who looks like Luke? Um, yes, please.”
I hold up my hand and start counting off each finger. “First, I really wish you’d stop fixating on my sex life. Second, what if he’s not interested?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me that. Have you seen yourself? Anyone with eyes can tell he’s interested. You’re a goddamn queen. Start acting like it.” Viv puts her glasses back on her face and resumes walking.
“And what about you? You and Josh seem to have some chemistry.”
“Mmm. To be determined, I suppose. Oh! Let’s check out this bookstore.” She points a few doors down to a little sign that reads “Maple Cove Books.” I follow along, shaking my head as we walk down the short path to the bookstore entrance.
A vacation fling—something quick, something easy, something to get my sex life back on the map. Could I do that? Might even be fun. As long as I don’t catch any feelings.
The problem is, from what I can tell, it might already be too late.