8. Charli
CHARLI
I bust ass at work, while Andi and Sam are texting me selfies from the town beach.
Bitches. I cut out at one since I did the early morning opening and meet them there.
It’s nice to lay in the hot sand and not think about my life choices.
I have a late start tomorrow, so I have a little leeway tonight.
I’m totally off in a few days. Can’t wait.
We walk the beach, sit in our chairs and people watch, and snack on salty chips and junk.
They debate the merits of watermelon Del’s versus the classic lemon flavor while I stare at the waves rolling in.
We stay until about four, then we part ways to get ready for our evening out.
Andi: I need a pic of your outfit. Make sure it’s tight and shows off your chest.
Me: Ugh- everything shows off my chest.
Sam: She’s right, I’m going for a white sundress, but you should do something in black. Andi’s got on a romper.
I do my makeup and go for a black cat eye with a deep red lip.
I flick through my closet, but I'm not really into it. I know they’ll drag me out anyway.
There’s a halter neck black dress that’s short and shows some side boob.
I can wear a tape on push-up bra with it since there’s a low back too.
These girls cannot go free for a whole night out.
I choose platform sandals to complete the outfit.
I pile my hair in a high bun and put on some silver jewelry.
I text a picture of my final look and get some fire emojis back from them.
Andi: You should walk tonight because you might not be able to drive.
Me: No- pick me up please. These shoes. :(
Andi: Ok- Pop is going to get you and then drop us off. We can walk later when we don’t care about how we look.
Me: I’m starving and want some food.
We arrive at the Beach Rose Pub and get a corner booth in the back.
It's still early, so we order some food, going for burgers and fries all around. After chowing down, the waiter clears our dishes and I get up to use the restroom. On my way back I pass by the bar and hear a familiar laugh. Tyler has his back to me and he’s with a couple of other guys.
But he’s laughing with a dark haired woman.
She’s got her hand on his arm and is giggling.
Holy shit. What happened to I love you and I want to have a life with you and all my friends are getting married and having babies? two nights ago. I’m not mad that he’s moving on so quickly. I’m mad at myself for hanging on to nothing for so long.
I turn and storm to the table. “We need to get out of here. Tyler is over there and he is with a woman and I don’t want to see him now.”
Andi sets her drink down and puts her hands flat on the table. “Oh my God, really? Do you know her?”
“That’s fine, we’re done here anyway,” Sam says, trying not to cause a scene.
“No, I don’t know her, and I’ll meet you out front. I don't want to face him and have an awkward conversation in public.”
“It’s a small town. You’ll run into him eventually,” counters Sam.
“Don't even go there right now please,” I say as I gather my things and make sure he’s still by the bar.
“Sorry, I’ll pay and finish up here. Andi, you go with her,” Sam says as she grabs the billfold and passes it to the waiter.
“Sure thing,” Andi says as she stands up. We sneak to the front door and head down the street.
“Was it all just a lie? He said he wanted a life with me. Then he just goes out looking for a hook-up,” I blurt once we’re past the pub.
“You did say that you didn’t want to be together anymore, Charli,” Andi replies as we amble down the sidewalk. The town is busy, music blasts from an outdoor restaurant on the corner and cars zip down the street. Groups of people wander up past us as we walk quickly to the wharf area.
“I know, but I'm just so confused. Why is it bothering me that he is talking to some other woman? Did he want me or just someone to settle down with?” I ask as we wait at the corner for Sam to meet us.
“You may never know.” Her eyes soften at me. “But do you care? Aren’t you done with him?”
My stomach rolls, uneasiness flowing through me. I stare at the harbor, the sun sinking slowly. “Yeah. I am done. I hate feeling like a fool.”
Andi clasps my hands. “You aren’t. He probably needs an ego boost after you shut him down. It’s time to focus on the new you.”
Sam appears behind a couple walking hand in hand. Ugh. I want to gag. “Alright, that’s all set. Want to go to The Rooftop? I made a reservation for us for a sofa seat at 8:30. It’s only eight now.” She pauses waiting for my response. “Plus you know Ty doesn't like that place.”
Andi smiles reassuringly at me. “Let’s just go, we can wait at the bar if our lounger isn’t ready yet.”
I smooth my hands down my dress removing nonexistent wrinkles. “I might call it a night.”
“Come on, stay out with us. We came all the way down for the weekend,” Andi begs, her palms steepled in a prayer position.
“Fine.”
Sam grabs my arm and starts walking. “Let’s do it.”
* * *
The walk to the Seascape Hotel spurs me on. If Tyler can talk to other women, I can meet someone tonight. We enter the lobby of the hotel and take the elevators to The Rooftop Bar. There are twinkle lights around the edge and the deck has several umbrellas in case it rains.
A band is set up in the back corner and the deck stretches around the whole top of the hotel, giving a perfect view of the harbor.
Polished wooden tables dot the rooftop along with wrought iron chairs.
Loungers are off to the side under a wide awning and a large rectangular bar is in the center under a covered top.
I make a beeline for the bar. Fuck the high road and taking the night off, I’m drinking tonight. The bartender smiles as I approach. My eyes are probably wild at this point. I order three shots and turn to the girls who trail behind me. “Cheers!”
Sam pats my arm. “Are you sure? You’re working tomorrow, right?”
“Hell yes. And yes I am, but I don’t care about that now.”
We clink glasses and I say, “To summer!” before we knock them back.
I slam my shot glass on the bar, turn to the right, and startle.
It's the gorgeous blonde guy with the sailboat. He’s leaning back in his bar chair with a smirk on his face.
His white t-shirt is tight across his muscled chest, and dark gray shorts show off his strong thighs. It looks like he doesn’t skip leg day.
God, he looks good, like really good, like mistake good.
“Hey,” is all he says.
“Hey, yourself,” I purr.
Andi leans over my shoulder. “Do you two know each other?”
He lifts his chin at her. “I’m Gage, I'm running a charter boat for the summer here. Nice to meet you. Charli and I met this week.”
Her smile widens to epic proportions.
“I’m Andi and this is Sam. We're in town for the weekend to see Char here.”
He flashes that perfect smile at her. “This is my friend Harvey. He’s a crew member on a big boat here.”
“Hey.” Harvey leans in and waves as he munches on some pretzels.
The night just got interesting. The band fires up their instruments and people start to mingle on the dance floor.
They start playing and with a conspiratorial wiggle of her eyebrows, Andi says, “Let’s dance.
” We join hands and make our way over to the space that has been cleared for a dance floor.
Each time I turn, I see Gage looking at us, his eyes following me. It feels exciting.
Andi pulls me close, her breath hot in my ear. “So yummy.”
“Yeah, delicious,” I say with a sigh.
“You’re single now,” Sam reminds me as she shimmies past.
“I am totally available.” Those shots are kicking in apparently.
Andi grabs my wrist, twirling me about. “Shake that ass for him,” she taunts.
“I'm just looking.” And I can’t help but peek over by the bar and see his eyes still on me. His eyes on me make me self-conscious, but excited at the same time.
Andi lifts her eyebrows. “Well, so is he.”
Sam laughs. “Totally, but she could do worse. He’s good looking if you’re into the blonde beach bum look.”
After dancing, we settle into our sofa seats and get some sipping drinks.
The night air’s cool and there's a little breeze. Eventually Gage and Harvey join us on the opposing couch. We order some apps and another round of drinks. Now that it’s fully dark, the band gets into dance mode and the mood is buzzing.
The late spring breeze drifts past us as we all join in on the dance floor, as the band plays “Watermelon Sugar.” Gage finds his way to dance behind me, his hands on my hips and swaying his body with mine.
I push back into him a little more and his fingers dig into the flesh on my hips.
We move to the music and he leans his chest into my bare back.
His breath hits my neck in the cool night air, sending a shiver down my spine.
He feels different than Tyler. He's strong and athletic, probably from pulling lines on the boat all day. A nice scruff of a beard is on his chin and his skin is already tan from living on a boat. He’s casual and relaxed and lets me take the lead.
I turn to face him and he keeps his hands on my hips as I link my arms around his neck to look up into his dark brown eyes, like melted pools of chocolate.
I can’t even remember the last time I danced with another guy.
It’s doing things to me though, that’s for sure.
It’s making me feel alive, my body thrumming with desire.
“You're a good dancer.”
“So are you,” I say, our faces inches apart.
He leans closer, his lips nearly brushing my ear. “You smell so good.”
“Thanks,” is all I can get out. Heat rises in my cheeks.
The song finishes up and the band begins a slower one, “Lover.” We stay on the floor rooted together.
He moves his right hand around to my back and rubs my bare skin before settling lower, right above the curve of my ass.
His large hand envelopes mine, his skin rough from work.
He rubs my thumb back and forth with his.
I keep one hand around his neck as he presses his body into mine and we sway slowly.
I rest my head on his shoulder and breathe in his scent, soap and salt.
He nuzzles into the side of my head and speaks into my ear.
“So what about your date the other night? Are you with him?”
I stiffen slightly and he stays firm. My body is lit up with the drinks we’ve had, but I’m still aware of what I’m doing. I’m single and trying to find out what I want next.
“No, not any more.” I sigh.
He squeezes my hand and rubs my back in circles, his hand sinking lower. “Are you seeing anyone else?”
What I’m doing is enjoying the closeness of our bodies. I like it, I like it a lot. I melt into him a little more. His frame is solid and strong. I’m supposed to be working on myself, not dancing and flirting with some stranger. “No.”
I play with the hair at the back of his neck. It’s so long that I can run my fingers through it. His fingers drift up to my back and he scratches the skin lightly, sending a shiver up my spine.
“That feels so nice. Don’t stop,” he whispers to me.
“Same,” I breathe out into his chest.
Fuck, this is intimate. I want to stay here dancing with him and not think about other things in my life.
He presses me closer, the only thing separating us is our summer clothing.
My boobs are flat against his chest now, or as flat as they can be.
I wonder if he can feel my nipples poking him through my stupid press-on bra.
His abs are like a board and I imagine dragging my fingers across them.
I lean into his body, enjoying how perfectly I fit.
The song is up and it changes to a faster paced song.
We break apart, the night air hitting me where his body was against mine.
I stand there sort of dazed as we look at each other.
The people around us on the dance floor are moving more quickly.
I’m in a fog, like I’m floating on a cloud thinking about how it felt to be in his embrace.
Sam grabs my hand and we go to the restrooms while Andi stays back and moves to the sofas with the guys.
She shuts the door and leans her back against it before cutting to the core.
“Charli, are you going home with him tonight?” She plants her hands on her hips and waits for my response as I look in the mirror and stare at my reflection.
I check my hair and tuck a loose strand back into my bun. “I asked myself the same thing out on the dance floor and I don’t have an answer. I just want to have fun and not think too much about anything.”
Her face softens in the mirror. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” she says quietly.
“Flirting — yes. Hooking up?” I chew my lip and look back at her. “I’m not ready for that yet.”
“You’ll know when it’s time.” She moves to my side and wraps her arm around my waist.
I heave a breath and set my hands on the counter. “It was nice to be admired by someone else for a few dances. Someone who doesn't know me or have expectations of me, who is interested in only me. I haven’t ever been serious with anyone besides Tyler. I’m not that experienced.”
She rubs my back. “I get it.”
A small smile creeps across my face as I wash my hands in the sink. “Plus, he’s really cute.”
“Are you going to have a summer fling?” Sam asks, interrupting my foggy thoughts.
I take a deep breath and face her. “I told you before, I only met him this week outside of the café.”
“Well, it’s my guess that you’ll be getting to know him better very soon,” Sam says, grabbing a wad of paper towels to wipe down the wet sink.
Am I over Tyler or was this just a reaction to seeing him with another woman? “Look, I just danced with some guy at the bar. That’s it, a couple of dances.”
Sam clears her throat and leans into me closely. “Andi and I want you to be happy, and we’re not here all the time. It’s okay to want someone new too. You aren’t with Tyler anymore.”
I shake my head and turn to her, my hip braced against the countertop. “Yeah, if he can move on, so can I.” I want to believe it, but maybe I’m judging myself instead of letting myself feel.