“That’s what I thought.” One year off wasn’t a bad estimate.
“You’re twenty-two, right?”
“How’d you guess?”
“It wasn’t really a guess.” He turned slightly red. “I asked around about you and found out you’d just graduated from UVA.”
“Yeah, that’s me. Using my degree so well.”
“What’s your degree in?” He unwrapped a sandwich.
“Chemistry.”
“Chemistry? Does that explain the science of bartending?”
I laughed. “Maybe a little.”
“What do you plan to do with it? Graduate school?”
“The original plan was med school.” My stomach churned when I said those two words.
“Original plan? What changed?” He watched me as though he cared about the answer.
“I got rejected everywhere I applied.”
His eyes widened slightly. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve heard the process is hard. Are you going to try again?”
“I’m not sure. My parents want me to.”
“Are they doctors?”
“My dad is. He works at UVA Med.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah, and before you ask, yes, I applied there, and yes, I got rejected there too.”
He picked up his wine again. “I wasn’t going to ask.”
A smile slipped out despite the sour mood I felt threatening me. Usually, thinking about that pile of rejection letters depressed me. I’d managed to pull off decent enough grades, but my MCAT scores didn’t cut it. At least that’s what admissions told my dad. It’s kind of sad when your father knows the admissions committee well enough to talk to them about you, but they still don’t let you in.
“That sucks, but on a positive note, it brought you here.”
“Yeah, I guess it did.” I set aside the stem of the first strawberry.
“Want another?”
“Sure.” I licked some chocolate off my bottom lip. He watched me intently.
He handed me another strawberry without taking his eyes off my lips.
I waited for him to kiss me, but he didn’t. He watched me with the hint of a smile.
“So what about you?”
“What about me?” His eyes moved to meet mine.
“What brought you here?”
“Work.”
“Where were you before this?”
“Raleigh. About a year ago I was offered a promotion if I’d move to this office. Move to the beach and make more money? It seemed like a no-brainer.” He balled up the plastic wrap from his sandwich.
“But it wasn’t as good as you expected?” Something about his expression made me ask.
“The summer is great and all, but this place is dead in the off-season.”
“What happened to the quiet, peaceful lifestyle?”
“I had to try.”
I shifted, still searching for a comfortable way to sit without flashing him. “I take it you had a lonely winter?”
“Very.” He reached out and took my hand. “I’m hoping this winter will be different.”
“Oh? Why would it be?” I decided to play coy. It was our first date, and for all he knew it would be our only.
“Well, I met this girl. She’s pretty cool, and she just told me she’s sticking around.” He rubbed his thumb in small circles on my hand.
“She’s pretty cool, huh? Well, if she caught your attention, she’s lucky.”
“I was thinking the same thing about me catching her attention.”
A mix of sexual tension, and maybe need, hung in the air between us. I wanted to get rid of it. “Where were you working today?”
“Down in Nags Head. I was only supposed to be dropping off some papers. If I’d had any idea how late I’d run—”
“It’s okay, Colin. I was just curious.”
“We’re building some new condos down there.”
“Oh, cool.”
A strange look crossed his face, like he was debating something internally. “Are you going to keep living in your current apartment, or do you want to move?”
“I can’t afford any of the places you’re selling.”
“That’s not what I meant. I assumed sharing walls with those guys was temporary.”
“My time here is still temporary—just slightly longer.”
“Well, I know the rental market here pretty well too, if you’re ever looking, let me know.”
“Thanks, but I think I’m good.” Living with Macon and Brody for longer than a summer was never in the plans, but it worked. The living arrangement was low drama, and I liked our place enough.
“Are you going to eat something else? Wine and chocolate-covered strawberries are great and all, but there’s plenty more.”
“Can I see that pasta salad?”
He passed over the container along with a fork. I scooped out a little on a plate. I wasn’t particularly hungry, but I didn’t want him to think I didn’t eat normal stuff.
We sat for a while longer, talking and eating. The picnic was nice, comfortable. It was like I already knew him.
“Thanks for coming today.” He held out a hand to help me up. We folded up the blanket, and Colin picked up the repacked picnic basket.
“Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time.”
“I’m glad. Does that mean you’d want to go out again sometime?”
Usually I’d give a noncommittal answer, but I wasn’t in the mood for games. “Yeah. I would.”
He smiled, taking my hand with the one not currently holding the basket and blanket. “Maybe we’ll have dinner next time?”
“Sure. That sounds great.”
He led me to the car, and we headed back toward town. I relaxed against the seat, once again enjoying the wind. I could get used to being driven around in a convertible. He pulled up outside of my building and got out.
“You don’t have to walk me up.”
He closed my door. “I want to.”
I accepted the hand he offered, and we strolled up. We stopped outside the door.
“I’ll call you.” He kissed my cheek. The gesture was sweet, but I expected more.
I smiled. “I look forward to it.” I walked in, closing the door behind me. If he had such a great time and wanted to see me again, why wouldn’t he really kiss me?
The condo was empty, saving me from having to replay the entire date to my roommates. For guys, they were so nosy about my life. It was three-thirty, and I didn’t have to be in to work until six. I decided to change into a bikini and lay out on the deck. I didn’t even bother to bring a book with me. I was having trouble getting into a good book since graduation. I closed my eyes and decided to enjoy a rare nap. I woke up with a start when I heard the balcony door open.