~First Dates~
BPOV"Rose, I feel sick to my stomach. I haven't gone on a date in I don't know how long." I have the phone gripped so tightly in my hand that my palms are getting sweaty.
"Listen chica, all you're doing is getting a cup of freaking coffee…although in this heat you might want to opt for iced coffee. I will never understand people who drink hot coffee or eat a cup of soup when it's ninety-something blazing degrees outside. That's just all sorts of wrong."
"ROSE! Focus, please! Does it really matter what the hell I'm drinking? I said I'm freaking out about going out with James! Could you talk me off the ledge here, please? Jeez!"
"Alright, alright, relax. I'm just trying to redirect your thoughts right now. You're going to be fine. You're meeting him there, so there's no pressure at all. I'm sure you look adorable. That sundress is fantastic, by the way. I have incredible taste. Anyway, you go, you sit, you chat about life and you come home! No big deal, I promise!"
She is so not getting it. Rose is trying to be helpful; I can see that, but still. I am a twenty-three year old maybe-virgin and, for all intents and purposes, this feels like my first date. What I did prior to the accident is of no consequence. I can't remember it. So basically, this is all very new to me. And I'm a bit nervous, so sue me.
"Bells, seriously. I think James seems like a guy who's been around the block a time or thirty, so I'm sure he'll help steer things along if you're feeling anxious. Just enjoy yourself. He was totally flirting with you when we met with him on Monday. You called him; he was excited to hear from you, right?"
"Yeah, I suppose. He sounded chipper on the phone."
"Exactly! So stop worrying so much. And STOP chewing on your fingernails! I can hear you over the phone! You will be fine. I really think you'll have fun. And who knows, maybe he'll be worthy of a second date!"
"Okay. Thanks for the pep talk, Rose. I've got to go if I want to be there on time. I'll call you later and let you know how it goes."
"Great. So remember, have fun, be flirty and most of all, NO BERATING YOURSELF, BELLA! He doesn't know you well enough to understand that's your humor. He will think you're schizo, always talking badly about yourself. We don't need your potential suitor thinking you're clinically insane, got it?"
Exasperated, I sigh, "Yes, Rose. I won't go Cybil on myself or worse, him. I got it. Any other choice gems of dating advice?"
"No, just have a great time. And bring Altoids. Nobody likes to kiss someone when they have coffee breath."
"Got it, Altoids- WAIT! You think I should kiss him already?"
"I'm hanging up Bella. We've gone through this. You will be fine. Go with the flow and do what feels right. Oh, I gotta go, Em's beeping in from the clinic."
"Okay, I'll call you later Roe, thanks again."
"You bet. Love you, girl. Have fun."
~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~
"Hey there! Were you waiting long?" As he spots me, a huge, dimpled grin comes across his face. James looks casually hot in his faded jeans, a navy blue Ron Jon t-shirt and flip-flops.
"No, I just got here. I was worried I'd be late meeting you. The stop and go traffic on the boulevard can be unforgiving, it seems."
"Oh yeah. Day or night from now until Labor Day it's a chore to get anywhere on this island quickly. Is this your first time on LBI?"
I take a deep breath and decide to be as honest as possible without giving away my all-encompassing, and extraordinarily pitiful life story.
"Well, it's the first time being here as an adult. I remember coming down during the summer when I was a young girl. My parents and I stayed up the road in Loveladies with the aunt whose memorial service you're catering in a couple of weeks."
"Oh, wow. I know I told you on Monday but again, I'm very sorry about your loss. Were you very close to her?"
"In recent years, yes. She helped me recuperate after a bad accident I had several years back. I was living with her in Moorestown for the last couple of years. Last year she was diagnosed with brain cancer and suddenly I became the caretaker as she became more and more debilitated."
"God, that must have been awful; watching her get weaker. Didn't you have any other family to help you out?" Wow. How sweet is he? He really seems sincere. I feel a sense of calm pass over me as I get a bit more comfortable with telling my tale of woe.
"Umm, no, it's just me. And she didn't have anyone else, either. I mean, of course I wanted to help her. She was painstakingly at my side for years so I was happy to do it for her. Well, not happy…ugh…I'm sort of rambling, I'm sorry."
"No, please! Don't be sorry. I asked. I wanted to know. I'm just sorry to hear that you were on your own, taking care of her and now that she's gone, you're essentially alone."
Help me, Rhonda. I knew, I KNEW this was going to get awkward. Less than five minutes and we're already donning our pity party hats, wallowing in the muck and mire that is my life. Awesome date fodder. He's gonna call me back, for sure!
"Well, anyway. I decided to sell the house in Moorestown and move down here to the shore. Figured I needed a change of scenery. And Rosalie and her husband Emmett will be here in Ship Bottom for the summer, so I'm not completely alone."
"And now you know me, too! Beyond coffee and catering stuff…I can be a fun guy to hang around. I'm really glad that you called me."
I smile, embarrassed, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. Okay, so maybe he will call me back.
~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~
 |
| Lucille's Candies, Brant Beach, New Jersey |
He didn't press me for too much information about my family, which I appreciated. I really didn't want to get into all of the histrionics on our first casual date.
He did ask how I knew Rosalie. I admitted that Emmett had been my physical therapist at the rehab where I learned to walk again after my car accident. Rosalie works as an occupational therapist in the rehab center, too, but only as needed. She actually is her own boss and works as an independent contractor for a couple of school districts. Her contracts ended last week with the end of the school year coming up, so that is why I felt comfortable being down on LBI, knowing she basically had her entire summer off and would be right down the road. I wasn't on her patient caseload for O.T., but she was there frequently enough, picking up Emmett and doing her own work, that we became great friends.
"So, after the memorial service is over, what are your plans for the summer?" James questions as we stroll along the beach; damp sand beneath our toes. The temperature is much less hot and humid today, and with the bright afternoon sun setting to our left, the sea breeze brings a chill across my shoulders every once in a while.
"Well, I spoke to a couple of New York City auction houses this week and Sotheby's will be coming down on Wednesday to take a look at my aunt's artwork, furniture, her jewelry…stuff like that. I plan to auction it all off and give the proceeds to her favorite charities. She was quite the philanthropist."
"Wow. If you have Sotheby's coming down to check out your stuff, why don't you hold onto some of that cash? You could be set for quite some time!"
I chuckle and shake my head. "Yeah…not really necessary when you're independently wealthy. My family was pretty well off, so I really don't need the money. May as well give it to the people who do, right?"
"Absolutely. You have a very generous spirit, Bella. I really like that," James compliments, causing me to blush.
"Well, thanks. It just seems like the right thing to do. So anyway…after the auction is finished, I'm going to redecorate the house a bit. Tone down the old lady-slash-museum feel and make it more of a beach house. Emmett's sister is an interior designer and she plans to help me out with my 'style and feng shui', whatever that is."
"Sounds like a fairly relaxing summer, if you ask me. Well, hopefully you'll be able to stay entertained when you aren't holed up in your house determining furniture placement and color schemes. You and your friends should come to my pub sometime. It's a great little place. We're really busy all summer, but I'll give you the five-star treatment if I see you."
I smile and blush again while the twisty feeling starts gnawing at me. Relax, Bella. Walking past the dune grass approaching the street where the coffee shop is, we prepare to say our goodbyes.
"I actually think I will try and get a part time job, too. I can't be stuck in my house all day everyday with paint samples and furniture catalogs. Emmett has to work every three days throughout the summer and Rose will do her therapy from time to time with private clients…so I would like to keep busy. I'm sure someplace will be looking for some extra summer help."
"Oh, definitely. You'll get scooped up soon," James ensures, helping me to feel bolstered in my plans.
 |
| Bella's Mercedes Benz SLK |
"Damn. This Mercedes is spectacular…beautiful car for a beautiful girl," James speaks, reaching for my hand and brushing his thumb over my knuckles. "I really had a great time with you this afternoon. I'd love to do it again soon if you'd like." He's standing less than a foot in front of me, staring directly into my eyes which keep darting all around because I can't remember a time when a guy looked at me like this.
"Yeah, definitely. I'd like that. I had fun, too. Thank you so much for a comfortable and easy time. I'm sure you could tell that I've not done this for a while."
"Well, I never said I was easy," he says with a smirk and a wink.
I immediately glow from pink to red to purple; I'm certain of it as I start to stutter.
"Uhhh, no, no, I didn't mean that…I…I just meant-"
"Bella, haha…I'm teasing you. You've been blushing all afternoon and I just wanted to see your pink cheeks once more before we went our separate ways."
"Oh, ha…okay. Sorry. I'm really bad at this. It's been a long time since I've been on a date." Was that a lie? Definitely not. It had been a long time…but seriously, I don't know if I've ever been on a date.
"Well, listen... I'd love to call you again…may I?"
"Yes, please do. I'd like that."
"Great…then you'll hear from me again very soon."
He leans in and gently presses his lips to mine. He feels soft and warm and tastes like a hint of peanut butter fudge. It's divine. He offers me two more quick, chaste kisses right after the first lingering one and pulls away with a deep grin that causes me to smile brightly.
"Thanks for a great time, Bella. I can't wait to do it again soon. "
"Me, too. Thanks, James."
"My pleasure. I'll call you soon, okay?"
"Yep...sounds good!"
He gives me a wave and a wink and turns to walk away. He doesn't have his car with him, so I assume that he's heading over to the catering house which I realize is around the block from where I'm parked.
Opening my car door, I let the air flow through to release some of the bottled-up heat. I touch my fingers to my lips and smile.
Sweet. Very sweet in every sense of the word. And completely sincere.
He never pushed me to talk when I didn't want to. He didn't get too physical and touchy-feely, which would've made me feel really uncomfortable and then, at the end, he offered me three very swift, lovely kisses to thank me for a good time.
Wow.
Even if I have no basis for comparison, I think this was a really good date.
I also think I could get used to this.
~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~
Shit. Shit. Shit. What the fuck am I gonna do now? I've lost two waitresses and a bartender in one day. We aren't even a week into the season, damn it. Time to go through those applications once more and see if there's anyone else still available who was interested enough to apply a few months ago.
"S'up, E?" James walks casually into the office and I notice a "cat who ate the canary" look on his face.
"A lot actually. I've had a shitty afternoon and the night hasn't even started yet…how about you?"
"I just had a date with my catering cutie," James offers.
"Oh, you mean the lovely customer you're going to treat with the utmost respect at least until her check clears, right?"
"Oh, fuck you, Edward. She's really nice. I just spent the last few hours with her. Had a great time, even. She's terrific. You'd like her."
"Ugh. Okay, sorry…I'm being an ass. Glad you had a good time, but I'm about to piss on it, you ready?"
"Ohhhhh…what now?" James sighs in exasperation and flops into the chair right in front of the office desk, annoyed that I've succeeded to ruin his good mood in less than three minutes. I think that's a record even for me.
"Erin, Caitlin and Colin got word this morning that their parents were in a car accident. They're all flying back to Ireland tomorrow and aren't coming back this summer. So we are down two waitresses and a bartender. Nice, huh? I mean, it really sucks that their parents got hurt, but now we're royally screwed. At least until I can find decent replacements."
James's normally dimpled grin morphs into Cheshire Cat mode. Didn't he hear me correctly?
"Why in the hell are you smiling, dude? Didn't you hear what I just said? We're screwed until further notice!"
"Oh, I heard you, E. But no worries. I've got a girl for you already."
"How'd you manage that? Weren't you on a date this afternoon? I only found out about the Daltons going back to Ireland this morning."
"I mean my date! She'd be perfect and she even mentioned that she's going to look for a part-time job in the next couple of weeks."
"Seriously, dude? I am NOT hiring your flavor of the week so that once you dump her, she's mopey and/or bitchy for the remainder of the summer. We're trying to keep this a sane and safe work environment. Did we learn nothing from the Tanya incident of 2005?" My brother is on drugs. It's the only logical explanation for his lapse in judgment.
 |
| The Chatterbox, 9th Street, Ocean City, NJ |
"Hahahaha. Edward, seriously. She'll be cool. She's funny, smart, attractive…all those things make her excellent for business! And by the way, Tanya wasn't playing with a full deck the summer she and I were waiting tables at the Chatterbox. If I had known she would've started chucking mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers at the table of girls I was waiting on, and then chasing it by dumping their cookies and cream milkshakes on their heads, I never would've told the boss to hire her that summer."
"James, you were sleeping with Tanya while consistently and openly flirting with your female customers and writing out your phone number on the backs of their bills! You're only supposed to write 'thank you' on the back of the damn bill, you moron!" My brother's naiveté is starting to give me a raging headache because I'm shaking my head so much at him. Freaking idiot.
"Semantics, Edward. Besides, I've grown up. I would never do that these days; especially because I own half of this damn bar! I'm serious, man. This girl's a cool chick and she'd fit in really well here. I'm sure she'd be a quick study to help us out for the summer. And who knows? If she works out well, maybe we can keep her on beyond the summer…she lives up in Loveladies permanently now."
"Ugh…and she's definitely the one we're doing the catering for in a couple weeks? The Harrington memorial?" I seriously cannot believe I am considering this.
"Yes, I told you that. Yes. Come oooon... quit sitting there staring at me like I've got a third eye! I just solved your problem! I've been here for less than ten minutes and I put out a huge fire! What else have ya got for me?"
"James. Seriously. I really want some continuity. I can't hire this girl and have you dick around. You've gotta promise me that you'll behave. And there's no fucking way I am purposely scheduling you two together. IF she takes the job and IF she works out in the first few training sessions, you two are not on at the same time. The last thing I want or need is to walk into the office and see you with her bent over my desk."
"Nice, E, really, nice. I already told you. She seems sweet and not the type who would bend over a desk at her job. And excuse me, but why am I even defending myself to you? I told you I'm not like that anymore. Fuck! I dated Charlotte for six months last year. I can do a relationship. I'm getting old. I can't keep up like I used to back in the day." I can tell James is getting desperate if he's pulling the "I'm getting old" card. Maybe he does really like her?
"You're twenty-three, asshole. You have a lot of living to do. But, whatever. If you think she's dating material, then I'm happy for you. Still, I'm not scheduling you two together. If you really like her, then you'll have to work harder to see each other on your off days or nights. You might overlap a couple hours here and there, but that's it, my friend."
"Deal. I can live with that. I'm gonna call her. Do you want to talk to her to make it more official?"
"Nope. I'm gonna trust you like you asked. You run this place just as much as I do. You know how to deal with a new hire. Just let me know what she says and when she can start if she decides to take it."
"Oh, she'll take it. I can be very convincing," James says with a glint in his baby blues.
"Mhmmm. That's what I'm afraid of."
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