I gave her a great big smile. “Actually, it was more than that.” I explained everything I’d learned about the glycemic index and carbs versus protein.
The guys were interested, and asked lots of questions about whole grains and fat grams.
“Of course, exercising helps, too,” I added.
“Right. And don’t forget our run tomorrow,” Connor said. He was sitting further away from Cassidy, who was pouting and glaring at her empty drink.
“Well, I don’t have to work hard at it at all,” she said. “This all comes naturally.”
Connor shook his head and let out a laugh. “There’s really not much natural about you. Have fun, guys. I’m headed back to the condo, too. I’ve got a running date tomorrow morning.” He winked at me and pushed away from the table. “Want a ride home, Natalie?”
I nodded and handed my keys to Micki. “See you guys later.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” Cassidy said sarcastically.
“I know you will,” Connor said. “You have fun without me all the time.”
I followed Connor to his car, wondering if the churning in my stomach was because of the alcohol or the fact I was driving home with him and Cassidy wasn’t.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m really embarrassed.” He held open my door for me.
“You didn’t say anything wrong.”
He climbed into the driver’s seat and stared out the windshield before starting the car. “I’m embarrassed that I’m dating someone so ugly.”
I snorted. “Cassidy is hardly ugly.”
“She is on the inside. How did I end up with someone so rude? The minute someone besides her gets a little attention, she turns into a brat. She tried to hurt you tonight and that was terrible.”
“So, why are you going out with her?” God. I couldn’t believe I’d asked it, drunk or not.
“Good question,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot. “One that I can’t answer. I don’t think she’s ever had to work hard for a thing in her life.” He looked over at me. “It’s really impressive what you did. You shouldn’t be embarrassed.”
I looked down, more embarrassed than ever.
He walked me to my door when we got back to the condo. “You gonna make it tomorrow morning? I understand if you need to sleep off a hangover.” He reached out and grabbed my hand.
I squeezed back, wanting to thank him for being such a good friend. No way was I missing a running date with Connor. Didn’t matter if I had to stop to puke, I’d be there. “I’ll meet you behind the condo at seven.”
***
I thought I’d have a hard time falling asleep, but I didn’t even hear Micki and Cassidy come in. Before I knew it, the alarm was going off and I got dressed and headed outside, pleased to feel the cool morning air on my skin. The cool feeling disappeared when I saw Connor headed my way.
“Glad you made it,” he said.
“I think it’ll help with the hangover. I don’t usually drink much. But last night…” I rubbed my temples.
“We all needed a drink last night.”
I reached down and touched my toes. I never tired of the sensation, plus it was a good excuse not to face him. “I’ll feel better after a run, that’s for sure.”
After stretching, we jogged down to the shore. “Let’s head for the pier,” he said.
We started off at a medium pace, and the fresh ocean air felt incredible flooding my lungs. My headache disappeared and my mood lifted. I wished I’d known years ago how good running made me feel. Could’ve had a whole different life. I shook off the regret and sprinted ahead of Connor.
“Wait up!” he yelled behind me.
That only made me run faster, but he did finally catch up, and then we fell into the same rhythm. My ponytail swung behind me as we ran, and I caught him glancing at me a few times.
I closed my eyes, running along, lost in the moment. When I opened them, Connor wasn’t by me. I slowed down and looked behind me. He was twenty yards back, tying his shoe. I waited for him, but he was still squatting down. Maybe he’d lost his key?
I planted my hands on my hips and walked back to him. “What’s up?”
He smiled up at me and held out his hand. Something shiny glinted in his palm. “I spotted a piece of blue beach glass. That’s your favorite, right?”
He stood up and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed and I had to think of my hilarious calendar featuring puppies dressed in formal wear to stop from crying. The poodle in pumps cracked me up every time. Luckily, it made me smile as I stared at the hunk of glass in my hand. In my twenty-six years, this was the nicest thing any boy, teen, or man had ever given me. “Thanks,” I managed to choke out. I held the piece of glass up to the sun. It was a good-sized hunk of cobalt blue.
He bent down again and plucked a smaller, clear piece from the sand. “There’s a bunch of it, right here in these rocks. I think it’s from a wine bottle a pair of honeymooners tossed off their yacht.” He grinned.
I stooped down next to him. “This brown piece must’ve been the last bottle of whiskey from a ship marooned on an island.”
Together, we picked up bits of brown glass and a few smooth, green pieces telling stories about where they came from. I found a tiny crab and let it crawl across the palm of my hand. “I should keep you. I love crab cakes.”
He laughed. “You’d need about a hundred of those for one cake. I know a great place not far from here that serves the world’s best crab cakes. Maybe we can go there for dinner tonight.”
I let the crab scoot off my hand onto the sand. I looked up at Connor. “I don’t think I’ll be joining the group for dinner tonight. I need a break from your girlfriend. Sorry.”
He reached his hand to me and pulled me up. “Me too. I forgot about her for a moment. I was thinking about dinner, just you and me.”
A wave of delight—chased by a mound of guilt—hit my gut. “Okay, she’s not the nicest person in the world, but I couldn’t do that.”
“I know. It would just be nice, that’s all.” He dumped his pieces of glass in my hand and I tucked them in my pocket.
“Wanna keep running, or should we walk back?” he asked.
“Let’s walk.” We headed back for the condo and talked about favorite vacations we’d taken, the inexplicable popularity of reality TV, and whether brownies or chocolate chip cookies were the perfect dessert.
“Not that I eat those very often anymore,” I admitted.
“Once in a while, I hope. Gotta live your life.”
“But not as a fat girl again. Back then? A guy like you never would have talked to me.” I looked away from him and thought about the Labrador in a tiara who grinned at me for all of March.
Connor grabbed my arm. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. “Well, I would have been a fool. Because you’re even sweeter and funnier and more interesting than you are pretty.”
I sucked in a breath. The surf crashed against the shore, the birds cried overhead and we stared at each other for a moment. Not that I had any experience, but I imagined this would be the right time to place my hand on his chest. Or maybe his cheek. His butt cheek? No. Shoulder, maybe, and look up with a coy smile. But I took a step back from him, because he was still dating my co-worker, snot or not.
“Thanks, Connor. I hope I can meet someone like you someday.” And then I ran off to the condo so he couldn’t see my tears.
Images of dogs in drag only work for so long; you just know some of those poor pooches are boys.
It was nine o’clock when I got back, and Micki was in the kitchen dipping her finger in a jar of peanut butter. Cassidy was in the shower.
“How was your run?” she asked. “With Connor,” she added, with a sexy tone in her voice.
“Fine. Good.” I took the beach glass out of my pocket and dumped it in an empty wine glass on the counter.
“What’s this?”
“We found some beach glass.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “You and Connor went beachcombing? How sweet.”
“It wasn’t like that.” Even though it had been for a moment.
“Don’t let the Queen of Everything in there know. She’s trying to pretend like she doesn’t care that Connor brought you home last night—and went running with you this morning. But I know a jilted diva when I see one. I think it was her talons that gave her away.”
I headed for my bedroom and looked back at her. “Thanks for the warning, but I did nothing wrong.” Guilt blinked its beady eyes because I’d been thinking about five different kinds of wrong.
Micki chased me into the bedroom. “Listen, you really rocked that dress last night. It’s time to step up your game.” She pulled a black bikini from behind her. “It’s brand new—I couldn’t decide which one to buy. But I know it would look awesome on you.” She handed it to me. “Consider it a thank you gift for making Cassidy squirm last night. That was fun.”
I was ready to say, no, no I couldn’t. But I remembered the moment last night when I returned from the restroom, with my chin up and shoulders back. I liked that feeling. And I liked the way Connor looked at me then.
I snatched the bathing suit from her. “Why not?”
Micki clapped. “Yay! I’ll meet you down at the beach.”
I closed the door and put on the bikini, examining myself from every angle in the mirror hanging on the back of the door. I jumped up and down a few times, expecting to see something jiggle, but nothing did. I stared at myself in the mirror; the little girl who’d been teased for her big thighs and her wide load since she was seven was staring back at me.
I grabbed my cover-up and slipped it on. I’d take it off later. I would. I needed to work up my courage, first.
Cassidy was still in her room getting ready. I grabbed my beach bag and towel and headed down to the beach. I found Micki and settled in next to her.
Connor and his friends were set up a little ways down from us. I felt Connor watching me, but wouldn’t look his way. Maybe I’d been wrong about him. What kind of guy flirts with his girlfriend’s coworker—while they’re on vacation together?
Cassidy sauntered down in a gold bikini. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a twist that was meant to look casual, but clearly took some time and significant hair product to achieve. I held my breath, expecting her to come over and give me shit. But she made her way over to Connor and the gang.
She stood in front of them, spreading out her towel and giving the group a good look at her thong. I snuck a peak at Connor, who was frowning.
I’m not really sure why I did it, but I stood up, pulled off my cover-up and walked down to the water.
“And say hello to the new Natalie,” Micki said quietly, with a polite clap.
I looked at her over my shoulder. “And say goodbye to the old me.” Taking my time walking out to the water, I sensed someone coming behind me.
“Hey, wanna take a walk?” Jared asked.
I smiled. “Maybe later. Right now, I want to go for a swim.” I looked back at the guys. They were all watching, and so was Cassidy, although she snapped her head away when I caught her gaze.
Oh, yeah. Definite cubicle change next week
.
I waded out until the water was chest deep and realized how much colder the ocean seemed with my entire stomach exposed for the first time in my life. Then I wondered how my bikini would hold up while swimming. I dove under water and started doing a simple breaststroke, when I saw Connor sloshing in toward me.
I stopped swimming so he could catch up. He grinned that dazzling grin of his. “You didn’t tell me you’re training for a triathlon.”
“Just trying to cool off.” In more ways than one.
“You do look very hot in that bikini.”
“That would be a very welcome comment—if not for your girlfriend watching us from the beach. Do you have any idea how much work is going to suck next week?”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. In my mind, we’re finished. I just can’t break up with her here, not on vacation. But I will. Very soon.”
“Very thoughtful,” I said. And probably total crap. He wouldn’t dump her. Who would?
“And I’m hoping you’ll go out with me when I do.”
“Sure. Call me after you split.” I wasn’t buying this at all.
Leave Cassidy for me?
I almost snorted.
He smiled. “Great. And please come to dinner with us tonight. I’ve got something I want to show you. Something I want to show everyone.”
“Okay.” And I swam away from him. Because I’d been wrong. He seemed so nice, but Connor had to be a smooth-talking liar. Guys like him don’t go out with girls like me.
***
But I wasn’t missing dinner. And given another shot at Micki’s dress collection, I picked out the strapless red dress I’d thought I couldn’t handle the night before. Micki straight-ironed my hair, and this time I left it down.
Cassidy popped her head in the room. “Aww, look. It’s like you guys are back in sixth grade.”
“Yep,” Micki said. “Want me to do yours?”
Cassidy laughed. “No, thanks. I want my hair to look nice.” She wandered down the hall.
“I don’t know why I agreed to come this weekend. She’s being such a jerk.”
Micki put her hands on her hips. “Natalie, I hate to say this, but I think she liked being your friend because in the past, you always made her look better. And now...you look better than she does.”
I stood up and smiled at myself I the mirror. “Sucks to be her.”
Micki bit her lip. “You know what would look perfect with that dress?”
“What?”
“Cassidy’s Manolo sandals. I know you wear the same size.”
I shook my head. “Oh, I couldn’t.”
“You can and you will. She’s never even worn them. She’ll probably forget they’re hers.” She scampered down the hall to sneak them out of Cassidy’s room and I was feeling spiteful enough to wear them.
***
Cassidy did not notice the shoes. She was too busy looking at herself in the reflection of the mirror in the restaurant lobby. She had on more makeup and higher heels than she did the night before. “Connor loves me in this dress,” she said, smoothing down the silky black material.
But I was the one he was watching when we walked in and met them by the hostess station. Cassidy popped up on her toes to kiss his cheek. She looked back at me and smiled. “Doesn’t Natalie look cute? Micki spent hours getting her ready.”