The Other Side of Someday (23 page)

I walked through the lobby and out a set of doors overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I was surprised to see how empty the pool area was. There were a few guests catching some sun, as well as some people grabbing a late lunch on the patio, but it wasn’t crowded like it would normally be during the busy summer tourist season. Finding a vacant lounge chair by the pool that had a great view of the entire area, including the pool bar, I made myself comfortable, pulled out my e-reader, and settled in for my afternoon of stalking…I mean, observing my blind date.

After reading a page or two of my book, I stretched, craning my neck to scan the area as inconspicuously as possible. James Bond, I was not, but for my first attempt at spying on someone, I was feeling good about how well I was doing. I could have wandered around with his picture pulled up on my phone, comparing it to each person, but I remained firmly seated.
 

A child squealed as he ran from his parents and jumped into the pool, catching my attention. And that’s when I saw Mr. Blind Date. He and three other men were sitting at a table underneath an awning overlooking the ocean. He was facing me and was gloriously shirtless. I could tell this was a man who took pride in his appearance. His skin was dark, probably from working outside on various photo shoots. He seemed to be completely carefree and at ease as he laughed and spoke with the other men at his table, all of them shirtless and wearing swim trunks. But the sight of Owen put the rest of them to shame, their beer bellies protruding over the drawstrings of their shorts. But Owen… There was no beer belly. There was no belly at all. His muscles were well-defined, all the way to the little bit of abdominals I could faintly make out from yards away. I just wished the table wasn’t obstructing my view of how he looked below the waist.

He was the picture of perfection. Perfect hair. Perfect smile. Perfect body. He was the type of guy any girl would drool over…but it did nothing for me. I thought he was
too
good-looking. He looked untouchable, unreachable. Or maybe I just wanted to think that because, no matter how many times I kept telling myself we were better as friends, I was still drawn to Sebby. I compared every potential date to him. It needed to stop.

“No, Baylee. Owen’s hot. You’re going out with him tonight. Enough with the Sebby thing. Girlfriend, Baylee. He has a girlfriend. Friends. That’s all you can be.”

I returned my attention to the e-reader in front of me, glancing up every so often to catch a glimpse of Owen across the pool.
He has a great laugh
, I said to myself whenever someone he was with said something amusing.
I like a guy with a sense of humor
…
Like Sebby.

“How’s the view?” a voice cut through my thoughts.

I snapped my head to my left, my eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. “What are you doing here?” I shrieked. “Are you stalking me?”

A smile crossed Sebby’s face as he leaned back in the lounge chair and signaled a waiter. “What do you want to drink?”

I continued staring at him, my mouth gaping open. I didn’t know if it was the surprise of seeing Sebby at that precise moment or the fact that he was dressed in something other than his usual cargo shorts and t-shirt. My gaze roamed over the tan suit jacket he wore over a crisp light blue shirt, matching pants that hung perfectly from his waist, and brown designer shoes that probably cost more than most people made in a month. He was clean-shaven, his skin appearing smooth to the touch.

And I
really
wanted to touch.

“Or do you want me to order for you?” He narrowed his eyes, waiting for me to respond, but I was without words. My heartbeat seemed to fill the pool area with its increasing
thump, thump, thump,
and a tingling sensation settled in my fingertips, my hands yearning to feel Sebby’s skin. “Baylee?”

“S-something with bubbles,” I stuttered.

“You got it.” He turned to the waiter and ordered champagne and a beer, ignoring my bewildered expression. Several protracted moments passed while Sebby simply sat on the lounge chair next to me, a gratified smirk on his face. Unable to resist the temptation, I stole a glance at him every few seconds. He was the epitome of eye candy.

“Are you going to answer my question?” I barked, snapping out of my Sebby-in-a-suit-induced daze.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” He flipped his sunglasses down and relaxed into the chair, allowing the mid-November rays to warm his face. “I’m not stalking you.”

“Then what are you doing here?” I glared at him. He remained blissfully carefree and serene. I could see his eyes closed behind his sunglasses. He seemed so unhurried, I expected him to start snoring at any moment.

Able to sense my presence all but hovering over him as I waited for him to explain why he was here, he finally opened his eyes. “I was supposed to have a lunch meeting with my assistant here, but he got stuck at the studio.
That’s
why I’m here.” He raised his sunglasses so I could peer into his eyes. “Not because I followed you from our building. That would just be creepy,” he added, giving me a maniacal look.

“Knock it off.” I smacked him playfully before settling back into my own lounge chair. “Sounds like you need a new assistant.”

“He’s pretty useless anyway. I’m very hands on, ya know,” he explained slyly, invading my personal space. Actually, it wasn’t as much of an invasion as it was a welcome encroachment. I would grant Sebby an easement onto my property any day of the week.

The combination of his body wash and toothpaste found their way to my senses, and I lost myself in the intoxicating aroma. I tried to slow my racing heart, but it was useless. I couldn’t control the way my body reacted to him. He had a magnetic pull on me, making me want to forget everything for a minute…that things were complicated, that we were neighbors, that we had a strong bond I could possibly destroy if we pursued any sort of romantic relationship…

That he had a girlfriend.

Our server returned, breaking the tension between us. I readjusted my position, straightening my spine and pulling away from Sebby. Placing our drinks on the table between us, the server handed him the bill to sign. Once he left, Sebby raised his beer and I followed suit with my champagne. “To a fortunate change in circumstances.”

Meeting his piercing gray-blue eyes, my gaze lingering just slightly too long on his full lips, I said, “I’ll drink to that.” Taking a sip of the delicious champagne, I leaned back into my lounge chair and kept my vision trained on Owen, trying to ignore Sebby’s proximity.

“So, who’s the guy?” he asked after several quiet moments.

“What guy?” I feigned ignorance.

“The one you keep looking at over there.” He nodded toward where Owen was sitting. “Think he’s hot?”

“No,” I responded. “Well, actually, yes. I find him to be absolutely delicious. God-like, if you really want to know.” I avoided his eyes, pretending to read. I could feel his penetrating gaze on me, studying my every movement. It didn’t matter that we had only known each other for a few months. Sebby could read me better than anyone I had ever known.

“
Baylee
!” he exclaimed. “That’s
him
, isn’t it? The blind date Cora set you up on!”

“Keep your voice down.” I lightly slapped him. “He might hear you, you ass!”

“You just accused me of stalking you, but look at you!” He chuckled heartily. “You’re giving him the
Rear Window
treatment!”

“I can always count on you to make a movie reference.”
 

“How did you know he would be here?”

I shrugged, trying to be dismissive. “I
may
have found his profile on Facebook. And said profile
may
have been set to public. And I
may
have seen that he checked-in here and I
may
have wanted to scope him out for myself. I prefer to call it research, not stalking.”

I gauged his reaction, the silence awkward as he contemplated my words. Finally, he laughed, the sound loud and full of life. “Whatever you need to tell yourself to make you feel less creepy. Let’s just hope you don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself before your blind date. I wouldn’t want you to have a repeat of how
we
first met.”

“What can I say? I have a way of making a fool out of myself on a daily basis.” I winked. “And you love that about me.”

“Baylee,” he said in a seductive tone, leaning toward me. “Our first meeting is one I’ll never forget. And you’re right…”

I turned my head, swallowing hard at the fire in his gaze, the intensity in his face, the tingle of his breath as it met mine.

“I
do
love you.”

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach when he uttered those words. His voice was so warm, so sweet, so perfect, as if he truly meant it. Closing my eyes, I lost all control over my body as I shortened the distance between us, our lips almost touching. I felt lightheaded, everything about Sebby and that moment drawing me to him. We were two magnets. No matter how hard I tried to resist the attraction, there was no denying the rule of science. It was…magic.

“Baylee…”

When I opened my eyes, he licked his lips, his gaze focusing on my mouth. A subtle ache settling between my legs from his proximity, I braced myself, my hormones taking over all logic and rationale.

“I love so much about you…” He cupped my cheek and ran his fingers through my hair.

The angel on my shoulder was shouting at me to put the brakes on immediately, telling me I would ruin a great friendship if we proceeded on this course of action. But the devil was louder, reminding me how much I was craving his kiss, how much I had fantasized about this precise moment since meeting him.

“As a friend.” He pulled back abruptly.

Pausing for a beat, I straightened and adjusted my composure, taking a hearty sip of my champagne. I plastered a smile on my face. “Of course. What else would we be?” I said in a shaky voice. I guzzled down the remainder of the champagne, the effervescent liquid burning my throat. “We’re neighbors. And you have a girlfriend.” I hastily gathered all of my things, throwing them in my canvas bag. “And we’re neighbors.”

“You already said that.” His voice was even, a direct contradiction to my hurried and nervous tone.

“I mean, we get along, but I would never want to date you, Sebby. Not anymore. What did you think I meant? You think I want to date you? I don’t. I have a date tonight. Plus, I’ve said time and time again we’re better off as friends. I would hate to ruin what we have by taking things—”

A strong hand on my arm startled me, cutting me off. I stilled, wanting to curse life for being this unfair. It didn’t matter how many times I had told myself and everyone else we were better as friends. I felt a stronger connection to this man than anyone who came before him. That didn’t negate the fact that his heart belonged to someone else. I wanted to scream and curl into a ball, wondering when I would find my someday.

“Baylee…,” Sebby soothed.

“What?” I hissed.

“Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“This. I…” He glanced at the ocean, pulling his lips between his teeth.

“What? Spit it out, Sebby.”

Returning his gaze to mine, he drew in a long breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Owen stand up from his table. Sebby must have seen it, too, because we simultaneously turned in his direction, both of our mouths gaping.

“Oh. My…,” I began.

“
God
!” Sebby finished. “Baylee…” He lowered his voice. “Is it me, or is he wearing a banana hammock?”

I snorted, covering my mouth so no one could overhear my juvenile laughter. “I think the correct term is speedo.”

“I thought only retirees from Florida wore those things!”

“Stop laughing, Sebby,” I ordered, unable to control my own laughter. “It’s not funny.”

“No, it is. It
really
is.”

“He’s European,” I argued, wiping the tears that were forming in my eyes. “Maybe it’s a thing over there.”

“But he’s in America now.” He tilted his head, eyeing Owen up and down, finally throwing his hands up. “Well, I feel intimidated. I can’t compete with that.”

“Oh, my god… On
that
note, I’m leaving. I got what I came here for.”

“Which was?”

“To see if this guy is worth my time. I think he might be.”

A tense moment passed between us. I wished things were different. I wished he would declare his love for me and tell me he was leaving Mercedes to follow his heart.

“Baylee, I…”

“Yes?” I asked, hopeful.

He took a deep breath. “I…”

My chest rose and fell, my lips parting.

His shoulders slumping forward, he held his hand out to me. “I wish you luck on your date tonight.”

Deflated, I simply nodded. “Thanks.” I swung my bag over my shoulder and retreated from Sebby, unable to shake the feeling that he wanted to tell me something else.

 
“Just remember to stay away from Big Kahuna’s surf shack, though, will ya?” he called after me, his tone light.

“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” I winked over my shoulder.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN

A
S
I
TOOK
A
long bath that afternoon, sipping on a glass of wine, I was finally able to relax for the first time since my run-in with Sebby. The sun was setting over the ocean, and there was something calming about the combination of the bubble bath and my peaceful surroundings. I needed this. I had finally shaken off my almost kiss with Sebby, the feel of his breath so close to my skin, how much I wanted to toss out my own stupid rules and take a risk, friendship be damned. I had been on edge since seeing him. Now, thanks to the tranquil bubbles and super-sized glass of wine, I was focused solely on my impending date with Owen…his beautiful smile, perfectly sculpted chest, fantastic laugh, silky-looking hair, banana hammock…

Dammit!
I screamed in my head, a snort escaping my nose as I relived exactly how I felt when Owen had stood up, exposing his choice in swimwear. I prayed I would be able to get through the date without being reminded of that image, regardless of how appealing it was. I didn’t have to wonder whether he wore boxers or briefs. That question was already answered for me in living color.