"Where do you go to school?" I ask him.
"I graduated a few years ago. I'm obviously into younger women." He laughs playfully, turning up his coffee.
He's into me? He obviously isn't shy about flirting. I honestly don't even know what to say to that comment.
After a few more seconds of silence, he scoots his barstool over.
"You are at least 18, right?" He tilts his head and looks over at me.
"Yes!" I swat his arm. "I'm 20, but what makes you think this is an "into you" kind of thing?"
He shrugs, "I don't know, honestly when I broke into my house to leave you the key and you came busting in with that cute ass attitude, I was pretty fascinated."
"You don't even know me." I drop the fork down, and it clanks across the plate.
"I know you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Tears, snot and all." His smirk has me trying my hardest not to smile too big. This guy is a real piece of work. I'm sure he sweet-talks all his women like this.
"You really have no idea. My life is so fucked up right now."
"Well, do you want to talk about it?" He turns the seat of the barstool to face me. Placing his hands on the top of my knees, almost naturally.
"Not particularly." I sigh, pushing the plate away from me.
"Well, if you need a set of stranger's ears, they work as well as my arms. I'm staying in the house next door." He gets up from the stool and makes his way to the door.
"Whatever it is, I have a feeling you are going to be fine." He pulls the door closed, and I can hear him moving down the steps.
Then back up the steps?
The doorbell rings. I can't help but laugh to myself. Why even bother ringing the doorbell if you just walked out the door?
I pull the door open and look at him, confused.
"What are you doing tomorrow? I know you are here on vacation, but..." He looks down at his shoes as if he is almost embarrassed to even ask me that. It's actually kind of cute considering I pegged him as an arrogant ladies-man, and here he is acting shy. He pulls his hand up to the back of his neck to scratch his head.
"I don't have any plans. I didn't come here with an agenda. That was kind of the point of coming here."
Was that bitchy? Why am I always sounding like such a bitch?
"Well, would you want to come with me to a fundraiser gala? I don't know why I am asking you this. I'm sure there are 100 things you'd rather do than go to Charleston with some stranger you just met." He looks down at his shoes, then back up to me with a half-smile.
This guy.He could ask me to jump off a cliff, and I'm pretty sure I would ask him, “which one?”
"Well, I'm not sure I packed a dress fancy enough for a fundraiser. Honestly, most of what I packed is bathing suits." I step outside the door toward him, unable to say no. "I could go shopping, though. A fundraiser with a stranger might be fun." His dark eyes find mine, his mouth sporting the biggest grin.
"I'll pick you up at 3." He turns to basically run away before I can change my mind.
I turn back into the house, closing the door before my mind goes into “freak out” mode. Oh my Gosh! What have I done? Is this a date? It's totally "date" like, and he said he was into me. Dakota's ring is barely off my finger, and I'm dating? I should not be dating. This can not happen. This guy seems to be everything I've never known i've needed. I don't know him, but it's been five months, and the only time I’ve felt okay is the few minutes he has been around. I don't know him at all. I know his name, Judson. He's from a family that is probably loaded considering they own all these houses, and a fundraiser gala?!
The fanciest thing i've been to is prom, like 5 years ago. All of these thoughts come rushing through my head so fast my feet are basically running before I even realize it.
The next thing I know, I am banging on his door.
The door drags open and I feel my eyes go wide. No shirt. No shoes. And absolutelyno problem.
My eyes wander very obviously from his head to his toes. He is perfect. His black basketball shorts hang low on his hips, and I know for sure I am so obviously checking him out.
"This is not date. We are not dating. I don't know you. You don't know me. We are hardly even friends." I blurt out.