Someone Else's Ocean(66)

Breakfast had been served by the time I got to the table. Everyone was munching down on freshly made eggs and crisp bacon, but when I went to grab a plate, I noticed Jasmine was missing.

Julian’s eyes met mine. “She’s taken the dog out.”

I walked out onto the porch as Jasmine jumped out of the hammock wiping at her eyes.

She dropped Disco on the porch who came running toward me. I picked her up and gave her a kiss. “Morning, baby.” Dispensing the puppy in the house, I moved to where Jasmine stood.

“Why are you crying? Did Julian do something?”

She shook her head adamantly and then smiled, which quickly turned into a grimace that had my heart splintering when she started crying again.

“Jasmine, please tell me what’s wrong. It’s physically hurting me to see you like this.”

“I just can’t stop doing this. I need to stop. I’m stopping.”

“Stopping what?”

“Being a slut, that’s what! I don’t know that man,” she said, pointing toward the house. “I don’t know these men I’m sleeping with. I don’t know why I can’t stop doing this or why I even started. Before Steven, I’d only slept with four men. I’m almost forty-one!”

“I thought you were thirty-nine?”

“See, I’m a liar too.” She cried harder and I couldn’t help my laugh.

“Babe, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. It’s not fun anymore. It hasn’t been for a while. If my prince charming is out there, he missed the map.”

“Are you sure this isn’t about Julian? Did he hurt you?”

“No, if anything he saved me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean for the first time in forever, I got an inkling. Like ‘maybe if he didn’t live in fucking Iowa, I may have a shot at something real and amicable’ type inkling.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Yeah, except I’m not moving to Iowa to test chemistry. I mean, who the hell chooses to live in Iowa?”

“Hey, Midwesterners are the best kind of people and our nicest clients.”

“True,” she sniffed, while tying her hair up on top of her head.

“So, you’re done and you’re going to hold out now, good for you. It will happen, Jasmine, and at least you know it’s possible.”

“Also true.”

“Okay then. No more tears.” I pulled her back down into the hammock with me and we started swinging.

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said with a sigh.

“You think you really like Julian?”

“Not to that extent.”

“Maybe you’re lonely and you’re admitting it to yourself now.”

“Probably.”

“Well, you don’t have to be lonely. You can come over anytime. And at least now you know what you don’t want.”

“I’ll still be a pervert.”

“Just a pervert who isn’t getting any,” I said, nudging her.

“That’s probably going to worsen my condition.”

“I can live with that.”

“Here I am crying, and you’re the one with real penis problems. God, I love him for you already. He could not keep his eyes off you all night. I swear it was so beautiful to see the way he looked at you. Maybe that’s what has me crying. Maybe I’m jealous.”

“That’s a good thing—not you being jealous—but wanting it for yourself. Though I really don’t think you have a reason to be.”

“Well, you were too busy cleaning to see it. So, I’m guessing you two had it out?”

“Oh, we had it out.” I grinned.

“Sounded like it,” she grinned back. I threaded her fingers with mine.

“You are the best, you know that? I couldn’t have ever gotten my shit together without you. You will too, you know. You’ll get there.”

“I think I’m there. And maybe I’m crying because the party is over.”

“Julian’s the last one, huh?”

“Tonight’s my last night. And I’m glad it’s with him. Nothing’s going to top that ass for a while. I’m cutting my losses.”

“Really?”

“God, yes. He was so good, he knocked me out.”

“Damn.”

She pressed her lips together to hide a guilty smile.

“What?” I prompted.

“He’s just turned thirty-one.”

My eyes bulged. “I didn’t realize he was that much younger than the rest of them.”

“Me neither, he’s seems more mature. I’m officially a cougar.”

“That was your first younger guy?”

She nodded as the door opened and Jasmine looked to me to check her face for traces of weepy black streaks. When I nodded to let her know she was in the clear, we remained in the hammock as Ian greeted us.

“So, we’re off.” He looked mouthwatering in board shorts and a T-shirt that stretched over his new build. Gray eyes implored the both of us. “Julian said you won’t join us either, Jasmine. You two sure you won’t change your minds?”