Chapter 54
Greer laughed. "Good for you! You're finally getting a sense of humor!"
I gave her a slight nudge as I found my apartment key. "I've always had a sense of humor. You were just too busy with your boyfriends to notice!"
"Hey, now!"
I laughed as I opened the door to my apartment. "Well, this is it! Home sweet home for the next few days, anyway."
"Wow!" Greer said as she walked into the living room, looking around.
A smile spread across my face. "Well, what do you think?"
"I love it!" she said as she looked around. "This is so cute!" She walked around the room, and then turned abruptly to face me. "Hey! I have an idea!"
"Uh oh."
Greer laughed. "Now, this isn't bad. Let's go shopping!"
A slow smile spread across my face. "Sounds great! Let's go! I haven't been shopping for a while and I need to get some clothes for the tour, and I'll get you some things, too."
"Sounds good!"
We dropped off her suitcase and things in the living room and headed straight out the door. As we drove to the mall, it felt great to be with Greer again. She was the shot in the arm that I needed.
We spent the rest of the day shopping and laughing like old times. It was great to have her there.
"So, what do you want to do now?" Greer asked, slipping her arm through mine as we juggled our packages. "Hum want to go out and party?"
I laughed. "You don't ever stop, do you?" I asked as we came to a nice Italian restaurant. "Instead, let's get something to eat. Hungry?"
She shrugged as a mischievous smile spread across her face. "I'd rather party. Oh, Alyssa! Let's go out and pick up a couple of guys!"
I laughed. "What's gotten into you?"
"Come on!" Greer insisted. "It's not like I'm a virgin or anything."
I about choked. "What in the world? When?"
She shrugged as we approached the restaurant. "John Curtis, last summer. We were at the beach down by the Lake Worth pier. It was night, and we made love in the sand under the pier as the water rushed up upon us."
"Greer, you could have been caught! The police "
"Weren't patrolling," she finished.
"Did you love him?"
She shrugged. "I cared about him, but I mainly wanted to see what it was like. And he was totally hot!"
I laughed. "Greer, only you," I said as I shook my head. "Were you careful?"
"You mean, did we use a condom?" she clarified.
I nodded.
She giggled. "Of course! I'm not stupid, you know."
A moment later, we approached the restaurant and the luscious scent of strong Italian cooking wafted toward us. A ma?tre 'd stood in the doorway, taking names and greeting the patrons. "May I help you ladies?"
"Two for dinner, please," I said.
He looked us over as we stood, holding our bags. "This is a pricy restaurant."
Greer suppressed a smile.
"And we'd like your best table."
He let out his breath in a rush. "Very well, then. Right this way."
Greer giggled as he ushered us into the restaurant to a small table covered in fine white linen. Silverware was carefully placed on either side of fine china with little flowers adorning the edges.
Before laying the menus on the table, the ma?tre 'd held his nose in the air as he turned to face us. "Will this suffice?"
Greer shrugged. "Eh. It'll do."
I suppressed a smile. "This is fine. Thank you."
"Humph," he snorted, and then walked off with his nose still high in the air.
I looked at Greer, and we both burst out in laughter as we slid into the chairs.
I looked at the menu. Everything looked so good that it was hard to make up my mind. I picked up the glass of water and took a sip. The
choices were numerous.
Greer picked up her menu and pretended to look it over. "So, when did you lose your virginity?" she asked, matter of fact.
I practically spit my water out onto my dinner plate. "Greer!"
She looked at me expectantly. "Well?"
"How do you know that I lost it?"
She laughed. "Come on. Who is this Logan who paid for your rent?"
A sharp pain gripped my chest. "I don't want to talk about it," I said as I turned my attention back to the menu. I didn't want to discuss Logan at the moment. I just wanted to enjoy my time with Greer, no matter how short it may be.
She reached out and placed her hand over mine. "Alyssa, it's okay. You know you can tell me anything."
I nodded, but didn't allow my eyes to meet hers.
Greer let out a deep breath. "Were you in love with him?"
I closed my menu to give her my full attention, knowing that she wasn't going to let it drop. "Yes. I was."
Her eyes were filled with a mixture of sorrow and pity. Something I hated. "Tell me."
I let out a deep breath and told her everything. I hadn't intended to, but when I started, it was as if I couldn't stop. It just poured out of me.
Greer listened attentively to the whole story, or, at least, to the parts that I wanted to share. "Have you seen him since he saw this jerk kiss you?"
I shook my head. "He wouldn't see me." I took another sip of my water. "I went over to his apartment that night, but he wouldn't see me." I shrugged as I let out a deep breath, my voice filled with emotion. "I figured that if he wanted to see me, then he would seek me out. He never did."
Greer shrugged. "Then, he's not worth it."
I looked deeply into her eyes. "Don't say that."
Greer sat back and studied my face. After a moment, she replied, "Well, then, just take it a day at a time. Everything will work out."
I smirked as I shook my head. "It's not that simple."
"Hey," she said, forcing me to look into her eyes. "It is that simple. If it's meant to be, it'll be. Trust me."
And, somehow, I believed her. My heart felt lighter, as if a heavy burden that I hadn't even known I was carrying lifted from my shoulders. Tears filled my eyes. My heart was filled with renewed hope.
