Just Beachy

ASTON

Half an hour later, we’d made a quick stop so I could buy what I needed, and just like that, we were pulling up at one of the quieter beaches on the outskirts of the city.

“I’m so glad you decided to come with me. I really didn’t feel like working on my tan alone and it’s been forever since we spent some girl time together.” Tiffany gathered a small beach umbrella and towel from the back of her car, grabbed a water bottle and pulled a cap on. We walked to a public restroom so I could change into my newly acquired beach wear, buying some sodas from a stand nearby once I was done.

Tiffany chattered nonstop and kept my arm linked with hers like she was afraid I was going to take off on her. I followed her onto the beach and as soon as I felt the sand between my toes, I knew I’d made the right decision.

We weren’t even sitting down yet, and I already felt myself relaxing in the company of my best friend. It felt good. I could practically feel my batteries recharging. “I’m glad I came too, Tiff. Thanks for convincing me. I needed this.”

Spreading her towel out on the sand, she dug a shallow hole for the umbrella and lifted an eyebrow as she looked up at me. “You know what else you need? A good orgasm that is not self-induced.”

“We’re continuing that discussion now, huh?” I groaned. Just when I thought this was going to be a nice, relaxing afternoon. Maybe I was wrong and I shouldn’t have come. Or maybe I could distract her. Unlikely, given that Tiffany seemed determined to have this out with me. But I had to give it a shot. “Isn’t this nice weather we’ve been having?”

Tiffany smiled like she knew something I didn’t, then called me on my tactic immediately. “Oh no you don’t. You aren’t getting away from this that easily. Seriously, why are you so afraid of being with a guy? They don’t bite. Well, not hard anyway. Unless you want them to, that is. Some guys can be convinced to be into that if you are.”

“No thanks. I definitely don’t want to be bitten.” I sighed and flopped down on the towel I had spread out beside hers. If we were going to be having this conversation, there was no reason I shouldn’t be comfortable while doing it. “I’m not afraid. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. I just haven’t found the right guy yet.”

A tiny line appeared between her eyebrows. “Are you waiting for marriage?”

“No, not really. But would it be so wrong if I was?” Sometimes, it felt like marriage was never going to happen either. What if I waited for marriage and died a virgin? Would that be so bad? I didn’t think so. I had a pretty trusty vibrator that had helped me through some stressful times. No guy could be that effective.

Her eyes widened. “Not at all. I just didn’t figure you for the type, and I’ve known you long enough that I feel like I would have known if you were.”

I released a heavy breath. She did know me well enough. “I’m just waiting for a guy who isn’t a complete tool—like those frat guys today. I might have found him by now if I didn’t work so hard, but honestly, I would rather work than spend my days looking for a guy.”

Tiffany drew her knees up to her chest and looped her arms around them, staring off over the ocean. “Do you want a career rather than a family?”

She didn’t say it in a way that made me feel insulted. The question sounded sincere. “Not necessarily. I would love to have both as much as anyone else, but I haven’t had too much time to think about it. At the moment, I feel like entering into a relationship would end up with me being one of two things—a sugar mama, or controlled. I’m not interested in being either of those things.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way. Besides, for the immediate future I was only asking about sex. Not marriage, not now anyway. I’ve dated plenty of guys who didn’t see me as a sugar mama, and who didn’t try to control me. Why would you think they all would?”

“There might be some of them who aren’t like that, but like I said, I don’t have time for that search right now.” Born and raised in California, I hadn’t done much traveling. While Tiffany might have dated plenty of guys who weren’t like that, most of my friends only had those kind of stories to tell. It didn’t paint a convincing picture for trying to date around here.

“Or maybe I’m just in the wrong state for that search right now,” I mused, watching a couple of children playing near the shore. “I haven’t heard the greatest things about the availability of men in this city lately, and I’ve been too busy to venture away from work anyway.”

Tiffany threw her head back and laughed, shaking it at the same time. “Isn’t it great that you work in a classy hotel where men from all over the world come for a stay?”

Actually, it was great. I just hadn’t thought of it that way before. Why hadn’t I? The hotel was the perfect place to find a suitable candidate to mess around with if and when I wanted to. It would mean I wouldn’t have to leave work to find a date, which was good since my apartment was the only other place I spent any time. It also meant I could keep focusing on my career, because the guy would only be in town for a short while. 

It was an interesting point. I didn’t plan on throwing myself at every out of state man who arrived at the hotel, but it definitely was a point to keep in mind from now on. “Way to go, Tiffany. I think you just broadened my horizons a bit.”