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              “Hello?” The windows are down and the car is full of salty, damp air. It feels magnificent, but, damn, it makes it hard to hear.
              “Whit? Is that you?” a slurring male voice asks. Great. A drunk dial.
              “Indeed it is,” I sigh. “Who the fuck is this?”
              “The dude you didn’t eat lobster with.” It’s like I can hear his adorable-as-all-hell smile over the phone.
              I can’t help but laugh. I’ll cut him some slack for this douchebag move since it’s his birthday.
              “Sounds like you had a little more than lobster there, Deo.”
              “Indeed I did. Can I be honest?” His voice is deep and sexy, even in his inebriated state.
              “It’s your birthday, honesty is practically a requirement.”
              “I can’t stop thinking about you. The way you kissed me tonight—”
              “Back up there. I kissed you?”
              “That’s how I remember it,” he chuckles. “Anyway, since it is my birthday month—”
              “Oh, so now you get a whole damn month?”
              “I deserve it,” he says. Cocky son-of-a-bitch. Still, I feel my cheeks aching from the grin I’ve had plastered across my face since I answered the phone.
              “Right.”
              “Like I was saying. I know you had a hot date tonight, and I don’t know if it’s a serious arrangement or just casual or whatever. And it’s not really my business,” he says, kind of like he doesn’t care. Which he shouldn’t, because it isn’t any of his business. But the smile that had been making my face ache falls a little. “But I’d like you to give me a shot if that’s in the cards. So there. I put it out there on my birthday because I really like you, Whit. Whadda ya say?”
              I stare at the red light in front of me, waiting for it to turn green. I’m the only car for miles in every direction.
              “What’d you have in mind?” I ask. I know the answer to this already, of course. I saw the way he looked at me tonight. And after that kiss, there’s no mistaking what he wants to do.
              “I thought I could bring you by the house to meet my mom.” His slur has a playful tinge to it.
              Not what I expected.
              “I’m sorry, what?” I spit.
              “Lighten up, girl. I’m kidding. I don’t know. We can go to the beach. What’s your favorite one?”
              “Um, I haven’t actually been to the beach since I moved here. Or, um, ever.” I run my fingers along the steering wheel and try to imagine going to the ocean, listening to the waves, breathing that potent salt air deep into my lungs.
              Deo’s voice borders on horrified. “You haven’t been to the ocean? Really? Never? Well no shit! Then we’re going. Tomorrow. I refuse to take no for an answer.”
    I’ve got to admit, I’m surprised he didn’t outright say he wanted to fuck me. Got to give him a little credit for that.
    “Where are you from, anyway?” he asks with frank interest.
    My fingers tighten on the steering wheel, and I have to let my foot up off the gas a little.               Thinking about the place I left makes me stress-speed. “Pennsylvania,” I answer through gritted teeth.
    His laugh is loud and loose. “Ah, that explains the stick up your ass.”
I could be offended, but there’s something easy and fun about Deo, and it makes me relax a little.               “Well, we can’t all be professional beach bums.”
              “Who says?” he demands, and I can hear a smile I like