“Did you meet anyone in the months since I last saw you?”
His eyes darkened. “I met a lot of girls. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he held on tighter. “But I didn’t like any of them, and I started to get it. What you had with Adam.”
I looked at him hard. “I fell in love with Adam, Seth. I was in love with him before I even met you. I know that wasn’t fair, and I never meant to hurt you, but that’s what happened. I fell in love with him and I married him because I wanted to be his wife. And then . . . well . . . he died. And I don’t regret a minute of our time together.”
He swallowed. “I’m sincerely sorry you had to go through that.”
“It was my choice.”
“Do you believe in soul mates, Charlotte?”
“I think so,” I said.
“Do you want to know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think we have soul mates, but I think we can have more than one, just like we can have more than one career, or more than one hobby, or more than one fucking favorite food. Different people connect to different parts of our souls. I like you, Charlotte. I think you know that. And I want you to have hope that you might fall in love again.”
I was speechless, so I did the only thing I knew how to do in that moment: I took another shot. “Your turn.”
“Dare,” he said.
“I dare you to come back to my bungalow with me.” I leaned into him as I said it.
He took a shot and smiled. My eyes opened wider than possible. “You ass! Dare,” I said, looking affronted.
“I dare you to go dance by yourself on the dance floor.”
“I’m not gonna take another shot.” Now I was definitely slurring.
“Then you better get out there and get your tiki on, lady.”
I stumbled my way onto the dance floor where they were playing some Polynesian folk music. I tried to remember the dance the sister does in Dirty Dancing. I was massacring it while Seth sat smiling at the bar.
“Charlotte?” My mom and dad appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, although I will admit that I was thoroughly sauced by that point. They were sitting at a table near the dance floor. I stopped dancing and noticed that Helen, Roddy, her parents, and more friends were all watching me with amusement.
I threw my arms up. “What? It was a dare!”
Seth was suddenly behind me, propping me up as I swayed. “It’s okay everyone. I’ll walk her back to her room.”
My father strode up and cleared his throat. “Oh, hello, Mr. Martin,” Seth said.
“Hello,” my father said. They shook hands.
“Charlotte, your mom and I want to discuss something with you, but I don’t think it’s a good time now. I think you need some rest.”
“Oh Jesus, what now?” I said.
“Charlotte!” my mother scolded.
“I’m drunk, you guys. It’s not a big deal.” Seth anchored me to his side by wrapping an arm around my waist.
My mother stuck her hand out to Seth. “Hello, Seth, I’m Charlotte’s mom, Laura.” She blushed.
“Oh, Motherrr, are you blushing? He’s just a professional baseball plaaayer with twelve-pack abs and perfect hair, get over it!”
“Let’s go, drunky.” Seth pulled me along.
“Hey, Taylor,” my father said, calling Seth by his last name. We turned back to see my dad point to his own eyes and then to Seth’s. I’m watching you, he mouthed, and then he buckled over and started laughing.
“Your family is totally weird,” Seth said into my ear. “I see where you get your sense of humor.”
“Yep, they’re all right. By the way, it’s your fault I’m drunk.”
I caught Helen’s eye as we left the bar. Seth waved, she smiled, and Roddy laughed.
“I think you had a little too much before I got involved.”
“I told you that. Hey, wanna go skinny-dipping?”
“I’m getting you a sandwich and then I’m putting you to bed,” he said.
“Killjoy.”
31. Adventure
Seth did exactly what he’d said he’d do. He ordered two sandwiches, French fries, and a gallon of water and walked me back to my room, where I began vigorously shoving the food into my mouth.
I held up a French fry. “Do you know how long it’s been since I ate anything fried? I don’t even wanna eat it because I love it so much.”
“Eat!” Seth ordered.
When we finished eating, I brushed my teeth and tore off my dress and threw it in the corner. I stood in front of Seth in nothing but my bra and underwear. He grinned.
“You gonna sleep with me, number twelve?”
“Been there, done that,” he said. I socked him in the arm. “Get into bed, lush, I’ll tuck you in.”
The rest of the night was foggy, but I knew for sure Seth did little more than spoon me. In the morning, he was gone and I was hungover. On my bedside table was a note, a glass of orange juice, and ice water.
You looked so cute drooling all over your pillow. I took a picture of you that I will cherish forever. Roddy wanted me to teach him to surf today, so I had to leave early this morning with him. I am his best man, after all. I think Helen had something planned for you guys anyway. I want to see you later. Don’t try to argue or bargain your way out of hanging out with me. I don’t negotiate with terrorists. Kisses, Seth.
My head was pounding. I reached for Advil from my purse and swallowed it with a few glugs of orange juice. I could hear voices from outside my bungalow. When I looked out the curtain, I saw my mom and dad sitting in chairs on my deck.
I slid the door open forcefully, still only wearing my underwear and bra. “You guys are seriously everywhere. Have I no privacy? I just spent three weeks on a boat with you two, Jesus!”
“Now you know what it’s like to have kids. Put some clothes on, grumpy, and get out here,” my mother said.
When I came back out, my father said, “Welcome to the world of the living, Charlotte. It’s past noon.”
“I had a lot to drink last night.”
“We know,” they said in unison.
“Seth asked us to check on you. He seemed worried. Should we be worried?” my dad said.
“You guys, I got drunk. It wasn’t the first time.”
“Well, you sure looked like you were having fun, honey,” my mom added with an arched eyebrow.
“Did you guys want to ask me something?” Dora’s head was resting on my mom’s knee. “You look comfortable,” I said to Dora. Her ears perked up but she didn’t move.
My dad began, “I’ll just come right out and say it. If you plan on leaving your boat down here, your mom and I will stay and sail her back when the weather permits.”
My mouth fell open. Both my mom and dad were staring at me, unblinking. “That will most definitely be months. What about Rotary Club, Mom? And Dad, what about the practice?”
“Fuck Rotary Club, it’s boring, and your dad’s practice will be fine until Chucky can take it over. It practically runs itself.”