"It suits you."
I flip him off.
He slides his arms around my waist.
"You do this kinda thing a lot?"
"Depends what you mean by this kinda thing."
"Explore the city?"
"I try to."
"Will you take me?" I press my lips together. I'm asking for too much. I want too much. He's not going to be mine. I can't have him showing me the world. But I want it.
"Yeah." He plants a kiss on my neck. "But I can't be held responsible for my actions if you keep wearing those tight shorts."
I laugh. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"You're old enough to control yourself."
"Not around you."
My cheeks flush. It's dirty talk, yeah, but there's an earnestness in his voice. He means it.
But does he mean his body?
Or his heart too?
I sink into his touch as I take in the view.
It's gorgeous.
For the first time in forever, my world isn't a bundle of regrets. It's beauty. It's possibility. It's hunger. "It's weird. I never really think of this place as Hollywood. All the stuff in the movies is bullshit."
"And then some."
"But I'm close to it. My dad owns a visual effects company. He loves movies. We used to go every weekend. And then we'd still watch something after dinner."
"What type of thing?"
"Everything. Classics. Foreign films. Popcorn films. I can't tell you how many times he explained that Jaws launched the summer blockbuster."
"It did."
I hold my hands over my ears I can't hear you.
His smile spreads over his cheeks. "Did you like it?"
"Jaws? No. It scarred me for life. I get freaked out in three feet of ocean."
"Really?"
"Shut up. It's embarrassing. Especially when you're all cool, chill surfer boy."
"You can be cool, chill surfer girl. I'll teach you. This weekend."