“It’s amazing, right?” she sighs. “I’ve lived here all my life. I went to New York once when I was a kid and hated it. It was so loud and dirty. You know what I mean?” She unwraps her straw and when the barista calls out our drinks, she shoves the straw in her drink haphazardly.
“See you around, Harlow,” the barista says with a crooked smile. “Still on for next Saturday?”
“Yeah, totally,” she answers. “It’s gonna be super chill.”
“Perfect.” The barista turns to take another order, and Harlow waves goodbye to him, seemingly without an extra thought.
She’s one of those girls who are totally nonchalant, in baggy cut-offs and a bikini top. She looks like she lives in the sand and is totally comfortable in her own skin. She waves at a few people who pass us, and it’s clear lots of people in this town know her.
Basically, the complete opposite of me. I have never fit in, and until I met my guys I never belonged anywhere.
“I’m Harlow, by the way,” she tells me.
“I’m Chloe,” I tell her. Then I stick out my hand and we shake. She laughs as we do. Okay, that was awkward. But she doesn’t seem to notice my insecurities.
“So do you work?” she asks.
“Yeah, I help the ... team.”
“Team?”
“Yeah. I live with four guys and they are MeTubers. We travel around and they make videos of their extreme adventures.”
“Wow, sounds super cool.” She raises her eyebrows, impressed. “Do you do extreme sports too?”
I laugh. “No way. I help with their bookkeeping and calendaring. Kind of like a manager.”
“I bet you travel to really cool places. I’m a little jealous. I never go anywhere.”
“What about you?” I ask.
“I take people out on snorkeling trips. It’s a good gig. My parents own the company, so I’ve done it all my life.”
“That’s awesome. I’ve been snorkeling a few times.”
“You should totally come out sometime. Have you been to Hanauma Bay yet?”
“No, I haven’t done any snorkeling in Oahu. I’ve mostly just gone paddle boarding.”
“Oh, you know what?” she says, patting my arm like we’re long lost friends. “You should actually come out next weekend. It’s not for a snorkeling trip but a group of us are all going out on a boat.”
“That sounds fun.” I nod slowly trying to remember if the guys had anything planned this weekend.
“You don’t have to come alone. Why don’t you bring one of the guys that you live with?”
“Yeah, I could totally do that.” I immediately think about which guy I would choose to take out on the boat. And then I immediately wonder how the other guys will feel about that.
Before I can get any more stressed out about the what-if’s, Harlow pulls out her phone and asks for my number.
“I’ll text you all the details. But I think we are leaving around two in the afternoon? It’s usually best to go super early or later in the day.”
“Okay, that sounds really fun.” I laugh nervously, so surprised that this woman has asked me out at all. “And thanks for the invite. I mean, most people aren’t so outgoing. It means a lot.”
“I get it. I mean, I’ve never actually had to move to new place, but I can imagine it can be hard to make connections. Besides, my mother always said the more, the merrier.” She gives me a warm smile, and I return it, thinking she’s exactly right. The more, the merrier has been true in my love life at least.
Harlow and I say our goodbyes, and I walk toward the pharmacy with my iced coffee in hand. Meeting Harlow when I did was actually the perfect thing for me. I needed to get out of my head for a second.
The truth is, I don’t know what the future is going to hold. Obviously. But I do know that I don’t have to be an island. Not when there are so many people wanting to offer me the raft.–Later, in the bathroom, I take the test. My hands shake as I wait for the result.
It’s positive.Chapter 46ETHANChloe hasn’t been herself for a while now, that much is crystal clear, but I’m hoping she can get out of her head and open up about whatever is bothering her.
Unfortunately, Enzo’s dad arrives at the house the same time the rest of us get home from scouting out the surfing competition, which means no alone time with Chloe.
But I watch her.
I see the way she looks out toward the ocean during dinner, her eyes looking at some distant point that is further away than I can reach.
I see the way she barely touches her food, doesn’t even pick up her glass of wine.
I see the way she excuses herself early, saying she’s exhausted and she looks it. Her eyes are heavy and maybe so is her heart? Something isn’t right.