Page 26 of Erase Me
In short, I was feeling a little bit wary.But I had good reason to be cautious.I couldn’t afford to mess up even the tiniest bit.
I flexed my shoulders and looked over his text again.I’d find out what he wanted once I got there.
As for me wanting to see him, well, there was a saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
I responded to his message.
- Sounds good.What time
- Seven?
It was already past 4:30.It had been a late night, albeit a successful one.So I’d slept in this morning and been busy with work ever since.I needed to shower and get dressed.
- Where?
- I’ll come to your apartment and we can figure it out
- Not a good idea.I haven’t forgotten about yesterday
He texted me a smile.
- I have my friend Pat with me.Do you mind if she comes along
- Not at all.How about the restaurant at San Clemente Pier
- Which one?Isn’t there a couple
- We can decide when we get there
- Okay
- Looking forward to meeting Pat
I put my phone away, thinking that maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned my imaginary friend.Now, I’d have to make some excuse as to why Pat wasn’t coming tonight.
I couldn’t say she had to leave because of an emergency at home.Nothing like that would work.I was using the buddy system to keep him at arm’s length.I had a roommate, so he couldn’t come to my apartment.I also couldn’t stay overnight at his place.I could just tell him I didn’t want to, but my research said that thirty-something women in this decade took destination trips with their girlfriends.They hung out together and excluded males from their group activities and partying.It was best to stick with that as a cover.
Drying off after my shower was a little more painful than I expected.The side where I had been kicked by one of the attackers last night was red and sensitive to the touch.I’d broken ribs before, and this just felt like a bad bruise.
Going out into the bedroom, I pulled open the single drawer that housed everything I had.
Unlike Reed’s newly purchased collection of clothes, hanging neatly in his closet, my wardrobe was sparse.I had a credit card, but my principles discouraged me from using it.Payam had clipped the number from a large corporate expense account, but it was still a stolen number.I didn’t feel good about charging to it, and I wouldn’t...unless it was absolutely necessary.
Based on my observations thus far in Southern California, everyone seemed to dress casually.San Clemente was a beach town, and the daywear for most women my age and younger was bathing suits with colorful wraps to wear over the bottoms.Bikini tops were in evidence on the streets and in the restaurants.At night, jeans, sundresses, t-shirts and casual tops were in vogue.I couldn’t imagine that it would be any different wherever Reed was planning on having dinner.
At a thrift shop a few blocks down from where El Camino Real crossed the top of Del Mar, I’d picked up a few things to wear.One of them was a dark green sundress with delicate yellow flower patterns, and that was what I pulled out for tonight.It was pretty, but not so loud that it would draw too much attention.Glancing at myself in the mirror, I felt like I belonged here.As I went out the door, I grabbed Reed’s sweatshirt and wrapped it around my waist.
The late afternoon sun was gradually making its way west toward the Pacific, but sunset was still hours off.As I stood on the sidewalk, I loved the warm feel of sunlight on my skin.
I was plenty early and considered walking back to the thrift shop, but decided they were probably closed.Exploring the beach trail and walking out on the pier was really appealing.I hadn’t done that yet.Putting my feet in the ocean, with waves crashing a few yards offshore, wasn’t something I could do at home.Just to feel the warm sand between my toes would be exciting.I’d wanted to do it yesterday.But unfortunately, after messaging Payam, I needed to go back to the apartment.Now that I’d met Reed, there was a lot more research that had to be done about him.
The most direct path to the beach was down Avenida Victoria, and I looked at the glimmering ocean in the distance, but that route was not in the cards.It meant passing by Reed's apartment.
So I cut across to Del Mar.The street glowed golden from the sun, and it occurred to me that this was aptly called ‘happy hour’.People of all ages were wandering along the sidewalks, some carrying bags and some just idly looking in the shop windows.Surprisingly, most of the stores were still open.Small groups milled about outside of wine bars and restaurants.
As I strolled down the sidewalk, my skin warmed in the late afternoon light, and the smells of perfume and sunscreen mingled with the scent of food and sea air.This was absolutely the most beautiful downtown I’d ever seen in my entire life.
Moving down in the direction of the ocean, I walked past a group of people waiting at the trolley stop.Laughter and voices combined with music emanating from the open front of a bar.I passed the library and its bookstore where I’d met Reed.As the saying goes, I was like a kid in a candy shop.
