Living like a Visitor in my own City

I woke up as the sun beamed through the bedroom window. The sheets felt cool against my bare legs and I began to stretch as I turned to face the other direction.

"Morning, babe," Mike replied as he leaned over and kissed my forehead. He knew I loved when he did that, but not when he overdid it.

"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked as he turned away from me and swung his legs over the bed. He started putting on his sweatpants.

"I don't care," I replied as I stretched my arms up.

Mike laughed. I could never make up my mind.

Twenty minutes later or so, Mike came in with cereal, toast, eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee, and tea.

I laughed. "How much of this do you actually expect me to eat?"

Mike shrugged as the left side of his mouth curled into a smile. "I figured you could just have a little of each, since you can't make up your mind."

That was the type of relationship Mike and I had. We were young; kids, really. While I always thought people only described themselves as kids during their high school relationships, I can honestly look back at my relationship with Mike in a similar fashion. Maybe that's because it was my first real relationship. He was my first true love. I also look back and realize how little we knew about life. We knew so little about love and relationships. I often think that if I met Mike for the first time now, we'd be together. This time, though, it would actually work out.

But all that was in the past. We couldn't go back to what we once were, even if we did get back together. So as that memory went through my mind, I had to remind myself that it happened four years ago. It didn’t have anything to do with the people we were now.

Couldn’t people start over though?

"You're a really great girl, Caroline." That’s what Mike had just said to me before I leaned in towards him. I wasn’t exactly going in for the kiss, but rather giving him the green light. But he returned my “go ahead” with a stop sign.

“Um, I’m going to go find my cousin,” he said before abruptly standing up. I felt like I had been pushed back, even though I hadn’t been.

I took a deep breathe before standing up and walking over to the drinks. Mine wasn't empty but I knew I'd need more. Anna showed up a few minutes later.

"I sat in the bathroom until someone started knocking on the door," she said with a laugh. "I think the guy thought I was doing cocaine when I came out."

"You didn't have to do that, Anna," I began. "Besides, I don't think Mike wanted any alone time with me." Then I told Anna about my embarrassing rejection.

"He was probably just nervous," she replied as she flicked her wrist at me.

After we both had another drink in his kitchen, Mike and Anthony reappeared. I thought this was a good time to go.

"Well, I think we're going to head out. Anna has to catch an early flight tomorrow."

"Oh," Mike responded as he looked from me to Anna, who sweetly nodded to back up my story. Anna's flight was pretty late in the afternoon.

"Can I just talk to you for a second?" Mike asked. Anthony started asking Anna a question as he guided her over to the window. Apparently Mike had an ally in this war, too.

"We're cool, Mike. I'm sorry about before," I began. I thought I could stop this humiliating conversation before it even started.

"No, no, don't apologize," he insisted. "I just wanted to let you know, it's not that I didn't want to, or that I haven't thought about, or that I don't consider it." His thoughts weren't cohesive, but I knew exactly what he was saying. 

He took a deep breathe. "It's just, I started something kind of new back home. I don't know if it's even going anywhere. I mean, it wouldn't even be cheating. But I wouldn't want to do that to you. If anything happened here," he said as he motioned repeatedly from me to him. "I don't want you to see anything on social media in a few weeks, if that even happens, and think that I did something shady. And I definitely don't want to lead you on. I mean, if you were back home, it'd be different. Maybe."

I nodded through all of Mike's chatter. "I get it," I said as I put my hands out and onto his. "It wouldn't have been a good idea regardless." I reached out and gave Mike a hug. It was one of those long hugs that neither person wants to end because you know it might be the last one.

I didn't cry at all that weekend. I didn't cry until I got home from going with Anna to the airport. Everything hit me and I had nothing to distract me. I was lonely here in California. I went from being around family and friends in New York to being completely on my own. I also went from having being with Scott, somebody that I genuinely fell in love with, to having to end things with him.

Mike was a reminder of everything I had back at home. I wasn't upset about seeing him and being rejected. We had closed that door a long time ago. But it was time that I started making a real life for myself here. I had been living in California for about a year. I loved my job and Santa Monica had grown on me, so there was no reason for me to keep living like a visitor in my own city.

I opened my laptop and opened WebMatch. The first step towards my new life was to open up to dating again.

When Mike Comes to Town

"Interested in showing a poor guy around Santa Monica this weekend?"

My thumb hovered over the keyboard for a few seconds before I even realized that I should ask for Anna's preference. It was really her weekend, after all, and I didn't want Mike overshadowing my time with her.

"Wow, I'm surprised he hit you up after he didn't text you right from the airport," Anna responded. "But yeah, it could be fun."

So I asked Mike what his schedule was like and we ended up making plans to grab lunch the next day. With that, Anna and I collected our things and made our way back to my apartment.

I told Anna about a few of my favorite places for drinks and food so she could choose one. We ended up going to a great Japanese place for dinner and then went down the street for drinks, where Peggy and Shelby met us. This was the first time any of my friends from home were meeting my coworkers, so I was a little nervous. Anna gets along with everyone, though, so I wasn't legitimately concerned.

While things felt a little strange at first, we kept ordering rounds of drinks, making the night a lot of fun. At one point, we convinced Peggy to request Britney Spears and sing it in front of the entire bar. She should have thanked us, because she ended up talking to this pretty cool guy wearing a suit. They seemed to hit it off and he asked for her number before we left.

I woke up feeling slightly groggy and hungover the next morning. Anna was in my kitchen cooking eggs and looking like she was ready to run a marathon. Wasn't she taking shots the night before like everyone else?

"Morning, hostess with the mostest!" She passed me a cup of coffee as I sat down at my small kitchen table.

"Want to do anything this morning?" I asked her as I took a sip. It tasted amazing.

Anna shrugged. "I don't care."

We ended up going to the beach again for a few hours before heading back to get ready to meet Mike. We met at a sandwich place close to where his cousin lived. I still couldn't believe he had a cousin that lived here and it never came up.

I pushed the wooden door of the restaurant open. It only took me a few seconds to see Mike standing there with a tall, lanky guy standing next to him. I immediately noticed he had a tattoo sleeve on his left arm. Mike was so clean cut, so I was surprised to see him with an inked cousin.

Mike greeted me and Anna before introducing us to his cousin, Anthony. Mike pulled me into a hug that lingered a bit longer than I expected. I have to admit, it felt good, though.

We all ordered food at the counter before sitting down at a booth in the back. It was an odd group, but it was easy to fill the time by talking about how Anthony ended up living here, since he was raised on Long Island, as well, and general catching up. When Mike and I were together, him and Anna got along really well, so it was a pretty comfortable environment.

Anthony was having people over his place so he asked Anna and I to come by. I looked at Mike to gauge his reaction. He smiled at me and nodded. He could still read my mind after all these years apart.

Anna and I went back to my apartment to get ready before heading to Anthony's apartment. There were a few other people there when we arrived, but the four of us ended up sitting around in his kitchen for a while, drinking wine from red cups.

Anthony started asking me about things I liked to do around Santa Monica and we talked for a while before he said that we should hang out. He had been in California since college and had a lot more friends than I did. "I know you've been here for about a year, but I'm sure you'd get along great with my friends."

"That sounds great," I sincerely replied. Shelby and Peggy were great, but I definitely didn't have a surplus of friends my any means.

Anthony smiled at me. "Great," he responded. "I'm looking forward to it."

Anthony excused himself to go mingle with a few of the other guests and Anna said she had to go to the bathroom shortly after that. Mike and I were alone for the first time.

"So," I said as I swirled around the liquid in my cup. "Your cousin wants to hang out with me. I guess he thinks I'm pretty cool."

Mike laughed. "Yup," he replied. "Well, you are pretty cool."

I smiled. "I think he was flirting with me a little." I raised my eyebrows at him and took a sip of my drink. I truly only said that to see Mike's reaction.

Mike let out a deep breathe before quickly saying, "well, he's gay, so you're probably right."

I almost spit out my drink before grabbing his arm. "No way," I responded. I mean, it didn't matter either way, but I was totally surprised that Anthony being gay hadn't come up at all during our day together.

Mike nodded and laughed. "Yeah, sorry to ruin your new, budding relationship."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. You know I wouldn't do that to you."

Mike stared at me for a moment and I could tell he was thinking something. I didn't say anything for a moment. I wanted him to be the one to speak.

"I know you wouldn't," he finally landed on. "You're a really great girl, Caroline."

I don't know what it was, but for the first time in a long time, all the amazing parts of our relationship were fresh in my memory. And suddenly, I really wanted him.

New York Bagels

I stared out the window of the conference room. It was a beautiful day in Santa Monica and while I would have rather been spending it on the beach, I was stuck at work. Pete looked especially good, though. He’d definitely spent some time in the sun that weekend. Staring at him while he spoke wasn’t bad to look at.

Even though I wasn’t at the beach, I was excited for my weekend. Anna was coming to visit. It had been a while since anybody came to California and even though I had been home, it was a different feeling to have somebody fly out to me.

I really zoned out during the meeting and was almost startled when I heard people pushing their chairs out to stand up. I closed my notepad and pushed my pen through the spiral before standing up. I fixed the bottom of my skirt and when I looked up, Pete had walked closer to me.

“So I’m going to be on your stomping grounds this weekend,” he said to me as he fixed the cuff of his sleeve.

“New York?” I asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Why are you going there?” Pete told me he had only been to a New York a couple of times. He didn’t know anybody there and never had work there, so he’d only gone as a tourist.

“Just a few things to take care of,” Pete said with a smile. “Want me to bring you back anything?”

“A bagel,” I said before thinking.

Pete laughed. “You love your carbs.”

I laughed as I felt myself blush. “Hey, that’s why I go to the gym 5 times a week,” I began. “Well, carbs, and that I don’t have a life.” I would have never said something so self-deprecating in front of Pete when I first started or even within the first six months, but I had been with WebMatch for almost a year at this point. While I still found Pete super attractive and slightly intimidating, we regularly talked about our personal lives.

Pete knew that I hadn’t started seeing anybody since the whole Mark debacle. I even told him about the whole wedding, even though I was super embarrassed. I talked to a few guys online and had even gone out with Shelby a couple of times, but I wasn’t really getting anywhere. I think I just needed some time to focus on myself.

“Well, I’ll bring you home a dozen bagels on one condition. You have to go to that yoga class with me when I get back.”

I rolled my eyes. “Pete, you can go to a yoga class by yourself. Plenty of guys do it; it’s not girly!”

“Do you want the bagels or not?”

I agreed to Pete’s silly deal even though Anna was bringing me a couple bagels that weekend. Besides, I obviously wanted to go to this yoga class if only to see Pete in athletic clothing.

Later that day, I got a text from Anna letting me know that she had just landed and she was heading over. Then she added, “And you’ll never guess who was on my flight.”

“Who?” I sat on my couch staring at my phone for what felt like an hour. How could she hook me with that text and then leave me hanging?

I finally threw down my phone when she didn’t respond and got up to finish preparing for her arrival. I had bought a bunch of Anna’s favorite foods and cleaned every inch of my small, studio apartment.

When Anna showed up at my door, I immediately wrapped my arms around her and squealed. But that doesn’t mean I waited more than three seconds before asking about her text message.

“Oh!” She exclaimed. “So, as I was getting out of my seat, I looked toward the back of the plane and Mike was there.”

Mike, my first boyfriend, was in Santa Monica? What was he doing here? And why didn’t he tell me? It’s not like we weren’t on good terms, especially after we saw each other about a year back.

“Did you talk to him?” I asked. I couldn’t tell if I was excited at the possibility of seeing him or repulsed. And I’d be lying if the possibility of sex didn’t go through my head. I mean, it had been a while and the chance at familiar sex was something I was ready to go for without a second thought.

“Yeah,” she responded. “I waved to him and then looked for him at baggage claim. He said he has a cousin here.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. How did I not know Mike had family here? He had a lot of cousins, though, and I’m sure one of them could’ve moved to California for work or something.

“Do you want to see him?” Anna asked.

I realized that I had been sitting there processing all this information. I shook my head and focused. “Uh, no. I mean, not necessarily. You told him you were visiting me, right? So if he wants to see me, he can reach out.”

“Right,” Anna replied. “But it’s honestly fine if you want to text him. I won’t judge you.”

I laughed and hugged Anna again. “Damn it, dude. I missed you!”

“We miss you,” Anna replied as she hugged me tight. “Okay, we’re watching Broad City and drinking.” Anna pulled out a bottle of rosé. “But I’m not drinking too much. I want to look skinny tomorrow in my bathing suit. There’s only so much Instagram filters can do.”

Anna and I caught up while we finished the bottle of wine before falling asleep in my queen size bed. Early the next morning, we got ready and headed for the beach.

We spent time laying in the sun and floating in the water. I didn’t look at my phone until we were getting ready to leave around three, but sure enough, I had a text message from Mike.

Guardian Angel

"Are you crazy?" I asked Mark as I clutched my hands in front of my stomach. I felt sick at the whole accusation. "I did not fuck Greg in a bathroom. Why would you even think that?"

Mark let out a heavy sigh. "That's just what he said and then I saw you two walking back in together. I mean, where would that crazy rumor even come from if somebody hadn't seen something?"

I couldn't believe I was standing with a guy I barely knew outside his friend's wedding reception arguing over whether I fucked a bridesmaid's boyfriend in the bathroom. I could only imagine the other conversations going on.

"Mark, I don't know what to tell you," I began. Then, I remembered something. "Oh, Sara saw me!" Sara was my friend from the shuttle that I ran into while fixing my shoe. "Go ask her."

Mark pressed his palm against his forehead. "I'm pretty sure she's the one who told Brandon."

I felt the anger rising through my body. "Okay, she saw us outside the bathroom. He was helping me with my shoe. Nothing, I mean nothing, happened. He has a girlfriend!"

"Yeah," Mark laughed. "Well, I heard that doesn't really matter too much to him."

"Okay, but it matters to me! And I came here with you." Then, I thought of something else and was feeling so angry that I felt the need to go somewhat off topic. "We wouldn't even have been talking if you hadn't left me alone all dinner."

"That really bothered you?" Mark asked, looking at me like I was crazy. "I was gone for two minutes."

"It wasn't two minutes. I finished eating before you got back." I shook my head and realized that this argument didn't matter. "Whatever, Mark. I'll go find Greg and we can work this all out now."

Mark shrugged. "If you want to go back in there, I won't stop you."

My emotions took a sharp turn and I felt the waterworks coming. "You want me to go?"

Mark didn't say anything. He just looked at the ground. "I figured you'd be uncomfortable."

I blinked back tears. "Yeah, I'll find a way home or to another hotel or something. Hey, maybe I'll stay with Greg!" Okay, my anger still wasn't gone.

Mark chuckled. "Real mature, Caroline."

Real mature? I couldn't even look at Mark anymore. I turned around and didn't look back at all.

I ordered an Uber and waited outside the hotel. I realized that I had to go back to the hotel to get my stuff and then I had to decide between getting another room or taking an Uber back home. I couldn't just go home, though, because I left my car at Mark's house. Plus, I'd have to get my car in the morning because I'd been drinking. I sat on a bench, put my face in my hands, and let the tears come.

"Are you okay?" I heard a voice ask me. I was so not in the mood to talk to anybody, but I looked up anyway. It was Kat, Mark's female, vegan friend.

I shrugged. "Everyone thinks I'm a big whore in there, don't they?"

Kat picked up her dress and came to sit next to me. "They'll get over it," she responded. She had a really soothing voice that made me sure she'd be an excellent mother one day. "Listen, I'll talk to Mark. I know he can be a handful, but he's a really great guy and I think you two would be good together. Tomorrow morning, everybody's going to realize that this story is nonsense."

"Thanks," I replied as I wiped away a couple tears. "It's fine, though. It's too much drama too soon."

Kat sighed. "Yeah, I get that."

I began to cry again. "Ugh, I'm sorry," I said before the tears could really start. Then I proceeded to tell her about my dilemma with the room, my stuff, and my car.

Kat opened up her crystal clutch. "Here," she passed me a hotel key. "My cousin and her husband were supposed to come, but their baby got sick so they left early. She gave me her room key in case I wanted to get away from everybody. I'll get your stuff and bring it to you. We can figure out the car tomorrow, but I'll help you stay away from Mark. I'll help you stay away from everybody."

I thanked her and then, just when I thought she couldn't be any nicer, she pulled me in for a hug.

My tears had subsided and I decided to ask her exactly what was on my mind. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. Can I just ask, though, why are you doing this all for me?"

Kat sighed. "Let's just say, I've been in a similar position. People can be so gossipy even when they don't know what the fuck they're talking about. This night will pass."

Kat was a few years older than me. I think Mark said 29, but I felt like she had years of wisdom on me. "Well, I owe you big time."

"Don't mention it," Kat said with the wave of her wrist. With that, she rubbed my back with one more soothing touch and stood up. "I'll call your room tomorrow when I have your stuff."

A few minutes later, my Uber was there and I felt comfortable going back to the hotel. I got to the room and collapsed on the bed.

Kat delivered my stuff the next morning as promised before letting me know that she'd drive me back to Mark's house to get my car. We talked the whole car ride and I was surprised at how comfortable I felt after such a horrible ending to the previous night. We even exchanged phone numbers and I couldn't believe that I might have a new friend after all of this. At least one person still liked me.

The Reception

The hall for the wedding was nice. High ceilings and a huge marble staircase greeted us when we walked in, along with servers carrying champagne. Of course, I immediately grabbed one. I also downed it in minutes.

When I grabbed another, Mark gave me a warning look. "We still have the ceremony before the reception," he reminded me.

I playfully rolled my eyes and winked at him. "I can handle my alcohol."

He started to introduce me to a few people; it was his childhood friend's wedding so I ended up meeting some of his friends, along with their parents. His parents luckily weren't there.

The ceremony was short and sweet. By the time we got to the cocktail hour, I was three glasses of champagne deep and starving. There were a bunch of stations bordering the room and we stopped by all of them.

Once I noticed Mark's short attention span earlier in the day, it's like I couldn't notice anything else. He would ask about one option on a table and become disinterested before the server even finished answering the question.

I tried to limit my plate, even though I wanted to pile on the mac and cheese like it was my last meal before execution. We ended up in front of the bar and I immediately ordered more champagne. Mark didn't say anything this time, because he probably forgot it was my fourth glass.

I met most of the people who would be at our table during cocktail hour. Everyone was very welcoming and I could tell they were a close knit group. A guy's friends can be a huge variable and in Mark's case, they were a plus.

I was stuffed by the time the cocktail hour was over, but I knew I had to focus my energy. I was not going to be a boring date. The least I could do for Mark was be a good date.

Once we were informed the cocktail hour was over, Mark guided me into the main room with his hand on my lower back. It was sexy.

I grabbed another glass of champagne. I was not feeling even slightly buzzed and I was getting frustrated.

When we got to the table, I knew almost everyone there; the vegan couple, the newly engaged couple, and the really successful couple. A man in a dark gray suit walked up to us and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you," he began. "I'm Greg, Megan's boyfriend."

Mark extended his hand and I followed suit. Mark soon informed me that Megan was in the bridal party, along with the girl in the vegan couple. They were both in a different area, about to make their entrances.

For the next couple hours, I had so much fun. We all drank, talked, and danced. When dinner arrived, Mark was seated for maybe 90 seconds before he whispered in my ear that he'd be right back.

I began indulging in my roasted chicken for a bit before looking up and realizing nobody was at the table, except Greg. He was looking at me and laughed when we made eye contact.

He picked up his plate and switched seats so he was sitting next to me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be a creep," Greg said. I shook my head, but he continued. "You're an outsider like me, huh?"

I looked across the room. I saw Mark, with most of our table, chatting with another group of people. "I guess, but I'm having fun."

"Me too," he continued. "I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but didn't really feel like eating alone."

I smiled. "Me neither, but I'm sure they'll be back soon."

It turns out, Greg made a good move. Mark and his close friends didn't come back over for at least 15 minutes and we were done eating by that point.

"I'm starving," Mark said upon return. No apology?

"I'm going to grab a drink. Do you want?"

Mark shook his head. "Boy, you're a drinker, huh?" I smiled and didn't respond.

I was waiting for my drink when I heard Greg behind me. "I guess we're on the same schedule now."

I laughed. "Or you're stalking me."

He laughed. "You caught me," he replied before the bartender appeared with my drink.

I had one more encounter with Greg about an hour later. I was walking out of the bathroom when my left heel broke. "Damn it," I said out loud to myself as I reached down to check the damages. I was balancing myself against the wall when I heard his voice again. "Okay, you're allowed to file a restraining order now."

I turned and laughed. "I always thought it'd be cool to have a stalker, so we're good," I responded.

"Let me take a look at that," Greg insisted as he bent over and looked at my shoe. At that moment, my friend from the bus came towards me.

"Oh my God, I've been looking for you all night!" She squealed.

I was actually eager to see her all night, but at that moment I couldn't wrap my head around anything besides my shoes. "Me too! We'll catch up in there after I finish up here."

She nodded and stumbled passed me.

"Okay, all fixed."

I looked down and wiggled my foot. The shoe looked good as new!

"Whoa, don't shake it too much," Greg laughed. "It's only held together with nail glue."

"Nail glue?"

Greg took a small tube out of his pocket and wiggled it around. "Megan asked me to hold on to it earlier in case she broke a nail. I guess it came in handy."

"Well, thanks," I said. "I'd seriously be lost right now if it weren't for you."

We walked back into the reception and I found Mark. He was talking to one of his friends and when I walked over to him he gave me a serious look. "Can we go talk?" He asked.

Getting to the Wedding

I called Anna as soon as I got home.

"Ugh," she began. "On to the next one, Caroline. He's the worst!"

I was surprised Anna had this reaction. I was honestly expecting her to encourage me to go to the wedding. Over the past few months, I had depended on her to tell me everything I did was okay.

"Why not?" I asked as I began looking through my closet. One could argue that I had already made up my mind. "It's not like I have anything else to do that night."

Anna paused for a second. "I don't know, I wouldn't go."

I completely saw where Anna was coming from and I couldn't deny that she had a point. But that didn't stop me from throwing on a dress from my closet and agreeing to meet Mark at his place anyway.

He said we'd leave from his house together and that it was about an hour drive. He had a hotel room for the night and told me that he could change it to two twin beds if I wanted. I heard my mother's voice telling me, "that's not going to keep him from murdering you in your sleep." Even though we hadn't slept together yet, I told him one king size bed was fine. I wondered how I could casually ask why my invite was so last minute, but couldn't think of a way to phrase it.

"Hey," Mark greeted me at the front door. He kissed me on the cheek and it felt strangely familiar. "How're you? I should be ready in a few minutes if you want to come in."

I nodded and walked into his house with my overnight bag.

I sat on Mark's couch as he got ready and in that 15 minutes or so, I realized something very important.

"How was your day?" He asked as he threw some clothes out of his bedroom onto the couch I was sitting on.

"It was okay," I began as I pressed my lips together and glared at the television. "How was yours?"

"Hectic," he stated as I heard a bag zipper. "I had a bunch of errands. Oh, man! I love this commercial."

I looked at the tv and a GEICO commercial was on. "Yeah, I like this one."

"Yeah, so I had to pick up my suit from the dry cleaner. I still didn't have a card. I wanted to run to the grocery store quick, but didn't have time to go to the one I like."

"Which one is that?" I asked. Since I was still relatively new, I was always eager to hear about store recommendations.

Mark didn't answer right away. He was looking down at a shirt he had thrown on the couch to pack. He licked his finger and was trying to get a stain out. "Oh, sorry. Um, I usually try to get to Fair Market, but it's far from me."

Things began to click from that point on and our day continued to reinforce my theory. Mark wasn't really playing games; he just couldn't focus on anything. He was on a lot of dating sites (I ended up Internet stalking him with Shelby; sue me). Whenever we'd go out, he'd stare at me, like he was super focused. However, looking back, he had made a few quick comments about not wanting any distractions. Focusing wasn't easy for him and maybe that meant I just wasn't satisfying his varying needs for stimulation. I'm sure some girl could, but I felt like I'd know it by now if that girl was me.

Regardless, Mark was a nice guy. Things didn't have to abruptly end and I still felt like I could enjoy his company. Isn't that what dating is all about? Fun? At least I understood the situation a bit more.

Mark finished packing and we hopped in his car for the drive. He rapidly changed radio stations, as I would have predicted, but maintained fluid conversation. I was able to talk to him a little bit about work and how I was adjusting to California.

"Would you consider moving back to New York? You know, if they somehow offered you a position in a New York City office?"

I squirmed in my seat a bit at the thought of working in the same city as Scott. Even though there would be over eight million people around us, I didn't like the idea of running into him.

"Maybe," I replied. "I miss my family, but I'm starting to feel really comfortable here."

We arrived at the hotel and dropped our bags off in the room. We had about 20 minutes before we had to head down to the shuttle.

"Do you need anything before we head down?" Mark asked. He sure did look good in his gray suit.

I shrugged. "Nope, my clutch is packed."

"Good," he replied. Then, out of nowhere, he approached me and cupped my face. He kissed me deep. Maybe there was something to being with somebody so "spontaneous."

We made out for a few more minutes and while I impulsively wanted to do more, it was better for us to head to the lobby.

As we waited for the elevator, he squeezed my hand. "I'm glad we had some time," he said.

"Me too," I replied with a smile.

We got to the shuttle and it was almost full. There were a couple empty seats toward the front, one in front of the other. I ended up sitting next to a blond girl and he sat in front of me, next to a teenage boy.

After a few minutes, I bonded with the girl sitting next to me. We quickly bonded over the fact that we were both someone's date to this wedding. She had recently started seeing the best man and Mark had told me he grew up with the bride.

By the time the shuttle arrived, I had made a new best friend.