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David was working his charm on a girl outside the surf shop.
Paul and Star had nosebleed seats leaning against the railing of the pier. They shared a carton of popcorn between them for the show.
Star approved of David's potential conquest tonight. The woman was curvy and her ample cleavage was a show of its own in her tight tube top. Her lips were cherry red and stood out even from 30 feet away.
They took turns reaching for handfuls of popcorn as they watched and read body language.
“Ooh, she liked that,” Paul said after the girl giggled and messed with her hair because of something David said.
“Making contact. Atta boy,” Star narrated when David put a hand on her arm and left it there. He stepped just slightly closer, firmly in the other woman’s space.
“He should kiss her.”
“No, he shouldn't,” Star disagreed. “It's all about patience.”
“Boring,” Paul said, munching on another popped kernel.
The girl kept smiling and touching David's bicep, giving a squeeze of the well defined muscle hidden beneath his jacket. She then grew bolder as they spoke and pressed a palm to his chest.
David was all cool and a bit dangerous. The party girl looking for a wild night was reeled in by him hook, line and sinker. The fact it was so easy was a bit disappointing for the crowd. They were hoping for more of a spectacle.
“And there it is... Going in for the kill,” Paul said as they watched David put a hand on her jaw and lean in to murmur something in her ear.
Cherry Lips melted and nodded her head enthusiastically.
“He shoots, he scores,” Star added, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
As if either had any doubts.
David offered his arm and the girl clung to it, giddy. He began walking further away from them, likely headed somewhere secluded beneath the Boardwalk. David raised his free hand to give his audience a subtle goodbye.
Star didn't want to think about Cherry Lips’ fate, so she didn’t.
“Still shoulda kissed her,” Paul shrugged, scraping the bottom of the carton.
“No.”
—-----
When David got back, he bypassed them all watching TV. He sank himself into an armchair off to the side that he tended to favor when he read, though there wasn't a book in sight.
David would normally pile in with them. Lack of space was never a deterrent and he’d perch on the arm of the couch, or squeeze in between bodies, or just climb on one or more of their laps like an overgrown housecat, needing to be part of the festivities.
He didn't do any of the above. He at least did start throwing bits of criticism at the show he wasn't even watching. The chair was too far to the side to afford him a view of the screen, but he acted the contrarian to rile Marko. The brunette was surprisingly invested.
After the episode, they dispersed. Marko and Dwayne went to mess with their guitars and Paul said something Star didn’t catch before he went to his room. Star went to David.
“What’sa matter Romeo?” she asked, carding through his hair. She gently scratched at his scalp when David leaned in.
“Mm. Nothing,” he said.
“Did you…eat her?”
He raised a brow. “You want the answer to that?”
“Nevermind,” she quickly retracted. “Surprised you didn’t come watch with us. You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Just…hm,” he mulled. Not deflecting, just thinking.
“Hm?” Star could tell he was disappointed with how his night had gone.
“I liked the idea of having her more than actually having her, I suppose.”
Star hadn’t really expected an answer. She figured it spoke to his level of brooding that she got one. A seemingly honest one at that.
“Hm,” she confirmed.
He shrugged and said, “Oh well. Always next time.”
David’s smile was bittersweet.
This was far from the first time he’d chased something and didn’t get what he’d hoped for out of it. It evidently wouldn’t be the last. Star wondered if he even knew what it was he was looking for.
Oh well.