summer boy ~ tal fishman ✓

~52~

'Hole-in-one! Ha! I'm better than you'll ever be!' I say in Anthony's face. He just looks disappointed. His fault. He should never have challenged me to make a hole-in-one after he didn't. 'Honey, this is the second course, but continue', Meredith interrupts. 'Shh, don't ruin my moment. I'm better at something than Anthony for once.'

'Once, once. It's not that hard being better than Anthony, you've probably done it a million times without even realizing', Tal says and he gives me a kiss on my cheek. I blush at his unexpected comment and kiss. 'Says the giraffe with a beard', Anthony mumbles back. I love these little roast-battles we have sometimes. We're weird friends, I know.

Meredith hits the golf ball but she doesn't hit it right and so she doesn't get a hole-in-one. 'Awh, I'm losing already!' 'No, you're not Mer. You have to hit it until you make the ball roll into the hole, so you can still get it in two tries. That's the entire purpose of mini-golfing. Plus, it's the second course, like you just said. You can do it!'

'Thanks for the motivational speech hun. I'm feeling way better already', she replies with sarcasm in her voice. I roll my eyes at her. 'Love you too, Mer.'

'So this guy literally walks up to me and thinks he's the best or something so he asks for my number in French. I decide to reply as American as possible so I fake this southern accent and I think I said something like 'I'm sorry hun, no French'. He looks disappointed but asks again in Spanish. Like, Spanish!' I laugh at her stupid story. Anthony and Tal are pretending not to listen but I know they are curious too.

'And then?' 'Well, I thought it was cute he was doing that much effort, but I didn't want to give him my actual number. I mean, for all I know he's some kind of creepy little stalker or whatever. So I, like possibly kissed him on his cheek. And I could have maybe whispered 'demain, ici, à six heures' and walked away after that.' 'Girl what? Did you meet him again, though?' Anthony asks with a really high-pitched voice. It's obvious he's really gotten curious for the ending now.

'Oh, girl, yes I did! And I'm wearing that green crop top, you know. The one we bought together?' I nod, pretending to remember. 'Well, I was wearing that with a new skirt I bought- which I totally have to show you by the way- and went there. He actually showed up! He really surprised me with that. And a rose he took with him. A rose! So I was sitting there nearly fainting because of the adorableness, but oh well. Then we literally bought a crèpe and went to the Eiffel Tower and he kissed me! So French!' she squeals.

'That's so cute, Mer! Are you two still in touch, did he get your number afterward?' 'Nah, I ran into him on the streets later that trip doing the exact same thing to some other girl', she says while waving her hand, as if dismissing it. Then she seems to realize something and she turns to face Anthony.

'Anthony, I'll bring you on my next trip to France.' 'Why me?' 'Well first of all, if I take Jul, I'll have to take Tal as well. Second, I can pretend you're my boyfriend so all those guys won't hit on me as much.' 'Confident much', Anthony mutters.

'Oh, and since it's my idea, you're paying for the entire trip. That's the most important point', she adds before she starts laughing. Anthony rolls his eyes. 'Take Michael, he's probably way more willing- suitable. Yes, way more suitable for your fake-boyfriend role', Anthony says. Meredith seems to become slightly nervous as she starts to play with the ends of her hair and her cheeks turn the slightest bit pinker.

'I'm going to return the golf clubs', Mer says to get out of this situation. She stands up. 'I'll help, to be your fake boyfriend if the cashier tries to hit on you. And to carry those really heavy clubs. A girl can't possibly carry that.'

I open my mouth to say something against him about women being independent and golf clubs aren't that heavy, but I know Meredith will. Plus, Anthony's doing it to annoy her, I've seen him do it before. I look at them arguing about women's independence and strength while walking away. I shake my head at them.