Jay rarely considered himself a poet, but Red brought out his inner sonneteer. His eyes continued their journey the length of her legs, stopped at her shoes. Boat shoes, kind of preppy, in a bright blue. A blue that went well with her red hair and blue eyes, but an odd choice.
Think, Jaybird, think! You’re different from these clods, these bumpkins that have been universally wrong. You’re brilliant in school, you know calculus and organic chemistry like few your age, you have personally seen and identified over 207 species of birds. Why would you be intimidated by a pair of boobies?
An image came to Jay then of Boobies, the pelagic birds similar to the Albatross, bobbing their heads in their unique, comical mating dance. Nature shows on TV love to score the motion with upbeat Jazz. Red wanted to do her own mating dance, or she wouldn’t be here, naked, having strange men lineup to try and solve her riddle. While wearing those odd blue shoes.
What was her mating dance? Don’t step on my blue boat shoes? The blue-footed shuffle?
Blue-footed! Could it be? Jay’s heart was racing. He waited, took a few deep breaths, like he did before mounting the starting blocks before a race. His heart slowed. Still, he was nervous enough to wonder if he’d be able to articulate words once he was face to face with her.
A muscular, tanned man, at least five years older than Jay, with flowing blond-streaked hair, was approaching Red. The kind of man who made Jay feel completely uninteresting to women. He saw the taller girl eying the man almost hungrily, openly appraising him while his attention was on Red.
Then the man was striding off, muttering and shaking his head. Jay stepped up. Red smiled at him. Instead of being intimidated, her smile calmed him, like a soothing warmth passing through his body. He noticed a slight wondering look to her eyes.
“Hi.”
Her smile broadened. “Hi.”
He checked over his shoulder. No one was waiting yet.
“Do you like birds?”
“Huh?” That was tall, tan, and slender, as though he’d just uttered the dumbest pick up line ever. Quite an accomplishment in the current social climate.
But Red’s face lit up in genuine surprise. “I do! I’m named after one.”
It was Jay’s turn to be surprised. “Me too! I’m Jay.”
He held out his hand in greeting.
“Come on, buddy. Take your guess and beat it.” The annoyed voice came from behind him. Looking over his shoulder, two guys had come up close, one tapping his foot, arms crossed over his naked chest.
A soft warm hand took his. “Don’t mind them. I’m Robin. Nice to meet you, Jay.”
Her voice was as soothing as her smile, but he sensed a nervous excitement from her hand in his. An anticipation in her eyes. Could he be right?
“They’re Blue-footed Boobies.” He blurted it out in a rush.
“Oh my god!” She dropped his hand, leaving him momentarily empty inside at the lost contact. Then her arms were tight around him, her soft hair and its unexpected intoxicating scent covering his face, her body pressed close to his as she squealed in delight. “Finally!”