LISA

"Did you have fun with your old man?"

"Yeah, it was nice. Jackie came too. I don't understand why those two don't just get the awkward part over with and start dating already." Jihyo and I are sitting on my balcony, watching the world go by. Below the street is riddled with people heading for the bars and restaurants and The Oyster Bar underneath my apartment has a long queue of patrons waiting for a table. It's nice up here, with the sound of laughter and music in the background, and the smell of food from the restaurants.

Jihyo laughs and refills her mug with tea from the pot between us. "Still best friends?"

"Yep. Still besties. And she does his laundry every week. I mean, it's blatantly obvious they like each other, and she sees his dirty underwear on a regular basis, so what the hell are they waiting for? It's been thirty years since my mother died."

"She was your mother's best friend," Jihyo says. "Even after thirty years, I can see how that doesn't sit well with either of them."

"But it would be good for him to have a companion. I'm worried about him. He's walking with a limp and the farm is becoming too much for him. He's so stubborn, though. He won't hear of moving anytime soon." I glance at my tea, not feeling it anymore. "Hey, do you want something stronger? I have a nice Scotch. You and Cameron can stay over if you want."

Jihyo chuckles and rolls her eyes at me. "Here we go again. Sure, why not? It's almost bedtime for him and I'm enjoying this." She gets up and points to the convenience store across the road. "You pour that Scotch and I'll go get him a toothbrush."

"Cheers." I clink my glass against Jihyo's and take a sip, savoring the golden liquid that warms my throat. It's been a while since they've stayed over. Nowadays, life gets in the way and we rarely have a strong drink together anymore. "To the wildest thing I've done in weeks."

Jihyo lets out a roaring laugh. "Same here, hun. Five years ago we were both total party animals and look at us now. A glass of Scotch on a Thursday night is as bad-ass as it gets." She downs the whiskey and leans back with a delighted sigh. "Life isn't so bad, though. My mother is retiring soon, so she'll be able to look after Cameron more, which means I can start dating."

"Ooh… you're ready to date" I ask in a teasing tone. Jihyo's boyfriend left her not long after Cameron was born and like me, she's been struggling with being a single, working mom over the years.

"Yeah. I'm ready. All in all, I'm in a good place. I have my life in order, I can pay my bills, Cameron is doing well and I just got my car fixed." She winks. "It's the little things, right?"

"Absolutely." I refill our glasses and sink back in my chair too, propping my feet onto the balcony railing. "And where are you planning to meet the lucky guy?"

"Oh, I don't know." Jihyo brushes her auburn hair behind her ears. "Online, in bars, at the beach, maybe?" She narrows her eyes at me. "What about you?"

"Me?" I laugh. "I can't date while I'm escorting. It would be crazy. No woman would be okay with that."

"True. But you won't be doing that for much longer, right?"

"No. I was thinking maybe three more months, just to save up a little more before I start working for myself."

Jihyo nods. "So, once you stop doing what you're doing, you can start dating too. We could double-date." She shoots me a cheeky grin and adds, "It's not like you're going to steal my men."

"Gross, no." I look over my shoulder and glance into the living room to make sure Lily and Cameron haven't snuck out of her bedroom. "But dating with a kid is difficult, don't you think?"

"I don't know. I'm yet to find out." Jihyo purses her lips. "I guess it would have to be someone who loves kids and someone who's responsible… And good-looking, of course," she adds, then shakes her head with a groan. "Okay, I'm basically fucked."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean do discourage you. I love that you want to get out there and meet people again."

"No, you're right," Jihyo says. "The only single guys here are real estate agents and all they want is a bit of fun between the sheets."

"That's not true. Dave from the convenience store is single," I say, and we both burst out in raucous laughter.

"Thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer someone under the age of seventy." She tilts her head and regards me. "Have you not met someone you've felt attracted to? In all the time you've been back from New York?"

"No," I say resolutely, then hesitate for a moment. Sipping my whiskey, I think of Miss Kim.

"What?" Jihyo nudges me. "Come on, tell me. I know you're holding back."

"It's nothing. Just a woman whose pool I started servicing this week. I felt attraction for the first time in years but it's pointless. She's straight and rich and I don't even know her; it's purely physical and entirely one-sided."

"How can you be so sure it's only one-sided?"

"Because I just told you, she's straight." I roll my eyes at Jihyo. "And even if she wasn't, she's way out of my league." Still, as the night grows darker and the alcohol relaxes me, I allow myself to picture her before me and indulge in the flutter that spreads through my core. Pointless or not, it's nice to feel that good old tug of desire again.