I was sitting across from Crystal, a gorgeous actress I’d just met who was telling me about the two commercials she’d just shot. I’m a huge goober and get excited to hear stories like that. I asked her whether I’d ever see the commercials.

“Well,” she said, “one will just be in the Midwest and the South.”
“Oh really? I’m from the Midwest. What was it for?”
“Steak ‘n’ Shake.”

I lost my cool, and told her how much I love Steak ‘n’ Shake cheese fries.

Next to me, another new friend was telling a story about a hot trip to a nude beach last summer. Some of my friends had gone along, and I’d heard their stories. But I hadn’t heard this guy’s version of it before.

When he finished, he started to talk about heading there this summer. He put his arm around my neck and said, “And I’m guessing I won’t be seeing you there.”

He was right, but I resented that I was so easy to figure out. I don’t even know this guy.

Later, I asked him, “What made you say that I wouldn’t go to a nude beach?”
“Well,” he said, “I’ve been noticing you, watching how you act with people.” He said one thing he’s learned as a world-traveling photojournalist is how to size people up quickly. He said he could tell I’m not a naked person.

Again, he was right. And again I resented it. How can a girl be mysterious if he’s got me pegged so fast? Blast!

The Artist was listening to him tell me why I wouldn’t go to a nude beach.

“Yeah,” she conceded, “but you never know with C.”

And my mysteriousness was restored.