Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Each of us took a seat around the glass patio table, drinks in hand, while Oliver and Olivia, Jenna’s kids, chased Sir, Syd and Brian’s dog, around the yard.
“Sean, you surf?”
I was gazing at the sliding door listening to Shayla’s loud, pretty laugh when Jamie spoke, grabbing my attention.
I looked at him. “I have. Wouldn’t say it’s somethin’ I do, though. Fucked around with it when I was younger.”
“You got a board?” Brian asked.
I shook my head.
“That’s a problem.” Brian looked to Jamie after he spoke, who was taking a pull of his beer. “You care?”
“Nope,” Jamie answered, then he directed at me, “Come by the shop. We’ll fix that.”
The slider opened as I was replying, “Doubt I can afford one. Thanks, though. I appreciate the offer.”
“Ain’t nothin’ to afford when it’s free,” Jamie shot back.
I blinked. “You’re not chargin’ me?”
For a fucking surfboard? Was he serious?
“Have you met my woman?” Jamie gestured at Tori as the girls filed outside. “She’ll shut me out for a solid month if I take your money.”
“Longer than that,” Tori cut in, getting everyone’s attention.
She had a bunch of foil in her hair you’d typically wrap food in, which Shayla was examining as she stood on her toes behind Tori.
“Jesus. You bring that shit with you everywhere?” Jamie directed at Shayla.
“Of course,” she replied, looking at him like he was crazy to think she wouldn’t. Then she went back to examining Tori’s head. “I want to add a few more. Hold on,” she said, dashing back inside. “You’re next, Jenna!”
Jenna grinned over her shoulder as she made her way to the end of the deck. She peered out into the yard.
“What’s that shit on your head?” Brian asked Tori as Syd walked over to him and took a seat on his lap.
“It’s foil for my color. What’s it look like?” Tori shot back.
“It looks like you’re tryin’ to pick up a signal out here.”
Everyone started laughing, except Tori.
“Ha ha.” She rolled her eyes to Jamie, then she plastered on a smile, all beauty. “You giving him a board?”
“You think I could go longer than a month without you?”
“Nope.”
“Then I’m givin’ him a board.”
Her smile turned into a grin.
Shayla rushed back outside carrying a bowl and more foil, and directed Tori to the chair, then ended up standing next to the one Jamie was occupying since Tori took his lap instead. Shayla got to work painting more pieces of hair.
“Swing by whenever, man. We’ll get you set up,” Jamie told me.
I was geared up to protest. I didn’t need a board. I especially didn’t need one for free.
What the fuck did I do to deserve it? I barely knew these guys.
Then, looking from Jamie to Shayla and seeing the smile take up her face while she worked, knowing she was responsible for all the kindness being put on me lately, including what I’d felt tonight, and feeling that, remembering why I deserved people treating me this way, I nodded, meeting his gaze.
“Thanks. Appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
I watched the smile Shayla was wearing amp up a bit, though she kept on working and didn’t make a big deal.
I appreciated that too.
“All right, guys. We need to talk carnival details,” Syd announced, then looking to Tori, she added, “You want to take this? You know more about it than I do.”
“Sure thing,” Tori answered with a grin. Then she gave us the run-down of the idea she and Syd had come up with to help kick off the summer season at Whitecaps.
We’d put on a carnival over Memorial Day weekend, offering food, games, and prizes. The menu would be simple—hamburgers and hot dogs—plus sodas and water. There would be a DJ and booths set up the girls would be in charge of, with help from Brian, Jamie, and Cole, considering how many booths Tori wanted to get.
“We want this to be huge,” she said. “I’ve already talked to Nate about it, and he’s down with closing Whitecaps for the day and throwing a kickass party in the parking lot. He knows we’ll make a killing with how many people typically flock to the beach that weekend. And we’ll draw the crowd with good tunes, great food, awesome prizes, and fun games for kids.”
“You can definitely count us in,” Jenna said. She’d walked over during the conversation and took a seat between Jamie and me. “The twins will love it.”
Tori smiled. “I think it’ll really kick off an awesome summer for Whitecaps. Nobody else does anything like this. They just open for the day. We’ll be throwing a kickass party. Everyone will want to come back.”
“You got three weeks before that weekend,” Brian said. “Is that enough time to get shit lined up? You’re talking about locking in booths and a DJ. You might be cuttin’ it close.”
I’d been wondering the same thing.