Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“You guys are friends now,” I remind her. “I’m sure he forgave you for all of that.”
She shrugs. “Well, if he really did leave, then I guess it doesn’t matter. Damage we’ve done in the past still leave bad tastes no matter how good things seem now. For all I know, he looks at me every day and wonders if I really like him, or if it’s all an act.” She shakes her head. “Ugh, I should’ve been, like, way less of a judgy mean girl when he was around. He deserved more.”
“You’re talking about him like he’s dead.”
She eyes me. “Sorry.” She takes a step inside, then peers back at me again. “Y’know … you’re the guy on the island everyone comes to for advice. Every lost soul. Every love-starved boy. You’re always the one with the answers. But who’s there to tell you what to do when you’re lost?”
I struggle to reply, then finally retort with: “Who says I’m lost?”
She shakes her head. “Never mind. Hey, if he shows up and everything turns out alright, forget I said any of this.” Then she heads in.
I stay by the door for a while, Mars’s words lingering.
I guess I am lost.
The moment I step inside and let the heavy door shut at my back, Chase appears. “Boss! Boss, boss, boss. I had an issue while you were gone, a nasty issue, and I resolved it, but I’m not sure if I resolved it right, and I—Oh, you look like you’re constipated or something.”
I put my hands on Chase’s shoulders. “Whatever it was that happened while I was gone, I’m confident you handled it perfectly.”
“Uh, ‘perfectly’ isn’t the word I’d use, but—”
“You need to have more confidence in yourself, Chase. I rely on you a lot around here.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” I give him a pat. “You’re a good man with a good head on your shoulders. A bit distracted at times, but smart when it counts.”
“Smart when it counts? Sounds good … I think.”
I move past him and into the kitchen. August, our usual cook, is working tonight, except right now “working” isn’t the operative word; he’s sitting on a turned-over bucket scrolling through his phone with one earbud in and the other hanging down his chest. “‘Sup, boss,” he says upon seeing me. “Slow as hell tonight.”
I push through the swinging door into the bar, where I confirm there isn’t a damned soul in sight. It’s only fitting after combing the quiet town for the past hour looking for Sean that I don’t find anyone here either. Not even Jonah and Kent who like throwing darts Sunday evenings.
The door flies open.
For half a second, my heart leaps into my throat.
Until I realize it’s just Adrian. “Dude, what the balls is up with tonight?”
“You farted and scared everyone on Sugarberry away.”
“Manager wanted us to close up, but I thought I’d see how you’re doing over here. Obviously not much better.” He saunters inside wearing his Thalassa uniform complete with apron and glances around. “Where’s my brother? Isn’t he usually here with Jonah?”
“Was just thinking that. Not tonight, I guess.”
“Feels like everyone’s ditched the island.”
The words make my blood run cold. I check my phone just in case I missed a buzz or notification. Nothing. “The summer’s coming to an end,” I mutter, staring at the blank screen resentfully. “Fall will be on us soon.”
“Slower times,” agrees Mars, appearing at the counter next to me and letting out a yawn.
“I don’t mind slow times,” says Adrian as he comes up to the bar and folds his big arms on the counter. “Gives me more time to spend with my man.”
Mars perks up. “You guys set a date yet?”
“Whoa, whoa. One thing at a time. No need to—”
“Hey, is this where the party’s happening?” asks Chase as he emerges from the back. “By the way, I think August fell asleep on a bucket of pickles. Should we prank him or leave him be? Oh, hi, Adrian! Are we talking about your wedding? What’s going on?”
Adrian gives him a hard look. “Why in the hell are you still single? If a pretty-faced, muscle-dork shorty like Finn can keep a man, there’s no reason in the world you can’t.”
Chase blinks his pretty eyes. “Huh?”
Mars sighs on his behalf. “Adrian, it isn’t even close to being the same. Finn and Theo are high school sweethearts. They’re only together by default. Besides, they fight all the time, and I doubt they’re even in love.”
“Damn, girl,” cries Adrian. “That’s some harsh shit.”
“It’s some real shit,” says Mars right back. “No sugar coating. Whenever I see Finn, I don’t see a happy guy in a happy relationship. I see chaos and sadness in his eyes. It’s a bit like a hectic weekend night when Chase is left to work the kitchen ‘cause August and Duncan both called in sick.”