by Susan Hatler
“I’ll have the tortilla soup. I just need something light since I’m having dinner with Cody tonight. He’s cooking steak, lobster, and loaded baked potatoes. Not good for the diet, but he says it’s his favorite meal.”
The waiter dashed up to our table. He tugged at his uniform, gave the crowded dining room a look filled with utter despair and then asked, “What were your drinks again?”
“Iced tea.” I gave him a smile as Wendy and Janine reminded him of their drink orders. “We’re also ready to order. I’d like shrimp and crab on romaine salad, no guacamole.”
Wendy ordered the same. Janine asked for the soup.
“Got it,” he said, as the woman at the next table over bellowed for the waiter. He wiped his brow and dashed toward her.
“The place is packed. Is tourism up this year?” Janine asked.
Wendy nodded. “The inn’s completely booked. It’s a shame to turn people away, but we’re renovating a couple of the buildings so those units aren’t available. Between the new library, the new artisan shops and restaurants, and the fact that the soap opera Just One Love filmed at Charlie’s house on the bluffs here last fall, tourism is really cranking up. Speaking of Charlie, she’s coming home this weekend. She’s got a break from filming and I want to throw her a little party. You’re both invited by the way. You can bring a date, too, if you want.”
The only date I wanted to bring had left me puzzled by a kiss on the cheek. Had that meant something, or not? I considered that as I crumbled a tortilla chip into tiny pieces in my hand.
“Is the party going to be casual?” I asked.
“Dressy-casual. I bought a new dress for the occasion. I was thinking of setting the tables on the back of the lawn near the beach since Max just surprised me with that gazebo.”
I blinked. “Gazebo? Did you say he surprised you with a gazebo?”
Her entire face lit up. “Didn’t I tell you? I told Max about the gazebo that had been there when I was a girl. Brian gave him an old photo and then he had a replica built.”
I smiled. “We spent so much time in the gazebo in high school. Until those guests decided to start a bonfire inside it, anyway. It was a shame when it burned down.”
Wendy reached for a tortilla chip. “Well, it’s back. Max found out who built the original and he went to him and asked if he still had the plans. Then he had it built off-site and hauled in on a day when I was out. I came home to a gazebo! I got home right before dark and that gazebo was all swaddled in sheer white draperies with those little fairy lights shining all over and around its walls. It was magical, like it had never been gone at all.”
Janine sighed. “That’s the most romantic gift I’ve ever heard of any man giving to a woman. You’ve got such a good guy.”
Wendy beamed. “I know, right? Max is really good at romantic things.”
I wanted a relationship that could make me smile like that—a relationship that was filled with grand romantic gestures and not bitterness over a coffee purchase. I wanted that kind of relationship with Brian, but it was never going to happen. I so needed advice from my friends on how to get over him. I opened my mouth to ask—
“The party sounds like fun,” Janine said, unknowingly cutting me off. “I’ll ask Cody if he’ll be my date. Although he saw a spread on Charlie in a magazine and says Charlie Rockwell is hotter than the women from Baywatch. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him I know her,” she joked.
Wendy laughed. “How’s it going with him?”
“Oh, it’s good,” she said, shrugging.
The server came back with a large tray and set plates down in front of each of us. I stared down at mine as my belly let out an angry rumble. Then he plunked down fresh drinks and dashed away just as Janine said, “Excuse me!”
I stood, trying to spot the waiter through the crowd. No such luck. I saw another one and waved at him frantically. As he went by, he said, “I’ll get your server.”
Wendy poked a fork into her dish. Cheese oozed out of what appeared to be an enchilada. Definitely not a salad.
I sat down.
Janine licked her lips and eyed the juicy, chicken fajitas in a still-sizzling skillet. “Maybe I should just eat it? I’m actually pretty hungry.”
Wendy groaned. “How could he have gotten all of our orders wrong?”
Our waiter came dashing back to our table. “You needed something?”
“Yes,” Wendy said, pointing to a server coming out of the kitchen. “I think she has our orders on that tray. I’ll tell her to bring them here and swap these dishes out. I ordered a salad. Hold on.” She stepped away out of the booth, one hand held up like a traffic cop. The waitress’s feet kept going but her body jerked to a halt. The tray crashed to the floor, sending lettuce and shrimp flying under our table. A dish shattered to pieces.
My mouth dropped open. “Are you okay?”
Wendy nodded. “Oh! I’m so sorry!”
A busboy ran out from the kitchen. Our waiter waved Wendy off, assuring her he’d return with our correct orders. Wendy gave us a helpless look. I lifted my shoulders high, torn between laughter and sympathy. At least nobody was hurt.
“Wait!” I yelled, making our waiter stop in his tracks. “Those are our orders under the, um, table. But I think we’ll just eat what we have in front of us. It’s fine, really.”
The waiter nodded. “Again, I apologize. I’ll figure out whose order you got and put another one in. So sorry for the trouble. It’s my first day.”
“I’d never have guessed,” Janine whispered, with a smile.
Wendy sat back down. I took a cautious sip of my iced tea. Thankfully, it was just iced tea this time. No alcohol.
Janine took a bite of the fajitas. “Oh wow, they’re delicious. So much better than soup. I’m not going to have much of an appetite tonight on my date with Cody. Oh, well.”
I stuck a fork into what looked like chile relleno, oozing with sauce. I wanted to eat the whole thing but one bite assured me I had zero appetite after all. My dilemma over Brian was seriously starting to affect my stomach. “You’ve been dating Cody a few weeks now. It’s going well?”
“Pretty much.” Janine took a sip of her drink. “But he’s into all those extreme sports, you know? Like freestyle mountain climbing and motocross racing. Plus, he goes downhill skiing on deserted mountains wearing a beacon. Not exactly my thing.”
Wendy sipped her iced tea. “He doesn’t expect you to go with him, does he?”
“Not on those weekends. But we’ve been hiking a lot. Sometimes I’d rather be dancing at a club in the city, though. Or go see a musical. He’s just so rugged that I’m not sure he’d enjoy those things with me.”
“Maybe there’s an extreme ballroom dancing class somewhere,” I joked, setting my fork down. “Where you dance on a cliff at the Grand Canyon, or something.”
“That might be the only way to get him dancing.” Janine laughed, filling a tortilla up with the chicken fajita mix. She chewed and swallowed. “Maybe I will ask him to something sophisticated in the city. We’re in a relationship so we should each do things the other likes.”
I reached across the table and squeezed both of their hands. “I’m so happy for you two. You’re lucky to have found guys you really like, and who like you back.”
Wendy smiled. “I feel pretty lucky to have found Max. I can’t imagine my life without him. Is there someone you want to bring to the party, Megan?”
Now was my chance to ask their advice. I sat back against the booth’s vinyl cushion. “Well, there’s this one guy I like, but I don’t think he’s interested in me.”
Wendy pointed her fork in my direction before dipping it back into her dish. “He’d be crazy not to be interested in you.”
I sighed. “Crazy just about describes the guys I’ve dated lately. Speaking of, I saw the cops at the diner again this morning. My pancake date’s back, demanding the reinstatement of the all-you-can-eat pancake buffet.”
Janine shook her head. “Did
you meet him on that dating app thing?”
I nodded. “I deleted that app right after, too. Those profiles sound great, but wow—anyone can sound good in three hundred words or less. Anyway, I can’t ask the guy I’d like to ask. So maybe I’ll just come to the party stag. That’s fine.”
Wendy frowned. “Why can’t you ask the guy you like to come to the party with you? You won’t know if he’s interested or not until you ask.”
Uh-oh. I’d walked right into that one. I lifted my hand casually. “He’s never indicated he likes me. I’m sure I’d just be in for a world of hurt.”
Saying it to other people solidified my thoughts somehow. Saying it made it all the more real. Brian didn’t—and would never—like me the way I liked him.
Janine set her fork aside. “Then why not ask someone else? What about Jackson? You already know him after all. He’s nice and sweet, too. I’ve been around him quite a lot since he’s been staying at Cody’s house. I can promise you I’ve never seen him do anything like the guys you’ve dated lately have done.”
Jackson was nice and sweet. He was also very talented. I just didn’t feel even a smidge of interest in him. But maybe that was because I’d never really given him a chance. I’ve been too hung up on Brian. Time to move on.
“I have an idea.” Janine clapped her hands together. “What if the four of us go to the party together? It would be a like a double date. You and Jackson, and Cody and me.”
“Okay.” I nodded, even though I hadn’t really wanted to say yes. But this might be the only way to move on from Brian once and for all.
The Inn at Blue Moon Bay was lit up and lovely against the darkening sky when I arrived. Because the inn was full to capacity, Wendy had opened the conference rooms to be used as part of Charlie’s party. But at the moment it seemed that most guests were gathered near the gazebo.
The sparkling blue dress I wore swirled around my legs and the light breeze ruffled the long blond strands of my hair as I walked toward the white gazebo, which was decorated with sheer white draperies. My nerves tightened with each step. I was here on a date with Jackson and for some strange reason I felt like I was betraying Brian. Maybe because they were both woodworkers? I had no idea. I just wanted the strange feeling to go away.
Brian stood on the back deck with a cluster of people, who were talking animatedly with one another. As if sensing me, he turned and our gazes locked. My stomach filled with butterflies as we stood there, just looking at each other, for the longest moment. Then I noticed Chelsea Chambers, who was also in the group on the deck, turn to Brian. She latched onto his arm and whispered something in his ear. He dipped his head to listen to her and I sighed.
I was there on a date and it seemed Brian was, too. Well, so what? I shouldn’t care. I lifted my head high and strode toward the gazebo, not bothering to remember that I was walking downward across a lawn and in heels. As I stepped forward, one heel caught in a soft grassy hollow and I shot forward.
Somehow I stuck one hand out in time to stop myself from falling face first into the grass, but my knees were not so lucky. I went down on them painfully hard, and my wrist throbbed from breaking my landing. The same momentum that had lurched me forward also caused me to reflexively latch onto a member of the wait staff. The man went down next to me—full sprawl—on his back, his feet high in the air, polished shoes pointing toward the sky.
“Oh, no!” I exclaimed.
By some miracle, the server’s appetizer tray was still upright, perched at the tips of his fingers, with something that looked like crab puffs on display. I reached for the tray and got it safely in my hands, while the man picked himself up, and dusted himself off.
I went to hand him the tray and stopped. “Hey, don’t you work at Frankie’s Fiesta?”
He blinked a few times. “You’re the lady who doesn’t like Long Islands. Would you care for some champagne, miss? I can fetch it for you—”
“No, no,” I said, backing away warily. The last thing I wanted to do was ask this guy for a favor when I’d knocked him down in front of so many gawking guests. He nodded at me, took the tray, and dashed off with a few blades of grass still sticking out from behind his ear. Oops.
Feeling many eyes on me, I searched for Janine as quickly as possible and found her with Cody and Jackson standing near the gazebo. I raised a hand in greeting, hoping they hadn’t seen my heel-tripping fiasco. Jackson looked amazing in a pair of dark slacks and a crisp button-down shirt. Janine wore a tawny-colored dress with a bubble hem that floated and danced in the breeze.
“Hi.” I stopped beside my double-date group, my heart beating frantically. I wanted to think that was a good thing. It wasn’t. Those palpitations were from nerves, and nothing else.
Jackson reached for my hand and let his fingers linger on my skin as we air-kissed each other’s cheeks. “You look great.”
I took my hand back. “So do you. The whole place looks amazing.”
The lawn was edged with tiny lights that also ran along the roof of the gazebo. Linen-covered tables had been set out across the back deck and classical music came through the outdoor speakers. The four of us made idle chit-chat but my nerves were still on edge.
Wendy and Charlie came over to where we stood. Charlie hugged me and then Wendy gave me a little nudge with her hip that pushed me right against Jackson. She also gave me a meaningful glance and mouthed, “He’s hot. Go get him.”
“I am,” I mouthed. Yes, Jackson was incredibly hot. The guy should seriously be on the cover of one of those western romance novels. But I didn’t like feeling that I was on a date with the wrong guy, even though the smart thing was to give the evening with Jackson a chance.
“I love your dress, Charlie,” Janine said.
I nodded. “Me, too. And don’t you dare say ‘this old thing?’ either.”
Charlie chuckled. “The designer sent it to me.”
“What?” I asked, knowing how many zeroes it would take to purchase a dress like that.
Charlie patted the skirt of the flowing gown. The silk shimmered beneath her fingers. “Perk of being a Hollywood actress,” she said, winking at me.
I opened my mouth to say “wow” but Cody cut in just as Max came walking up. “Hey, Max. Good to see you again. Do you know if there’s good diving right here?”
Max nodded. “Sure is. What do you have in mind?”
“I want to execute a leap and dive.”
“A what?” Max asked.
I shot a glance at Janine, who just looked baffled. She was probably worried he’d ask her to do a leap and dive—whatever that was—with her. I bit my lip to hold in my giggle.
Cody made a sweeping gesture with his arms. Janine and I ducked to keep from getting hit in the head. Cody didn’t even seem to notice but Jackson did. He pulled us back and gave me a wink. My nerves dissolved and I smiled back at him.
Cody raised his arms. “You know, a leap and dive. Parachute out over the ocean. Cut the chute and make sure the tank’s working.”
Max shook his head. “Not sure.”
“Let me show you what I was thinking.” Cody headed toward the water with Max. Charlie and Wendy turned around to talk to a few other people. Janine, Jackson, and I stood there looking at each other.
Janine’s mouth turned downward. “Leap and dive? That sounds dangerous.”
“Knowing Cody, I’m sure it is.” Jackson raised his brows. “Did you see the Blue Moon Bay Theatre is putting on a new version of Macbeth? You’re a Shakespeare fan, right?”
Janine nodded. “I’m considering buying tickets for it, but I’m afraid Cody would be bored. I don’t really want to go alone either.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said, although Macbeth sounded like a bit of a snoozefest to me.
“Would you ladies like a glass of wine? Janine prefers white? What about you, Megan?”
I nodded. “White is fine. Thanks.” I looked over at the bar, which was a cool set up. Wendy had skipped the tiki hut madness an
d opted for a bar that looked like it could have come straight out of a nineteen forties movie set. Knowing Charlie, maybe it had.
Jackson headed off to get our drinks. Janine moved to one side, straining to find Cody. “I can’t believe Cody hustled Max off like that.” She threw her hands up. “Oh, well. That’s just him, always scouting out his next thrill.”
Olivia swept up, enclosing Janine and me in a big hug. “So good to see you both. We’ll talk more later. I just met the woman who bought the mansion next door to Charlie’s on the bluffs. She wants to hold a housewarming ball, of all things. Oh, there she is. See you later!”
Olivia flitted off just as Jackson returned with our drinks. The music swirled softly around us and people danced on the lawn between the lights. The ocean rose and fell behind us, providing a magical counterpoint to the band’s tempo. Stars dotted across the sky and the moon ducked behind some clouds, beaming its light down on us in intermittent waves.
Janine glanced from me to Jackson and then back to me again. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me for a minute. I’m going to find the ladies room.”
I nodded. The last thing I felt like doing was being alone with Jackson. This double-date felt majorly awkward, especially since romance practically oozed from every corner of the inn’s yard, yet I didn’t feel a bit of romance between us. Maybe I wasn’t giving him a chance.
I deliberately turned to Jackson. “Janine told me you were an architect? How did you go from architect to woodworking?”
He lifted his wine glass to his lips, his brow creasing thoughtfully. “My grandparents lived in an old Victorian back in Texas. That’s what first got me interested in restoration. As an architect, I worked on commercial buildings and stores. I enjoyed the work, but my heart was never in any of those projects.”
“That’s exactly how I feel about designing websites,” I said, thinking we had something in common after all. Why couldn’t I just like him the way I liked Brian? “I enjoy designing the sites, but there’s something missing artistically. I’d love to paint for a living, but working at the dress shop and designing websites is what pays my bills. Are you happier now as a woodworker?”
