Chapter Three
chapter three
MAY
“He did what ?!”
“Yup. The worst timing, too. I was so close, and now Dean won’t even text me back. He’s too scared of the big bad wolf.” I roll my eyes.
Marina lets out a giggle from beside me where we stand behind the bar, polishing glasses as I recount the events of last night to my friends.
Marina’s closed an hour ago, but Isla is here hanging around while Marina and I close up for the night.
Now that Isla swapped out her shifts here for a permanent job down at Nora’s art studio, I don’t see her as much. She’s wrapped up in her dream career and her dream man and don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t be happier for her. But before we moved to Ruby Cove, Isla and I lived in each other's pockets, so I always enjoy when she comes to the bar at closing. It feels like old times.
The three of us became near inseparable when we were all working here together. Back in New York, it was always just me and Isla against the world. But here, we have a chosen family—an entire community that made space for us in their small town—and the first person to open their arms to us was Marina.
Well, really, it was Caio, but the charmer had ulterior motives .
Marina’s giggle turns into a full on fit.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m just imagining this whole thing in my head,” she laughs. “Imagining Rafael’s face when he saw you like that.”
“Yeah…his face when he walked in was almost worth the loss of what I could tell was going to be an earth-shattering orgasm.”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had an earth-shattering orgasm,” Marina says.
“Well, neither have I, but that one felt like it had potential.” I shrug.
Isla sits quietly across from us, a light blush over her cheeks. “Oh my god, she’s had one, if not one hundred.” I throw my hands up.
Marina leans over the bar. “Is my cousin giving you life-altering orgasms?”
Isla slams her hands over her eyes as a blush creeps up her chest. “Oh my god.”
“Life altering. I like that one,” I say. “Is that what they are?”
“Do you think I would’ve moved across the world if I wasn’t having life-altering orgasms?” Isla finally answers. Marina chuckles to herself, and I just whip Isla across the bar with my towel.
Isla shakes her head across from me. “Back to our original topic—are you and Rafael ever going to get along?”
“Wouldn’t count on it,” Marina cuts in.
I roll my eyes. “Where would be the fun in that?”
“I don’t know. It might be a bit more peaceful,” Isla shrugs. “For all of us.”
“Peace is overrated,” I retort, but my best friend just rolls her eyes. “Look, that crabby old man and I have nothing in common. Like zero. We just clash, but it’s fine. He’s Caio’s best friend for whatever reason.” Marina snorts at that. “And I’m yours. We are eternally doomed to be in each other’s vicinity forever, but you know I’d do anything for you. ”
She rolls her eyes again. “Why did you never do drama in school? You would’ve gotten so many awards.”
I grab her hand over the bar. “Honestly, it’s fine. I’m happy here. Sure, Rafael exists, which is a pain in my ass, but I don’t think I was meant for a life of peace.”
Her eyes turn sad, and I know exactly where her mind went.
“Speaking of peace, how does hot chocolate and D irty Dancing sound?” I change the subject.
“You two go. I’ve got to finish closing up,” Marina says.
“We can wait around,” Isla offers.
Marina waves a hand. “Nah, you go. I’ve got a puzzle waiting for me upstairs.”
“The girl who rides a badass motorcycle has a puzzle occupying her Saturday night?” I tease.
“Shut up.” She whips me on the ass with the towel that was hanging over her shoulder. “Says the girl who has spent the last two weeks ignoring the world in favor of her hoard of fictional boyfriends.”
“Excuse you. Reading is good for the soul.”
“So are puzzles.”
“Okay, so are hot chocolates, so let’s go,” Isla jumps off her stool. “Sure you don’t want to come?”
Marina nods. “I’m good. I’ll see you both tomorrow at the food festival though, yeah?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and grab my bag from under the bar before linking up with Isla and heading out the door.
I pull two new mugs off their hooks and place them on the counter. I got these at the market last week—one is a little cow, and the other is a llama. They came as a pair, so of course I had to get both.
“This place gets cuter and cuter every time I see it,” Isla says from her spot on the couch. “I love this rug, by the way.” She rubs her toes over the mat beneath her. “It reminds me of the one we had in our dorm.”
I turn around to face her with a small smile. “That’s why I got it.”
Isla just smiles back at me before the kettle squealing interrupts us. I pull it off the element and pour the hot water into the mugs in front of me. I mix the chocolate powder into the hot water and open the cupboard above me, searching for the mini marshmallows I stashed in there last week.
There’s something about mini marshmallows—they taste so much better than the normal sized ones.
I rip open the packet and sprinkle the marshmallows on top before picking up the mugs and carefully walking over to where Isla has gotten comfy on the couch. She has a blanket over her legs and one of our favorite movies lined up on the tv.
“Mmm, thank you,” she says as I hand her the llama mug. “You’re the best at hot chocolates and I don’t know why. You use a packet mixture.”
“It’s the mini marshmallows,” I admit.
She hums in agreement as she takes a sip.
I reach for the remote and push play before tucking my legs in and cozying up next to Isla under the blanket.
“So this Dean,” she says as the movie starts.
“Mm-hmm?”
“Did you like him?”
“Well, I did get caught fucking him in a supply closet, so I’d say I didn’t dislike him.”
She smacks my arm. “You know what I mean. Like him, as in more than a quickie in a supply closet like him.”
“You know me better than that.” I take a sip of my hot chocolate, avoiding her gaze in the hopes that she’ll drop the subject.
She sets the llama down on the coffee table and turns to face me. “You know, if you just gave someone a chance, they might surprise you.”
“This sounds vaguely familiar.”
“And look how well that turned out,” she says, referencing when I told her to take a chance on Caio. But that was different.
“I’m not like you, Isla. I’m not going to fall in love, get married, have kids, and a golden retriever. I came to terms with that a long time ago.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that.” Her voice is sad. “I know what happened changed your views, but?—”
“The track record of men in my life is enough to put me off until I’m eighty, and you know that.” My father abandoning my mother when I was born was the perfect foundation for my unwavering distrust in men.
“Not every guy is like that.” She’s not talking about my father anymore.
“I know,” I grab her hand. “And I know you just want me to be happy, but I’m far happier by myself than putting myself in another situation like last time.”
She sighs, knowing I won’t crack—not during this conversation, anyway. We’ve been over this conversation more than once in the last two years. “You promise you’re happy?”
I cuddle up beside her. “With you? Always. Plus”—I nod towards the tv—“Swayze keeps me company on quiet nights.”
She rolls her eyes and nudges me with her elbow, but she’s smiling when she picks up her hot chocolate from the table.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much lately.”
I shake my head. “Don’t be. You deserve to be happy too, and that man makes you stupid happy.” A blush crawls up her cheeks at the mention of Caio. “We had to grow up and have our own lives eventually,” I tease.
She just smiles.
“So has Caio said much about this local food festival? What should we expect?” I ask.
“Not really, but Marina said she’s taking a picnic blanket for us. There’s going to be music, food and wine. I think that’s the gist of it.”
“Perfect,” I say, settling into the couch.
“Is Heath coming?”
“I haven’t heard, but I hope so.”
“I feel like we haven’t seen him in ages. When was the last time? The gallery fundraiser?” Isla asks.
“I think so,” I reply. “You know him though—I’m sure he’s just spending quality time with Betty.”
Isla snorts. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it is.”
I chuckle as I imagine Heath sitting on the couch and watching tv with his favorite goat.
We met Heath months ago when we spent a day out on Caio’s yacht, and he quickly became someone I can’t imagine my life without.
He’s quiet, and he’s not around as much as I wished he would be, but he’s always got everyone’s best interests at heart. He’s easily one of the most caring guys I’ve ever met, and I'm surprised he doesn’t have a hoard of girls lined up waiting for his affection. I’d be first in line, except something about him just feels brotherly. Like he’ll always have my back, and I’ll have his.
I feel like that with everyone here. This group of friends who quickly felt like family made leaving my old life behind so much easier, and I can’t help but feel grateful for them as I sit here cuddled up with my best friend. I may be on the other side of the world, but I’m home.