Unexpected Offers
After I left work yesterday, Emma must have spread the word, and messages from our group of friends had finally popped up. The twins, Livvy and Liam, were out of town, so I forgave them for forgetting. Caleb and Norah swung by my house after dinner, hanging out until just before midnight when Grandmum told them it was time to leave.
But to not hear from Reid… that one stung. Even though things didn’t work out between us, I had still sent him a message on his birthday.
Last summer, he went out of his way to get to the Cove early for my birthday, surprising me with an entire day planned. Which, for someone who lived on the opposite side of the country, was a big deal. He flew in early, set up an elaborate beach surprise, and, best of all, told me he loved me.
It had been the start of the most amazing summer, one I never knew I even deserved. Silly me thought that maybe, even after all that had happened, that he would have still remembered…
I hadn’t been the only one who thought about him recently. Norah had asked about Reid last night, if he was coming back this summer.
Truthfully, I didn’t know. Besides saying happy birthday earlier this year, I hadn’t spoken to him at all. And it seemed like no one in the group had either. It was as if he cut off all communication with everyone.
Part of me wondered if he did that because we broke up. Like he felt as if the crew were my friends, and he assumed they took sides in the breakup. They hadn’t, and I knew the guys especially felt hurt by being cut off.
The most recent list in my phone, the one about all things Reid, had one giant question at the top: Could I handle being around Reid, the guy who broke my heart, for the sake of our friend group?
Ever since school got out last week, Reid had been on the forefront of my mind. Typically, as this would be his fourth summer with us, we would count down the days until his flight came in and summer really began once we were all together again.
Now, though, I had no idea what to expect and that threw me into an entirely different anxious spiral that I couldn’t deal with right now. I had other things on my mind, like Declan showing up to work yesterday and what all that meant.
Was Declan worth more of my time and energy than Reid right now? Probably. Especially since he was here and, for some unknown reason still, showing me attention.
I rolled over and checked the time on my phone. That’s when I saw it—the voicemail from Mrs. Bennett from yesterday.
I bolted upright with a loud gasp. With all the crazy Declan-related things yesterday, I had completely forgotten that she had even called.
My heart began to pound as I opened up the voicemail and pressed play. I held my breath, listening to her lithe but stern voice coming through my speakers.
“Hola, Marlowe. I hope you are well. We have a bit of a situación and are hoping you can help out. Por favor, call me back. Adiós.”
A warmth spread throughout me listening to her accented speech. She had the motherly kindness I hadn’t really experienced in my life. It was yet another reason I had loved going to Reid’s house every summer.
In a flash, I clicked the call back button and put the phone on speaker.
“Hola,” Mrs. Bennett said after only two rings.
“Hi! Mrs. Bennett, hi. I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you yesterday. Oh,” I paused, realizing I didn’t even tell her who I was yet, “it’s Marlowe, by the way.”
“Of course, dear, I know it’s you. Thank you for calling. Listen, Mr. Bennett and I are in a… Well, we have a problem.”
I froze. “Is everything okay? Is Reid—” I couldn’t even finish that sentence. My heart came to a screeching halt and my stomach plummeted toward the floor just thinking of anything happening to him.
“What? Oh, no. Oh dear me, no. He’s fine. We have… una situación and we’re not sure what to do. I was about out of options when Jonathan mentioned you.”
Mr. Bennett mentioned me? Now that I knew Reid was fine, she piqued my curiosity.
“Okay… what can I do for you?”
“Marlowe, please tell me you’re on the island for the summer,” was the first statement I got.
“Well, considering I live here year-round, I am.”
That received a laugh from the frantic Mrs. Bennett. “Sí, sí. I seem to forget who is year-round and who isn’t sometimes.”
Easy to say for a summer-only Baysider, but I let it slide.
“Fantástica. Listen, Jonathan and I have gotten ourselves into a little pickle. We just got here on Sunday with the dogs and everything, basically moved in for the summer. And late that night, we discovered an issue with a client over in Spain. An issue that will require us being at the airport in, oh, three hours.” The last part was rushed, the sound of her heels click-clacking on the floors in the background adding to the effect.
I could immediately picture her. Her long dark hair swooshing across her back in a perfect blow out that took away from her natural curls. The same ones Reid inherited. Mrs. Bennett was always in heels no less than four inches, since she was barely over five feet tall. Her husband was over six, like Reid.
He was the perfect mix of both of them. He had his father’s height and deep voice, but his looks leaned toward his mother’s Spanish genes. His dark, almost black ringlets were perpetually messed up, and his dark onyx eyes never failed to draw me in.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m not quite sure how I can help, though?”
“Right, right, that part. Look, Marlowe, I wouldn’t be asking if we weren’t desperate. I know you have your job at the cafe and are probably super busy with your friends and all, but I need a favor.”
I frowned. It was sweet that she remembered my job, but other than that… I really didn’t have any plans this summer. Especially with my now ex-best friend Grace nowhere to be found and without Reid…
My heart twisted into a knot at the thought of him and what we had last summer.
“Do you think you could house and dog sit for us? We’ll be gone for almost a month, and I have no idea what else to do. Both pups are here with us and the house is completely opened for the summer, and I just…”
“Housesit? For you? What about…” I didn’t have to finish the sentence. She seemed to pick up on my hesitation quickly. I swung my leg over the side of the bed, but didn’t stand yet. I wasn’t sure my jelly legs would support me.
“Reid? Oh dear, sí. Listen, I am so sorry it didn’t work out between you two. You were absolutely adorable together. But no, mija, he’s not coming to the Cove this summer.”