Chapter 9 Bryan
NINE
brYAN
I slammed the door to his car, grunting out a “thank you.” Apparently, as mayor of Jannah Beach, Chase had directed the plows to clear a path so he could help me get my car out of the town hall parking lot.
When I had returned downstairs, dressed to face the elements once again, he was standing in front of the fireplace, on top of the blankets that were probably still warm with our body heat, holding both of Ollie’s hands in his.
“I’m just so glad you were safe last night, boo.
” I think he saw me there, but he turned his attention quickly back to Ollie, whose back and arms were stiff.
Was this a boyfriend, or someone who was making Ollie uncomfortable?
I didn’t like it either way. I eyed him and wondered if the crappy sweatsuit I was still wearing belonged to the mayor.
“I just wished I could have been here. Kept you warm …”
Ollie appeared to yank away his hands in frustration at the same time I cleared my throat.
“Are you okay, Ollie?” I might have growled.
Chase didn’t let him answer. “Oh, goodie, you're here. Let’s get that fancy car of yours and get you back in time for the wedding brunch!” He leaned in and kissed Ollie’s cheek. Ollie shook his head and laughed at the guy as he began to sing, “Going to the chapel …”
“Do you need my help, Chase?” Ollie talked over the singing.
“No, bunny. I got this. You can just …” He side-eyed the bunched-up blankets underfoot. “Get this place straightened up.” Then he kissed his cheek again.
Once we finally got out of there, it felt like I was stuck in his car for an eternity even though we traveled less than a mile.
“This is very kind of you,” I muttered, just to hear something other than silence.
“Ooh, Oliver did say you were angry!”
“I’m not …” I spit out, but instead of finishing that sentence, I blurted, “He said that?”
“Um-hum. I can’t imagine why.”
“You and he are …”
“We’re something.”
“Oh.” Well, that explained that. Open relationships are a thing.
Only, the way Oliver had agreed with me about romance and true love, it didn’t seem like he’d be the type.
Also, it didn’t seem like he’d be the type to do that without telling the other person.
I was confused and annoyed. Mostly irrationally annoyed at the mayor and his helpful ride to retrieve my car.
I stared out the passenger window, taking in the sites I hadn’t been able to see the night before. Jannah Beach hadn’t changed much. Sure, some of the stores and restaurants were different, but the buildings were the same.
Chase asked me what I did for a living, and we chatted politely if tensely until we pulled up in front of town hall.
He put the car in park, his hand landing on my forearm. “We’re friends,” he shared. As if we hadn’t just been talking about another friend’s landscaping project.
My heart felt like a hummingbird was trapped inside it.
“So you’re not …”
“We are most definitely not. Oliver has lived here full-time for, what, like seven years, and in all that time, I’m not sure he’s ever … Until last night.” He leaned toward me. “We tell each other everything. If he’d had a fling with a guest, I would know.”
“We were snowed in.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“So was I. You want to know how I spent my night? Reviewing the town budget, then scrolling through social media.”
I finally pulled my focus from the man to see that two people were shoveling around my SUV.
I sought out the door handle, but since it was an unfamiliar car, I didn’t find it right away.
“They shouldn’t have to do that. I can …”
“Bryan, don’t worry about them. They’re on the town maintenance crew. Look, they're almost done. You’ll be back with Oliver in no time.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because your car is parked in my parking lot. And because you’re Oliver’s guest, or friend, or whatever.” His inuendo was clear. “And we look out for our friends in Jannah Beach, Bryan. Especially if some tourist tries to hurt them.”
“I … we … I don’t want to hurt him, ever. It was just one night, but …” But what? Certainly not something I could tell the mayor.
It had been one explosive, magical night, all those things I had wanted to believe about romance and attraction.
Sure, we’d fooled around, but we’d also talked and shared and fallen asleep in each other’s arms. We woke up together as well.
I could only wonder how much I would have said to Ollie about how special the night had been if we hadn’t been interrupted.
“Hmm,” he commented. “Looks like your car’s free.”
“Thank you for all your help,” I said, finding the handle and opening the car door.
“It’s what we do here.” If he made it sound threatening, I knew it was only because he was looking out for Ollie.
Elise rang my phone as I was driving back, not quiet in tears but struggling as she listed all the people whose flights were canceled or delayed.
“Celia said she might not even make it in time for the wedding! She was supposed to be your partner down the aisle. And, like, half the people won’t be here for brunch today!
” I’d been sitting outside the B I wished I could see that smile every day, an insane thought to have about someone I hadn't known twenty-four hours earlier.
“Chase said the roads should be plowed to the restaurant in West Jannah. I, um, I know you’re having brunch, but I made muffins, and there’s coffee. Tell me how you like it, and I’ll put it in a to-go cup for you.”
“You baked?”
“Cranberry orange.” He turned into the room, and I followed.
The coffee pot was full, and he had a tray of supplies next to it. I poured my own while he placed two muffins in a bakery box.
Our hands brushed as I took it from him. Or more accurately, I intentionally found his fingers, a nonverbal thank you.
“Have fun today, Bryan.”
“Thank you, Ollie. I’ll see you tonight?
” It came out as a question, and I hoped he knew the question I was asking because I wasn’t sure that I did, though I pictured the two of us in those chairs by the fire, asking each other how our days had gone.
Only when I answered, it wasn’t about brunch, or the wedding, it was as if we were in front of that fire on a random Tuesday, chatting about a perfectly average winter day in a snowy beach town.
My dad had gently suggested that we should maybe call the scavenger hunt off since it involved traveling around the area, but when Elise practically burst into tears, the assembled wedding guests all agreed to participate, each of us promising to drive carefully.
My team consisted of Aunt Ginni and her boyfriend, Vince. I’m not sure Vince got that memo. We visited a coffee shop and a candlemaker in West Jannah and were on our way to Jannah Beach. I was clutching my seat belt and pointing.
“It’s called the Lavender Sea, on Third and the boardwalk. Turn here.”
My sister’s car was in the one parking spot Chase had cleared, so we parked on the road, and I led my team in through the back door, giving another perfunctory knock before entering. Ollie trotted down the hallway and greeted us with a smile.
“Bryan, hi.”
“Hey, Ollie,” I said goofily. He’d donned another pair of shorts and another Hawaiian shirt.
“Um, this is my Aunt Ginni and Vince. A candlemaker in West Jannah sent us your way.”
Ollie shook hands with my aunt and Vince as he said, “You got to meet Sonia, she’s amazing, isn’t she? I use her candles here. There’s one in your room.”
“Along with a bowl of candy hearts,” I muttered, and Ollie stumbled on his next words before recovering.
“The bride and groom and a few members of the wedding party are in the dining room. Follow me, please.” He led us to the room, where he’d laid out some snacks and drinks, including a carafe of coffee and the same tray of creamers and flavoring I’d used that morning.
“Claire, sweetie.” My aunt found my mother. “Bryan’s here by himself, he said?” Oh God.
I tried to steer the conversation away from my relationship status.
“Well, I live in a different state than the rest of the family, so of course, I traveled by myself.”
“No, no, no, sweetie, I wasn’t talking about that. I meant, what about the nice man you were dating?”
Ollie’s head whipped around. I responded, looking more at him than my aunt. “It’s been a few years since we broke up, Aunt Gin. I’m here by myself.”
“And now Elise’s friend is snowed in and might not make it. She was going to be your partner in the wedding party, wasn’t she? Is she single, Elise? Too bad, maybe …”
“Aunt Ginni! Try a muffin. These are really, really good, Oliver. Are you willing to share the recipe?”
Elise worked her way toward where I was trying my best to hide in the corner, Ollie trailing behind her.
Elise muttered, “That woman will never understand what gay means.” I nodded in agreement and found myself sharing a laugh with Elise and Oliver. It was … really nice.
“The muffins are my Gran’s recipe. One of many favorites here at the Lavender Sea,” Ollie redirected the general conversation, moving over to the credenza I had wedged myself next to. “She always kept recipe cards printed up for our guests. Here you go.”
“What a great idea,” Elise said. “Don’t you think so, Aunt Ginni?”