Chapter 13
chapter thirteen
Luke
“Ithink everyone’s already here,” Mia says as we make our way down the beach toward Cocktails & Chaos.
She’s still slightly miffed that I spent the entire day working and not hanging out with her and Juniper at their store.
The bustling tiki bar greets us with open arms as we head past the stools toward the bar.
It’s always been one of my favorite spots on the beach, with its wide-open seating and casual vibe.
I can hear the ocean waves lapping against the rocks in the distance as we make our way to grab some drinks and meet up with her friends.
“Ready to put on a show?” Mia beams at me, her eyes sparkling from the silver eye shadow she applied abundantly to her upper eyelids.
I’m glad she’s not going to give me the silent treatment.
“I am ready,” I say, following behind her as she looks around for her friends.
She’s wearing a short red dress that amplifies her slender calves and her shapely ass. I try not to stare at her body too much, even though I’m pleased to note that if someone does catch me checking her out, they’ll think it’s because we’re dating.
“Oh, look, there are Wendy and Juniper.” She rushes across the bar toward her friends. “Hey, guys, we’re finally here.”
“Hey, Mia.” Juniper gives her a quick hug and then looks over at me. “Looking mighty handsome there tonight, Luke.”
“Now, now. Anyone would think you’re hitting on me, Juniper.”
I give her a quick hug, and she giggles before turning back to Mia.
“You look gorgeous. That dress is stunning.”
“Thank you. I had to step it up now that I have a boyfriend.” Sarcasm drips from her tone, and I reach over and poke her. Her eyes flash at me as she grabs my hand to stop me.
She looks over at Wendy. “How are you doing, Wendy? How’s the bed-and-breakfast?”
“We’re surviving one day at a time.” Wendy looks hopeful as she leans forward. “Right now, our top guest is proving to be quite challenging.”
“Oh,” I ask her, “is there anything you need my help with?”
“She doesn’t mean challenging in that way, Luke.” Mia shakes her head, her eyes shining.
“What does she mean?” I look over at Wendy, who is now blushing, while Juniper grins.
“I’ll explain to you as we grab a drink. Do you girls want anything?” Mia asks them as she grabs my hand.
“We’re good,” Juniper says, holding up a fruity pink cocktail in her hand. “You should get one of the pink flamingo specials now while Cal isn’t so busy.” She takes a long sip. “It is soo good.”
“Will do,” Mia says. “Come on, Luke.”
She squeezes my hand, and I look over at her in surprise.
“Who knows who could be spying on us?” she whispers. “Your brother, my brother—they could be here. Or their friends. They both know so many people in town who would happily tell them that we’re here, and they will report everything that they witness.”
“True.” I frown slightly. “By the way, what’s up with Rafe? Why is he acting so annoyed with me?”
“You mean, why is he such a jackass?” she asks, rolling her eyes.
“Well, I wouldn’t have put it in those words, but, yeah, what’s his problem?”
“I’m not really sure,” she says, though she looks down.
There’s something more there, but I’m not going to push it.
“I think he’s just taking his role as my overprotective brother too far, you know?”
“You think so? He seems overly harsh.”
“I guess maybe it has to do with something that happened two summers ago.” She nibbles on her lower lip. “But I don’t know.”
“What do you mean? What happened two summers ago?” I stiffen as I gaze at her.
She blanches and recoils for a few moments before plastering a smile on her face.
There’s something there, but I’m not going to push it.
Now is not the time or the place. I can’t help but feel disappointed though.
Why hasn’t Mia shared that with me before?
Is this something I missed because I no longer lived in Coconut Beach?
Has she not told me because she forgot, or has she not told me because she doesn’t trust me enough to know?
The thought makes me sad while also making me realize that even though we are still the best of friends, we’ve lost something in the long distance.
Something I never realized before. But I know in the past, Mia never kept anything from me. She was more open than an open book.
“Nothing to worry about. We can talk about it later.”
“Mia? Is there something that—”
“We’ll talk about it later, Luke.” She gives me a look, and I just nod, though now my heart is beating, and my mind is racing, and all sorts of things are crossing my mind. What could have happened two summers ago that had Rafe being so overprotective over Mia?
“Hey, guys.” Cal offers us a wide smile as we approach. His golden-tan skin is the envy of every man on the beach, along with his silky jet-black hair. “Looking like a male model still, Cal,” I joke.
“And you’re looking like a rich tourist, Luke.
” He shakes his head and laughs. “Actually, I’m joking.
You look rich and cool, but not like a douche, like most of the tourists who come to town.
” He whips a towel over his shoulder and grabs some glasses.
“I’m totally jealous that you’re making so much money. ”
“You have nothing to be jealous about. How are you doing?”
“I’m good. You heard I’m getting married?” He cocks his head to the side. “Want some drinks?”
“Heard something about you and Silvie.” I nod and look over at Mia. “I’ll have a beer. What would you like, Mia?”
“Yeah, Silvie needs to get married and needs it to happen soon.” He fills a glass with beer. “And I’m the lucky bachelor who gets to make that happen.”
“You are lucky.” Mia smiles. “I’ll have a strawberry daiquiri, please.”
“Really, Mia?”
“What? I love them.”
“I know, but I just thought you would’ve grown into a more sophisticated drink.”
“Do I look like the sort of girl that wants to grow into a more sophisticated drink?” she says, giggling.
“No, I guess not.” I look around the bar. “It’s busy tonight. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it this busy.”
“It’s summer,” Mia says by way of explanation. “It’s always busy in Coconut Beach in the summer.”
“I guess I just forgot,” I say, still thinking that it’s even busier than I ever remembered.
“Yeah, I guess because you haven’t been back home in ages.”
“Touché.” I frown slightly at her tone.
She still has a smile on her face, but there’s something in her voice that makes me think she’s not joking one hundred percent. Is she upset that I haven’t been back to town recently? We still speak on the phone all the time, and yet she keeps bringing up my absence.
“So, Luke, tell me how the big city is treating you,” Cal says as he hands me the beer. “You know, my mom was reading the paper the other day, and she saw your name mentioned in some article.”
“She saw me?” I ask in surprise, not that I’ve been in the paper. I am always in the paper for brokering deals, but more so that his mom saw one of the articles.
“She read an article about you and I guess the company you work for.” He shrugs. “Can’t remember the details.”
“Oh, it’s no big deal.”
“Aren’t you one of the players in one of the biggest mergers that has occurred in the last twenty years?”
“I wouldn’t say that I’m personally in it, but I am brokering the deal for the hedge fund I work with.” I shouldn’t really say too much. “It’s outside my normal scope of work, which generally consists of investing billionaires’ funds in the international and domestic markets.”
“What is it exactly that you do?” he says as he hands me her fruity, bright red drink.
She takes it eagerly, and I watch as she takes a gulp and gets frosted ice all over her top lip. I’d love to lick it off.
“Well, I’m just a numbers guy.” I look away from her lips and back to Cal. “I make sure the numbers make sense while also working with legal to ensure any kickbacks or deals are in within the realms of the law.”
“Sounds complicated.” Mia offers me a sweet little smile before taking another sip. “I get it though, your job has to be important because you’re always working.”
“I’m not always working.”
“Let’s be for real here, every time I talk to you, you’re usually at work.”
“Sometimes, I’m at home.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Sometimes, you’re at home, having just got off of work. And we’ll chat for a bit before you have to get back to work.”
“Are you upset that I have a job?” I question her.
Her tone is light, but the comments seem pointed.
“Why would I be upset that you have a job?” She shrugs.
“I don’t know. I just—”
“Hey, I’m not causing trouble in paradise, am I?” Cal holds up his hand and bows his head. “It’s the evening, and it’s a nice night. Enjoy the ambiance.”
“Thanks, Cal. Do you know if Silvie’s coming tonight?” I ask him, curious what was going on there.
Mia gives me a look like I just got her in trouble, and I just chug some of my beer in response.
“I think she is. I know Birdy wanted to talk to her about something, so I’m not one hundred percent sure she’s going to make it. I can call her and ask her if you want.”
“No, that’s okay. If I see her, I see her.”
“I did see your brother earlier,” he says. “He was looking for you and Luke.”
“He was?” Mia makes a face. “Do you know why?”
“No idea. He just asked if I’d seen you. I said no, but then I told him that Juniper was here, and you’d likely be here later, and he kind of just hurried off. Is he with her?”
“No, he’s not.” Mia looks back over to Juniper. “She didn’t even mention seeing him actually.”
“You want to start a tab, Luke?” Cal looks at me.
I hand him my credit card. “Put the drinks for all the girls on this tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Mia says, shaking her head.
“It’s my treat,” I say. “What good am I if I’m not the sort of boyfriend who will buy you and your girlfriends drinks?”
“True,” she says. “I don’t want a cheap-ass boyfriend.”