Chapter 8
8
Q uinn walked across the beach and pointed to markers in the sand. He looked at Jared and the couple of guys with him from his crew.
"Okay, we're starting here. The stage is going to be this way. We want it to be slightly situated so that it partially faces the beach but also partially faces the crowd sitting on the sand. I've got the markers set. We should be ready to go. A load of lumber will come in later on today. I had it ordered for another job that’s now been cancelled. Jace must have a fairy godmother or something to be so damned lucky. I'll have them drop it over there." He pointed to an area between the soon-to-be stage, and the parking lot. "So right now, set the footings and start the frame. Square it on the ground and then we'll lift it tomorrow once the cement dries. Questions?"
Jared and the guys all shook their heads no.
He grinned and nodded. "All right. I'll be back later. I'm going to go check on another job."
He felt happy .
He felt excited.
He felt buoyant.
He felt good about his date tonight. It had been a long damn time. A long damn time since he'd had a date. And he was ready.
Hopping in his truck, he decided to swing past Miracle Garage and see if Sid was about. As soon as he pulled into the parking area, Sid looked up from the car he was working on. Cooper Lucht, who used to own the garage, was only seen from his ass down. He was bent over under the hood of a car. It looked almost comical. Like a pair of stuffed bib overalls just to make it look like the garage was busy.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
Quinn chuckled, shook his friend's hand, and gave him a quick slap on the back, in a half man hug.
"I thought I'd stop by. I've got a crew building a stage over at Jace’s for my party and then obviously for afterward. But I just thought I'd come and check in. I haven't seen you for any length of time recently."
Sid nodded and grinned. "Yeah, been busy here, but hey, Grace and I set a wedding date. We're getting married in a month. Gonna keep it small. Friends only. Hope you'll attend. Kind of expecting you to be my best man."
Quinn grinned broadly. "I'd be happy to be your best man. What about Jace?"
"He's my best man, too. I'm gonna have two, cause I can't really do it without you guys."
Quinn nodded. "That sounds about right. Anything else we're gonna have to do on your wedding day?"
Sid laughed. "No."
Quinn nodded and rocked back on his heels. "So, I have a date tonight. "
Sid's eyes rounded. He stared at his friend for a long time. Quinn squirmed a little bit under the scrutiny.
"You have a date?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I have a date. Hanna Valentine from the bakery."
Sid chuckled. "Yeah, the cinnamon roll woman. Damn, she knows how to make an excellent cinnamon roll. Grace has been feeding me those for a couple weeks now."
He patted his stomach. "I'm gonna be fat before the wedding. Hope she knows what she's getting into with this."
Quinn laughed. "Yeah, Jared's pretty hooked on those cinnamon rolls, too. I have to admit they are good."
Sid nodded. "They sure as hell are. So you got a date with her. I can't believe it. How long has it been?"
"Yeah. I have a date. It kind of came about by accident. She was bringing fresh bread into Jace's this morning when I was there, and I don't know." He shrugged and looked at the blacktop beneath his feet. "It just kind of came out of my mouth."
Sid laughed. "Yeah, I remember that. When I met Grace, it was like my mouth had a mind of its own. Things came out of my mouth. I didn't expect to come out."
Quinn nodded. "Yeah, that's kind of what I mean."
"So, what are you gonna do? Where are you gonna take her?"
Quinn shrugged. "Shit, I haven't even thought of that. I suppose I’ll just take her to the Sandbar."
Sid shook his head. "That's lame. Don't take her there. Not that there's anything wrong with the Sandbar, and don't tell Jace I said that. But you won't be able to talk while you're there. Everybody in town knows you. They'll be stopping to talk. Unless that's what you're looking for. "
Quinn shrugged. "I don't know what I'm looking for. I guess not that, though. I'd like to spend time talking to get to know her."
"That's what I'm saying. So take her out to the Supper Club."
"Oh, that's a good idea. Okay." He thought a moment, then nodded. "Yep." Inhaling a deep breath, he let it out in a whoosh. "I'm nervous. Can you tell?"
Sid laughed. "Yes, I can tell. But I remember it well. I was where you were not long ago. But that first date with Grace, that was the best thing that ever happened to me."
"Well, I'm not looking to get married or anything. I just kind of miss the female company, you know?"
Sid laughed. "I do know. I do know exactly. Enjoy it. She's a good girl. I don't know much about her.”
“From what I understand, she had moved out of town after high school, went to college, and never came back until recently, I guess about a month ago or something. Her mom ran the bakery all this time. But I think what I heard was she can't handle it anymore, Mom I mean. So Hanna came back and is running the bakery now."
"That sounds about right, I guess, from the little things I've been hearing. Okay. Well, let me know what I have to wear for the wedding. And I'll let you know how the date goes."
Sid chuckled. "It'll go fine. Be yourself. You're a great guy, Quinn. One of my best friends. I want only the best for you. If Hanna is as smart as I'm hearing, she'll see that and know it too."