Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
ON brAND
JULIANA
The nerve of that guy!
The way he just expects women to drop at his feet. Well, from what I’ve seen the few times I’ve been at his restaurant, there are always a few women who are doing just that, so I suppose he’s used to it.
He’s got another thing coming if he thinks that’ll ever be me.
I fume, my hands shaking with my fury.
I should go back to the bakery and work out my frustration there.
Instead, I pull out my phone and text the girls.
Any chance you two are free for a drink? Dinner? People watching at The Loon? My place? I’m not picky.
Okay, that might’ve sounded desperate, but I don’t care. My phone buzzes.
Goldie
I’m in! I vote The Loon because I need Lorraine’s seven-layer bars desperately.
Erin
Same. The Tater Tot hotdish is a’callin’.
Yay! Thanks, you guys. I’ll head over there now and get a table. Come whenever you want.
The plus of living in a small town is that it takes between one and five minutes to get everywhere.
Unless it’s tourist season, but even that isn’t what it used to be, ever since the resort closed.
But living in Windy Harbor has many advantages.
It’s magical. The town is quaint, with that nostalgic Main Street vibe, but inside the colorful storefronts, you’ll find classy shops and restaurants.
And Lake Superior will always be the star of the show, the vast water stretching out as far as the eye can see.
The Hungry Walleye serves the best fish and chips, but they can also pull out the fine dining with popovers and the best steak I’ve ever eaten.
The Loon is a bit of a dive, but it’s a cute dive.
What the Book? is an adorable bookstore that I could live in, and The Rusty Trunk has antiques and refinished furniture.
And we can’t forget Cox Trading Post, where you’ll find things you never knew you wanted.
The old resort’s land is next to the Whitmans’ property, and when it went on the market, Everett snatched it up.
They’re doing a complete overhaul of the place, building on and remodeling.
Windhaven will be much more upscale. It’s where Camden’s new restaurant is, and the whole property will be a dream once it’s complete.
It will level up Windy Harbor in such a huge way.
As much as I loathe thinking anything positive when it comes to Camden Whitman, I have to admit that already with Elm & Echo opening, a lot more tourists have been coming through to experience the Michelin-starred chef’s cooking…
which means all of us in the service industry are thriving.
Our favorite table is open, so I head back there, waving at Lorraine as I go. She finishes with a customer and walks over.
“How ya doin’, Juju?” She props her hand on her hip and assesses me for a second. “You’re workin’ too hard. I oughta know, I am too.”
“Yeah, I have a love/hate relationship with being so busy,” I say.
“I hear ya. Is it just you tonight or will you have company?”
“Goldie and Erin will be here any minute. I think we’re all wanting Tater Tot hotdish and seven-layer bars. Can I add a Juicy Lucy to the mix too? I need one of your burgers to make this day better.” I hold up a finger. “And a bottle of wine too, please. Whatever you think is good with this combo.”
She knocks on the table. “You’ve got it. Want me to bring it all out as it’s ready or wait until the girls get here?”
“Bring it out as it’s ready. I’m starving.”
She grins. “You’ve got it.”
Lorraine is bringing out the Tater Tot hotdish and Juicy Lucy when the girls arrive. We all hug and I swear, I already feel better.
Erin’s in her trademark red lipstick and combat boots, her black hair with a streak of blue making her look like the perfect edgy pinup girl. She shrugs off her coat, and I nod when I see her T-shirt.
Red Lip Rebellion.
“So fitting,” I say.
She sticks her chest out, eyeing her shirt proudly. “I thought so. Made it myself. Clothing art at its finest.”
“You are the finest,” I tell her.
“I’m on brand,” she says, smirking as she lifts a shoulder. And then she leans in and says, “But this is what I’ve really been wearing today.” She lifts the shirt over her head, and underneath is a shirt that says The Big O, and there’s a picture of a bull’s-eye.
Goldie and I lose it.
“This one is even better,” Goldie says.
“I need one in every color,” I say. “Or better yet, the real thing would do. I wouldn’t even have to get the shirt.”
“How ’bout both?” Erin smirks. “We need to manifest getting laid.” She lifts her fist for me to bump.
I snort and meet her bump.
Goldie has a messy braid, and her pink sweater looks so soft. So does her expression—that dreamy, just-engaged glow.
“You’re unusually happy,” I tease.
“Figures. She’s enjoying the O on the regular,” Erin says.
Goldie makes a face. “I am annoyingly happy, aren’t I? Sorry, I’ll scale it back. Milo is just so…”
“Perfect,” Erin finishes. “Yeah, we know. You guys are a rom-com in real life. It’s disgusting and so damn cute.”
Goldie stares at her ring and sighs again. When she catches us watching, she makes another face. “Sorry, sorry. Who am I?” She laughs.
“If Goldie is living a rom-com, I’m living a sitcom. The way my grandpa and uncle flirted with your grandmas, Goldie…” I shake my head and crack up. “It was obscene.”
“I cannot believe I missed that.” She laughs. “Next time, you have to text me while it’s happening so I can rush over instead of after the fact!”
“Count me in on that too. I’ll gladly close the shop to witness lovin’ between the elderly,” Erin says.
I make a face. “I’m not sure I’m ready to go that far. Flirting was okay, but…” I shudder. “I don’t want to think of any sex going on there.”
“Old people love sex too!” Erin argues. “Haven’t you heard about all the action in the nursing homes?”
“That’s all great. For old people that I don’t know,” I say emphatically. “I mean, I’d rather not know about it at all, but it’s much better knowing that it’s strangers I will never meet.”
I cut the burger into thirds, watching the cheese ooze out of the center of the meat, and put it on plates for all of us. We pile the hotdish on our plates, and Lorraine opens the bottle of wine, pouring each of us a glass.
“Can I get you anything else to eat?” she asks. “I don’t suppose you want a vegetable…”
“As if,” Erin says, and we all laugh.
“There’s lettuce on this burger,” Goldie says. “I’m good. But I think we’ll need another order of this hotdish. It’s extra good tonight.”
“I’m glad one of us has found her match.” Erin groans when Lorraine walks away. “Meanwhile, I matched with someone who used the word moist in her bio.”
I nearly spit out my wine. “Was it related to dessert?”
“She did mention cupcakes, which should have made it a little more acceptable, but she had to go and ruin it. She said, and I quote: ‘I plan to make you as moist as my cupcakes.’”
My jaw drops. “No.”
“That is all kinds of wrong,” Goldie says.
“I’m afraid it made me dry forever.” Erin sighs.
I giggle. “Hopefully not. They say you just need the right person. Isn’t that right, Goldie?”
Goldie’s laughing and nods. “I can attest to my cupcake being m—” She cringes and shakes her head. “No, I can’t say it, not even joking. But yes, the right person can make it all work.”
“Noted.” Erin grins. “I don’t want to say I only want dry people…but definitely not the m-word.”
We crack up, but Erin’s laugh dies quickly, her eyes widening. We turn in slow motion to see where she’s looking.
Percy Williams.
They’re wearing paint-spattered overalls, black boots, and a smile that is directed at Erin.
“Breathe,” I whisper.
She inhales. “Okay.” She blows out her exhale. “Okay.”
Percy walks to our table. “Hey.”
Goldie and I beam at Percy, while Erin continues to look frozen.
“Hi, Percy. It’s good to see you,” I say. “Are you happy to be back in Windy Harbor?”
“I am. I enjoyed traveling, but I missed home and…everyone here.” Their eyes crinkle in the corners when they look at Erin, and Erin’s lips lift slightly.
I knew she had it bad for Percy Williams, but wow. My bold girl, who’s not afraid of anyone or shy about anything, typically, looks like she can’t remember how to speak.
“Love the shirt, Erin,” Percy says.
“You—oh—bull’s-eye!” Erin blurts. “Rebellion. Uh…yep.”
Percy’s head tilts, clearly amused. “Iconic as always. It’s good to see you all.”
They turn and head to the bar.
“You too!” I call out.
Erin groans and drops her forehead into her hand. “Did I just say ‘Bull’s-eye…rebellion’? What?”
“You’re fine,” Goldie says, patting her arm.
“I need to disappear,” she says.
“You need to go order a drink and try again. Get back on that horse,” I say.
Erin peeks at the bar through her fingers. “My horse has run off.”
My ribs hurt from laughing.
“I have a better idea.” Erin sighs. “Let’s talk about you.”
Her attention turns to me.
I’m already shaking my head. “Let’s not.”
“I really want to.” She grins, and my nervy friend is back.
I turn and look at the bar. “Should I call Percy over and see if they want to join us?”
“Hush,” Erin says, laughing. “A little birdie told me about some tension over at Elm & Echo this afternoon.”
I roll my eyes.
“Ooo, I didn’t hear about this,” Goldie says, rubbernecking at me. “What happened?”
“Want to tell us about your little confrontation with Camden?” Erin tilts her head and crosses her arms over her chest.
Goldie leans forward, her shoulders dropping slightly. “Don’t tell me you guys fought again.”
“I wouldn’t call it a fight exactly. It was an…argument with someone who has no concept of boundaries or communication or manners or––” I stop myself and take a sip of my drink. “Anyway. No big deal.”
Goldie reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Are you sure? It seems like it might’ve been a big deal.”
“Have you ever resolved the issues you had at the resort opening?” Erin asks.
“Nope,” I say too fast.