Chapter Thirteen. Happy Hour
Chapter Thirteen
HAPPY HOUR
When Friday rolled around, the crowds picked up, descending on the beach town to celebrate the holiday weekend.
In the throng of tourists was Drew, who pulled up to Beau’s in the midafternoon, windows down and music blasting.
Danny and Cam came outside to greet him, playfully heckling as he parked his shiny car with care.
As he emerged, he cried, “I’m back!” He took a dramatic bow like an actor at curtain call, stretching his white button-up shirt across toned arms. With golden olive skin, a head of expertly styled dark hair, and eyes as blue as the Aegean Sea he claimed his grandfather was born in, Drew had always been handsome.
Handsome, but insufferable.
Insufferable, but complex.
Drew was fascinating to watch. A product of three distinct cultures, thanks to his Greek father and Scottish–Puerto Rican mother.
Smooth-talking and smart, yet with a robust history of putting his foot in his mouth—especially around women.
An avid fan of reggaeton, but not a lick of Spanish understood.
Morgan had always described him as their lovable idiot. And maybe she was right, since he’d just arrived wearing suspenders.
“What am I looking at?” Cam asked, giving him a once-over.
He leaned against the passenger side, sporting the same flirtatious smirk of their college years. “That would be my new car. Isn’t she a beauty?”
“I’m talking about the Gordon Gekko cosplay.”
He tugged at the cloth suspenders, as if testing their durability. “I’m trying something new.”
She wondered if his girlfriend, Aditi, was a fan of the fashion statement.
“I like it,” Danny said, giving Drew a hug. “And the car. When did this happen? Last time you were here, you were still driving your parents’ old hatchback.”
“Well, someone just got a promotion that came with a raise and a shiny bonus.” Drew dangled the key fob from his hand, attached to a DC license plate key chain reading ANDREW—a gift from Cam and Morgan after their move. “I wanted to treat myself. Worked out too, because now Naomi has a car.”
Naomi was Drew’s younger sister, officially a year out of college and living in Raleigh, doing something with programming that made Cam’s head spin.
“A promotion! That’s amazing. Congrats.” Cam hugged him, smiling despite the tightness in her chest and the burning behind her eyes. “Look at you. Fancy promotion, new ride … Sounds like it’ll be a great birthday.”
Danny circled the car, admiring every inch of the sparkling black exterior. “Agreed. Congrats on everything. But I’m kinda surprised you went on a spending spree instead of investing. Since you’re always sending unsolicited articles from the finance section.”
Drew held up his hands in a mock surrender. “I’m investing. But I’d rather enjoy my money while I’m young and hot. Cory’s the one with the stock market so far up his ass he’s sneezing out ticker symbols.”
All the talk of promotions and investing was beginning to make her sick. Conversations about money always set her nerves aflame. She hated the reaction, hated the selfish fixation with her own problems instead of her friends’ achievements, but …
That was human … right?
She hoped it was.
“We had a half day, so I came straight from work and I’m starving.” Drew clutched his stomach, pouting like a toddler. “A certain restaurateur promised me brisket tacos in our group chat.”
“And you’ll get them,” Danny said. He motioned to the beer shed, eyes on Cam. “Could you take him inside? I’ll be a sec.”
“Sure thing.” When Danny took off, Cam linked her arm with Drew’s and led him towards the restaurant. “How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you since September.”
When he tossed her one of his usual smirks, she snapped a suspender against his chest. “Camille! Rude.” He smoothed the fabric of his shirt, shaking his head. “And hey, it’s not like you came up to visit me in the months since.”
“Andrew, you didn’t visit me either.”
“Because! Going to DC means having to see my parents.” Drew grew up outside DC in the Maryland suburbs, and when he’d visited for Morgan’s going away party with Aditi, he complained constantly about the nonnegotiable pit stop.
“Well, I’m here for the summer so … no more excuses not to swing by.” They sat at a table on the deck, and she added, “Now answer my question. How’ve you been?”
With the sun beating down on them, he settled a pair of black sunglasses on his face, still smiling so widely she thought his face might be stuck.
“Me? I’m great. Work can be exhausting, but it’s worth it.
Lots of travel as usual. I got back from Miami yesterday.
Last week was Nashville, the week before that Austin.
It’s busy, but busy keeps me on my toes. ”
Drew worked at Farley a cloudless, sunny sky; Drew recapping the latest episode of the reality show he was binge-watching …
And yet the call of the business card in her pocket was too loud to ignore.