Chapter Thirteen. Happy Hour #2
The next day, they started the morning with a big breakfast for the birthday boy. Cam insisted on making pancakes for everyone—with chocolate chips, per Drew’s request—and they ate at the kitchen table, catching up and laughing as Drew complained about the attention he got from Reggie.
Except nobody missed the pieces of turkey sausage he kept accidentally dropping beneath the table.
After breakfast, they hit the beach. The trio sprawled across the sand, letting the sun beat down on them.
Cam listened to the waves as she wrote in her journal, entertained by the conversation between the guys.
Reggie curled into her feet, keeping himself busy by licking every crevice not covered in sand.
When the other two grew tired of idle conversation, they divvied up the baseball gloves Danny had pulled from his hall closet and started an enthusiastic game of catch.
Every few minutes, Cam peered up from her writing to watch the ball soar through the air.
She’d always check on Reggie, wondering if he would run after the perpetually flying baseball, but the lazy dog was far more content to lie at her feet.
“My boss has season tickets for the Red Sox,” Drew said, words punctuated with each slap of baseball hitting leather. “You should come up. See a couple of games with me. I tagged along when they played the O’s last month.”
“I dunno,” Danny replied. “It’s busy season. Maybe come September.”
“September? As if. If they’re in contention, I’m not getting tickets.”
“Then maybe next season.”
“You know”—Drew laughed, jumping into the air to catch a throw from Danny—“you’re supposed to be the lax one of us. All play, no work. Yet you’re working yourself to the bone. How did that happen?”
Danny chased after an errant throw from Drew, and Cam did her best to stifle a giggle. Danny lobbed the ball back, and as it soared through the air, Reggie finally lifted his head, before returning it to her legs.
“I’m not all work,” Danny insisted. “But I own a restaurant in a beach town. Summertime is peak season. I work hard now, I get to play later. We shut down for three weeks between January and February.”
“Maybe I need to start working for you,” Drew joked. “We didn’t even get Christmas Eve off. It was a half day.”
Danny winced. “Sorry. That should be illegal.”
“Eh, I got a good holiday bonus and—” Drew dove across the sand, catching the ball with a groan. “Man! You’re killing me. High school baseball to this? At least my bad throws are excusable!”
“Are they?” Danny asked. “Last I checked you played lacrosse for a few years.”
“Two! I quit when it started cutting into my swim practice.” He mimed a freestyle stroke. “My arms had other talents.”
Growing tired of catch, the guys returned to Cam and dug into the food they’d packed. A beach tote was filled with cans of soda, a bowl of watermelon, and a bag of Cape Cod chips. Drew relaxed on the sand as he snacked, his eyes hidden beneath his black sunglasses.
“So, what’s my grand birthday celebration?” he teased.
Danny settled beside him, popping open a can. “Well, every other Saturday night is karaoke. And tonight, we’re also doing a Shred Your Ex promotion in honor of a bachelorette party we’re hosting. Esme’s idea. Anyone who participates gets a free shot.”
Drew lowered his sunglasses. “A bachelorette party?”
“Our chef Pauly’s daughter Francesca is getting married next week. Beau’s is stop one on her bar crawl.”
“Francesca?” Drew leaned towards Danny, eyebrows furrowed. “The same Francesca you dated?”
Cam coughed, nearly choking on her watermelon. “What? You dated Pauly’s daughter?”
She wasn’t sure if it was sun exposure or what, but Danny was turning red. “Yes. I dated Francesca. Briefly. But it’s been nearly two years.”
Drew whistled. “Rough, man. Your ex celebrating her pending marriage at your bar on Shred Your Ex night.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “We weren’t serious and even now, we’re friendly. Anyways. They’ll swing by first, have some food, drinks, even sing a few songs. And then they’re hitting the town to do whatever.”
Drew pouted. “Boo. I have to share my birthday with another thing?”
“Aw, you poor boy. Do you need a birthday sash to remind everyone about this monumental day?” Cam asked. “I can get you one.”
It was the least she could do. She felt bad that Aditi wasn’t there to help celebrate. He hadn’t even brought her up. Was it a sore spot that she hadn’t joined for the getaway? Or had Drew requested she stay behind, so he could have proper friend time?
Cam didn’t want to ask and risk souring the weekend.
“You joke,” he replied, “but I’d wear it.”
“I know you would. I’ll see what I can do.”
He grinned. “Thanks, Camille.” Once he’d righted his sunglasses, he reclined in the sand, sighing happily as he snacked. “This is nice. Peaceful. Assuming Reggie doesn’t jump me for watermelon.”
But the words had barely left his lips before the naughty dog swiped the fruit from his fingertips. Drew complained, everyone laughed, and nothing felt as right as that moment.