Chapter 29
MAX
Okay, to be honest, I’ve never been to a cookout, so when we walk into the grocery store—which I know my way around after owning a large chain of them for a very long time—I realize I have no idea what I’m supposed to bring.
I hang back, hoping someone else will take the reins, and it looks like we’re all feeling the same indecision.
Avery leans over to Lila and says, “Does it say what kind of cookout it is on that sheet? Like, are we doing shrimp and lobster, or is this a burgers and hot dogs shindig? Because I feel like that makes a huge difference.”
One cashier must have overheard us because she says, “This is usually for the entire community, and the town oversees the budget, so chances are high it’ll just be hamburgers and hot dogs.”
Avery gives the woman a thumbs-up. “Thank you.”
We walk down the aisle. Aiden and I already grabbed a cart, and we trail behind the women while trying to figure out what we need.
“Chips would be good,” Talia says.
Aiden immediately starts grabbing every kind she points out and adds them to the cart.
“What about drinks?” Avery asks. “I’m sure we’ll need something, right? Maybe they’ll just do a big bucket of water, but what if we get a few sodas just in case? I’m sure there’ll be people who want something besides water.”
Lila raises her hand, and Ashley does too, both grinning.
I laugh. “Let’s grab, like, twenty bottles of soda.”
Their eyes go wide.
“Really?” Avery asks.
I shrug. “Why not? This could be a good contribution to the community, and I have to buy their affection somehow since I’m an outsider, right?”
I wink, and Talia groans as if that’s the worst answer I could’ve given.
“Okay, so what about salad and stuff?” I ask. “I might not be an expert on cookouts, but I can put together a good spread if I don’t have to make it myself.”
“I think we’re good with chips and drinks, don’t you?” Talia says. “This might already be more than the four of us need to bring.” She glances at the cart stacked with fizzy drinks.
“Well, the way we look at it is we’re helping, right, Aiden?” I say.
I catch Aiden staring at Talia again when she’s studying some candy on the shelves and flick his arm to get him to focus.
“Oh, yeah. For sure. Let’s go pay for this and get going,” he adds.
“What about dessert?” Lila asks, trying to pass off her most innocent of smiles.
“We just had an ice cream cone.”
“But it’s the weekend,” Lila counters. “A time to relax and enjoy after a long week.”
Avery closes her eyes for a moment, and I can’t stop watching her. Every expression, her playfulness. Her beauty. I’m falling and hard.
Doubt swirls, then. Will she abandon me once she finds out who I am?
Or do I leave this place with her thinking I’m an employee and not the boss?
The thoughts tug at my heart. I don’t want to leave here. Sure, this town has more quirks than I’ve ever seen, but it also has a charm that’s hard to replicate.
“What if we brought ice cream, and people could make root beer floats or Coke floats or whatever?” Aiden suggests.
“That’s not my favorite,” I say, “but I know how you Americans love root beer. Let’s get some.”
As we head to the frozen section, Avery turns to me and asks, “You don’t like root beer?”
My nose wrinkles. “I’d drink it if it were to save my life, but other than that, I’ll drink just about anything else.”
“Have you had the good kind though?” Avery asks, a hint of a smile on her lips.
I raise an eyebrow. “You define them as good and bad kinds?”
Laughing, Avery says, “There are some brands that are better than others. But if you’re a staunch no root beer fan, it might be a lost cause.”
“Now I’m curious.”
“We’ll have a taste-testing contest another time. Then you can decide once and for all if it’s something you hate.”
I laugh. “Done. I look forward to this.”
Aiden loads five gallons of vanilla ice cream into the cart along with a few other flavors.
“Do you want us to split the check?” Avery asks hesitantly.
It’s only then that I notice the nervousness on her face. She’s still trying to keep her business afloat, and every dollar matters right now.
“No, we’ve got it. Then again, we’ll make Aiden get all of it,” I add with a grin.
He frowns at me. “Really, man?”
“Think about it,” I say. “You’re helping your favorite town celebrate together. What could be better than that?”
We walk toward the register, then he pulls out his card while the women stare in shock.
“That was a lot,” Talia says. “You just have money to drop on stuff like this?”
Aiden suddenly looks nervous. “Um, yeah. Well, I figured I could help, so…might as well. Where are we supposed to go?”
He changes the subject so fast it’s almost impressive.
“I think it’s down by the marina,” Lila says, pointing at the pamphlet.
Avery and I stare at the carts of goods. “How are we going to get all of this to the marina?” I ask.
“Just borrow the carts,” Talia says. “It might be bumpy, but at least it’ll save our fingers from destruction.”
“That’s a little more description than I would’ve used, but I get it,” Avery says.
We head that direction, and I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying the evening.
“I know you haven’t, but has Aiden been here before?” Avery asks.
“Yeah, he came out here a lot in the summers growing up. He loves this place.”
She processes it for a moment and says, “Wait, is he your boss?”
I wasn’t expecting that question, and while it would be easy to say yes, I don’t want to dig a deeper hole for myself. More and more I want to get to know Avery, to tell her everything about me, but I worry she’ll push me away because of the deception.
“No, just a good friend I’ve known since college.”
She looks like she accepts that answer, at least for now.
By the time we get close to the cookout area, I feel like my arms have been covered by one of those stim machines that help circulation and massaging muscles, except it’s from trying to control the heavy cart along the sidewalk.
We finally make it to the marina and hand over the soda, chips, and ice cream.
“I can take the carts back,” Aiden says, squishing both together.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I can help.”
He waves me off. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Save me some of the good stuff.”
“What does he mean by ‘good stuff’?” Avery asks.
“Probably a little of everything.”
Aiden and I are shaking out our aching hands and laughing when a man with blindingly white teeth and a strange, pink-striped suit approaches us. He looks like he belongs in a carnival and not at a small-town cookout.
“Thank you so much for contributing to our party,” he says.
Something about him immediately makes me wary. He gives off the vibe of an old-time swindler. He just needs a greasy mustache, and he’d be all set.
When I notice Talia frowning beside me, I know I’m not the only one uncomfortable.
“Why are you here, Mayor Denison?” she asks sharply.
I’m surprised by her tone because, apparently, this guy is the one behind a lot of the renovations and rebuilding happening around town.
“Just making sure the citizens of Penrose Beach are enjoying themselves,” he says smoothly. “It takes a lot of work to put together something like this.”
Talia practically growls. “We both know you didn’t help.”
His smile slips for just a second before his eyes harden. “I do a lot more for this town than you do, little missy, so I’d be careful what you say.”
I’m curious about whatever history exists between them, but honestly, I’m already on Talia’s side.
The mayor walks away, his polished smile returning as he greets more townspeople.
“How did he get elected?” I ask.
Talia snorts. “By buying off the other candidates.”
“Really? Is that legal?” Avery asks.
“No, but some people will be swayed by money.”
Aiden presses his lips together. “I take it you’re not one of those people?”
She gives him a surprised look. “Was I ever?”
He looks embarrassed. “No. You definitely weren’t a sellout.”
We mingle with people, and I get to know a few more residents before spotting Chloe and Brock. I walk over, wanting to check on them.
“How’s everything with the B&B?” I ask.
Chloe gives me a tired smile. “Luckily, we were able to repair a good chunk of it. We still need to repaint and get everything settled again, though. What a mess. Oh, you forgot some money when you left. We have it at the B&B. Stop by and get it.”
I lean in so I can lower my voice so they’ll still understand. “I left that for you. To help with the costs of repairing things.”
Brock’s eyes narrow. “You left a five-hundred-dollar tip?”
I place my index finger over my lips. “If we can keep that between us, I’d appreciate it.”
“We have it on the desk. We can get it back to you this evening,” Chloe says.
I close my eyes for a brief second as I try to control my impatience. I don’t think I’ve ever had to convince someone to take my money before. Maybe that’s something they learn in this town. Now, instead of feeling like my money is a burden, I see it as a benefit.
What if they know who I am? Will they keep treating me the same way?
“Think of it as a donation for taking me in for so long. And a ‘pay it forward’ type of thing.”
Chloe and Brock turn to each other, seeming to communicate without words. It’s impressive, and I might be a little jealous.
“Thank you, Max,” Chloe says, stepping forward to give me a quick hug. Brock gives me a strong handshake, and I can’t help but feel like these two deserve everything good in the world.
“I can only imagine the panic you two have been in, especially this close to the busy season.”
There’s movement to my side, and I turn to see Avery approach, leaning in to give Chloe a hug. It’s only now, after she hugged me earlier that I realize that’s her calling card.
I wouldn’t mind another from her.
“How are you guys doing? Max said you had a leak?” she asks.
“We did, but we got it figured out. How are things going for you?” Chloe asks her.
“Better now that I’ve tweaked a few things and turned the place more into a coffee shop than a gift store,” Avery admits, glancing at me with a knowing smile.