Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Mila grabbed a can of sparkling water from the fridge and moved to the couch in her apartment.
She decided to kill a few minutes before her FaceTime with Layne and Piper began and pulled up Instagram.
Like everyone, she followed celebrities she liked.
Local businesses in Driftwood Bay. Sports teams and figures she admired. And of course, friends.
She typed in Sam’s name, something she had not done since he had abruptly resigned from the high school and left town for his new position. She went through a few of his more recent posts, seeing his apartment. A dinner out with fellow coaches. Surprisingly, she felt nothing.
And that felt really, really good.
She had been brokenhearted when she and Mark ended their romance.
She had only been twenty-four, and it was her first serious relationship.
She had tormented herself, following him on Instagram for a year, seeing how happy he was at his new school.
When he had started dating someone and posting pictures of their outings, it had crushed her soul.
She unfollowed him immediately, and had no idea where he was now or if he had married that girl from the pictures he posted.
Things felt different this time, with Sam, and Mila was glad to have made this breakthrough. Her phone rang, and she was excited to share this discovery with her two closest friends.
She clicked on the call, and Piper’s friendly face filled the screen.
“Hey, girl,” Piper greeted. “Let me patch in Layne.”
Her other good friend appeared on the screen.
“Hi, everybody. I’ve got to tell you about a new app at work that I just finished working on. It’s A-mazing, if I do say so myself.”
For the next several minutes, Layne talked about the app she had created, saying it would make a huge difference in her company’s productivity and efficiency, and that it might have long-reaching consequences for other companies who invested in it, as well.
When she finished describing it, Piper said, “I’m proud. I actually followed most of what you said just then. Thanks for learning how to explain tech-y things to us,” she joked.
“I practiced on Jeremy before I called you two. You know he’s as non-tech as they come.”
“How are things with Jeremy?” Mila asked. “You haven’t mentioned him for a while.”
Layne frowned. “I hate to report that he’s quit another job. He just can’t seem to find work he enjoys. He’s had a really bad run of luck finding a good boss to work under.”
Mila had met Jeremy several times over the last few years on trips to Dallas.
While he was very nice-looking and really smart, he wasn’t a people person, the opposite of Layne.
Mila also resented that Layne carried the financial burden in their relationship.
Jeremy only contributed every now and then to their rent—and nothing else.
She wished Layne would wake up and realize her longtime, live-in boyfriend was a user, but Mila wasn’t going to go there.
Layne would have to figure this out on her own.
Jeremy would have to do something incredibly stupid to get Layne’s attention. Then maybe she would give him the boot.
“Switching topics,” she said, “how is Les Miz going?”
Piper brightened. “I’ve been getting some fantastic reviews. Fantine is a dream role for me. I get to sing my heart out and die dramatically almost every day of the week.”
“Where are you, again?” Layne asked. “You travel so much, I lose track.”
“Atlanta,” Piper responded, laughing. “Sometimes, I can’t even remember what city I’m in when I wake up. I check the weather on my phone to see where I am. We’ll be in Atlanta for another two weeks and then swing through Florida before moving to New Orleans and then the Midwest.”
“No stops in Texas?” Mila asked, disappointed because she enjoyed seeing Piper on stage.
“No. When I replaced the actress playing this role, they had already done a tour of Texas and the Southwest.”
“I wasn’t straight on why you replaced her,” Layne said.
“She was having some vocal cord problems and had to stop singing for a while in order to rest her voice. I had just finished a touring production of Rent, so the timing couldn’t have been better when the director contacted me.
I was able to step in because I’ve played Fantine several times over the years.
It was just a matter of a couple of rehearsals to help me gel with this cast. But enough about me.
What’s going on with you, Mila? How are your spirits?
I know Sam leaving really had you down the last time we talked. ”
Mila sat up a little straighter. “Actually, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m over Sam.
Completely. We only dated six months. Yes, I had a lot of fun with him, but we never really went beyond surface level.
I think when he left, I was more upset about the idea of not having someone to do things with, versus the idea of not having Sam in my life anymore. ”
“That’s great, honey,” Layne said. “All you need to do now is get back up on the dating horse.”
She sighed. “You know what Driftwood Bay is like. There aren’t a lot of single guys running around. Although I did see the architect for Tidewater at Pelican Point last weekend. He’s pretty yummy. Too bad he’ll be gone soon.”
“How is Tidewater coming along?” Piper asked.
Her friend referred to the resort being built on the island a couple of miles off the coast of Driftwood Bay. It was supposed to open sometime next year and would cater to the wealthy looking for an escape.
“It’s coming along. It should open by next summer, I think. Not that I could afford to stay there on my teacher’s salary. Everyone’s talking about how it’ll be the ultimate in luxury, being a Wagner Enterprises Hotel and Resort.”
“That should bring an influx of new guys to the area,” Layne said. “They’ll have to have people who manage the resort. Work the desk. Instructors for things like diving and golf. Even chefs and bartenders. Surely, some guy will come in and catch your attention.”
Mila quietly said, “There’s already a guy who has landed on my radar.”
Her friends squealed in unison, and Piper said, “Spill it, Mila. Every detail, starting with how hot he is.”
She laughed. “Actually, he is incredibly hot. Probably six-four or so. Rich, brown hair. Eyes the color of espresso.” She paused. “Believe it or not, he’s the guy who has taken Sam’s place.”
“Oh, no,” Layne protested. “Not another coach. You said you’ve sworn off dating coaches. That they only stay a few years and then leave for greener pastures.”
“I’m not saying I want to date him,” she said firmly. “Only that he’s a very attractive man who’s caught my eye.”
“Where did you meet him?” Layne asked.
“I dropped by the ad building today to talk with Pamela about the curriculum I just finished revising. When I went to see if Dad wanted to have lunch with me, Carson was coming out of his office.”
“Carson,” Piper said. “Carson what?”
“Andrews,” Mila supplied. “Wait, what are you doing?”
“I’m googling him, silly. I can’t believe you haven’t done that already. Or have you?”
“I’d prefer to learn things about Carson from him. I took him over to the high school and showed him around. Then we went to the diner and had lunch before I dropped him back at admin to sign everything at HR.”
Piper got a funny look on her face, and Mila suspected what she was reading about.
“He’s a widower,” she told her friends. “Has a four-year-old daughter named Lily. He’s coming from Houston.”
“Do you want to get involved with someone who has a child?” Layne asked, concern on her face.
“First of all, I’m not involved with him. We just shared a friendly lunch while I told him about the high school and town. One coach talking with another coach. He really seems to care for his daughter. I’m sure all his free time is spent taking care of Lily.”
Piper spoke up. “Do you know how his wife died, Mila?”
“No. He mentioned he lost her two years ago and that he was a single parent. Why?”
“I’m finding some articles about her death. It’s really tragic. His wife was carjacked. The little girl was in her car seat in the back, and Angie Andrews was hysterical, pleading for the carjacker to let her get her daughter out of the car when he shot her.”
A sick feeling washed over Mila. “I didn’t know any of that.”
Piper’s eyes were skimming the article as she said, “I think you owe it to yourself to look him up. Especially if you’re interested in him.”
She regretted sharing with her friends her attraction to the handsome new basketball coach.
Dismissively, she said, “Nothing is going to come of anything between Carson Andrews and me. I just wanted to share that I’m totally over Sam and I actually found another guy hot. End of story.”
Layne quickly changed the subject, asking about a few things in Driftwood Bay. Mila knew what her friend was doing and answered all her questions as best she could.
Then Layne said, “I’m a little worried about Mom. We talk once a week, and she just seems… I don’t know. Off.”
“Have you asked your dad about it?” Piper asked.
“No. You know how Dad is. He would just dismiss my concerns. I just wondered if you might have run into her anywhere in town.”
“No, but I can stop by the B&B and just chat with her.”
“Don’t do that,” Layne said. “She’d know right away that I’d sent you, and that would piss her off. Maybe Mom is just in that menopause fog you read about older women experiencing.”
“I’ll ask my mom about her,” Mila offered. “Since your mom usually comes into the boutique once or twice a month to shop.”
“Would you?” Layne asked. “That would be great.”
“Well, I need to go,” Mila said. “I’ve set up three interviews over Zoom tomorrow.”
“That’s right,” Piper said. “You’ve got to replace the coach at the middle school.”
“Yes. She or he needs to coach volleyball in the fall and track come spring. Carson said I can pretty much hire whomever I want for the position.”