Chapter Fifteen
Brandee
“T hank you,” I say to the barista as I take my latte and join the girls at the small wrought iron table outside.
I brought the girls to Rest Ashore Café, a tiny beachfront coffee shop I found. It’s a beautiful morning. The sun is warm and bright, and there’s a light breeze coming off the ocean.
“So, how was your romp?” Jena asks.
Erin scrunches her nose. “Romp?”
“Yeah, I heard it used on a historical show about Catherine the Great. I like it. We should use it more. I’m bored. Think I’ll have myself a jolly ol’ romp with a stranger ,” Jena says in the worst British accent.
Erin rolls her eyes and then focuses on me.
“It was good,” I mutter.
“Good?” Erin screeches. “This blueberry muffin is good.”
“Okay. It was incredible,” I admit. “The man is beautiful, and he’s really good with his hands, and his mouth, and the rest of him.”
“I bet he is,” Erin murmurs.
“Are you going to see him again?” Jena asks.
“I don’t know. He called me this morning and asked if I’d be around next week, but—”
“Wait, he called you this morning?” Erin responds, looking confused.
“Yeah, I kicked him out in a hurry. I told him it was because of you two but the truth is I didn’t want Sabel to see him leaving and tell Aunt Ida that I had some stranger in her bed just days after she left.
But he wouldn’t go until I gave him my number.
So, I did, and he literally called me from the driveway.
I barely had the door shut before my phone started ringing. ”
“Hmm, interesting,” Erin says as she sips her coffee.
“What?”
She shrugs. “Just sounds like he enjoyed himself and might want round two.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’m not here long, and I have the cats to look after,” I say.
“The cats? Seriously? Those little furballs are pretty much self-sufficient,” she scoffs.
“Not true. You have to feed and water them and clean their litter box,” I explain.
Both of them glare at me.
“Okay, fine. Maybe I just don’t want to waste his time. I’m only here for a few months.”
“Exactly! It’s the perfect amount of time for a jolly ol’ romp,” Erin states.
“See? It’s fun to say, isn’t it?” Jena says, playfully elbowing Erin in the side.
“It is,” she agrees.
“I’m gonna miss you guys when you leave,” I say.
“You’ll be home before you know it. Just look at your time here as an adventure. Enjoy it,” Erin encourages.
“I will.”
“And you’d better keep us in the loop with the sexy bartender,” Jena says.
Avie and Leia are walking down the sidewalk with a tall brunette when the little girl spots us and runs up the steps to our table.
“Hi, guys,” Avie calls as she and her friend follow.
“Good morning,” I say.
“Brandee, Erin, and Jena, this is my friend Eden. She’s Leia’s dance instructor. They just finished class, and we were coming to grab coffee,” Avie introduces us, then looks at Eden. “Brandee is Ida Mae’s niece. She’s staying at her house while she’s out of town.”
“And we’re friends from back home who came to visit for the weekend,” Erin says.
“It’s nice to meet you all.”
They leave Leia with us while they go inside to order, and she gives us a little tap dance demonstration.
“Not bad, kiddo,” Jena praises.
“My ballet is much better. You’ll have to come watch my Christmas recital,” Leia tells her.
“When is it?” Jena asks.
Leia shrugs.
“Well, tell Brandee when you know the date, and if we’re able to come back down, we will.”
Leia beams at her.
Avie and Eden return with coffees and a cake pop for Leia.
“How was Whiskey Joe’s last night?” Avie asks.
“It was great. Cody Banks is so good. He had the crowd eating out of his hands,” Erin replies. “And Brandee had a blast. Didn’t you?”
I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks.
“Sure, my feet are sore this morning, but it was great,” I say.
“I bet more than your feet are sore,” Jena mumbles under her breath.
Luckily, the two women don’t hear it.
“I’m glad you guys had fun. Our friend Heather works there. Cody Banks is all she’s been able to talk about for weeks. She couldn’t wait,” Eden says. “Is he as good-looking in person?”
Erin shrugs. “He’s handsome, I guess.”
“Not a fan?” Avie asks.
“Oh, his band is great, and Cody is definitely talented. But we grew up with Garrett Tuttle, so fame doesn’t impress us much.”
Both of their mouths fall open.
“Garrett Tuttle? You guys are friends with Garrett Tuttle?” Eden squeals.
“Yep,” Erin confirms. “I work for his mom and dad, and he’s married to one of our best friends.”
“Oh my God, seriously? Like, you could just call him up?” Avie asks.
Erin glances at her and replies, “Yeah, sure, but he’s in Australia at the moment, so it would be”—she furrows her brow in concentration—“one in the morning tomorrow, I think.”
“Something like that. Ansley can’t wait for this tour to be over and for him to get back. That time difference has been brutal,” I say.
“I can’t believe you all really know him,” Avie exclaims.
Eden glances at her and says, “You should introduce Brandee to Audrey when she and Parker return from New Orleans.”
Avie’s smile broadens. “Yes!”
“Who’s that?” I ask.
“Parker is one of Sebastian’s friends. Do you remember my story about how we met?
Parker and Anson are the guys Sebastian worked with on the yacht.
Audrey is Parker’s girlfriend, and she’s the general manager at Whiskey Joe’s.
I bet she would love to have a contact for Garrett Tuttle,” Avie explains.
“Um …” I bite down on my lip.
“Oh, that was presumptuous of me. I’m sorry,” Avie says. “I guess I got carried away for a moment.”
“Psssh,” Erin hisses and waves her hand dismissively. “We’re friends now. What good was it to grow up with that asshat if we can’t help create connections for our new friends? I’ll mention your friend to Ansley and see what we can do.”
“Really?”
Erin nods. “Sure. Besides, Brandee really liked that bar, so it can’t hurt to have a connection of her own.”
I kick her shin under the table.
“Awesome! If you want to go again, Sebastian and I can take you, but just a warning: we like to go early for dinner, and I turn into a pumpkin before midnight,” Avie says.
Eden replies, “At least you make it to midnight. Since Mina was born, I’m lucky if I make it to nine. Wade can stay up longer than I can these days.”
Avie laughs. “Eden here is a new mom, and her husband is what, fifteen years older?” She glances at Eden for confirmation.
“Sixteen. But you’d think I was the oldest,” Eden responds.
We sit and chat for a little while longer while we finish our coffees. Then the three of them say goodbye so Eden can get home to her husband and baby girl.
“So, what’s on the agenda tonight?” Jena asks.
“Netflix and kitty cuddles,” I reply.
“Sounds good to me. I barely got a wink of sleep last night, what with all the—” Erin coughs.
“ Forensic Files ,” Jena finishes.
We all burst out laughing.