Chapter 2 #3
“It’s cool. Sometimes some nuts are good for the soul,” she teased and I groaned again.
“I don’t think I’ll live this one down,” I joked.
She shook her head, a strand of her auburn hair falling in her face. “Never.” She looped an arm through mine, as if we’d known each other for years, and pulled me toward the counter. “Come on, new friend, let’s get you some nutty ice cream.”
As I waited to place my order, I wondered if Lucy would like pistachio. If it was something we could share together later.
But then I remembered that she was allergic to nuts and so couldn’t even try it.
I placed a new order for the pistachio cone and at the last minute, ordered a second one.
I turned around and handed the woman the ice cream. “I, umm … I got you one too. I hope that was okay.”
“Thank you, that’s so kind.”
“I thought it only fair since it was your recommendation.” I took a bite. Then another. Then another.
“Wow, this stuff is amazing.”
“I know, right!” she exclaimed, finishing her own cone with large enough bites to equal mine. Ice cream dribbled down her chin, and without thinking I wiped at it with a napkin, my fingers brushing her skin in the process.
Her eyes widened slightly and I realized my presumption. “Oh, sorry, it’s just you had something there. I shouldn’t have, sorry …”
“It’s okay.” She said it softly and without censure. Her ease made me relax instantly.
She tilted her head back, closing her eyes briefly. The hollow of her throat was exposed, and I could see a gold chain draped around her neck that disappeared below the collar of the loose blouse she was wearing.
“I’m Jenn, by the way,” she announced and held out her hand, her bracelets catching the sunlight.
“Rhett,” I replied, taking her hand and giving it a quick shake with humorous solemnity. I became embarrassingly aware of how sticky my hand still was.
“Nice to meet you, Rhett.” Her smile was really what set her apart. It was dazzling. She cast a quick look around. “So, any idea where a gal can lay her head for a couple of weeks? There doesn’t seem to be any hotels for miles.”
“Oh, well, there’s the Millwood Guesthouse over there. Ms. Stanley runs it, she’s really nice.” I indicated the two-story colonial building with an American flag fluttering in the breeze out front.
“Is it pricey? I don’t have a lot of cash on hand,” Jenn said, furrowing her brow slightly.
“Nothing’s pricey in Fern River,” I scoffed. “And it’s still the off season for another few weeks, so I’m sure you’ll find it affordable.”
“Oh, that’s good. I’ll check it out then.” She repositioned her book bag on her shoulders. It honestly looked like it weighed more than she did.
“So you’re here for a couple weeks, then?”
“Or longer.” She shrugged. “We’ll see.”
A moment of silence passed between us, her lightheartedness disappearing until she seemed to shake herself out of whatever black mood had momentarily taken over. She looked back at me, her face brightening again.
“Anyway, thanks for the ice cream, Rhett. I hope to see you around.”
“Yeah, me too.” I started to turn away but then in a moment of spontaneity, I pulled out my cell phone. “Hey, maybe I could get your number and give you a tour around town sometime?”
She hesitated before smiling. “Okay, sure, it’ll be nice to have a friend here.” She pulled out her phone, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw it was an old Nokia.
“Wow, I haven’t seen one of those since 2001.”
“Well, sorry, Mr. Fancy Pants, we can’t all afford swanky phones like that.” She gestured toward my Blackberry, and now it was my turn to flush red.
The phone had been a gift from Lucy for my birthday. Right along with putting me on her family plan so I didn’t have to worry about monthly bills. I laughed uncomfortably.
She put her hand on my arm, her expression kind. “I’m only kidding.” She rattled off the numbers and I tapped the digits into my keypad, before sending her a simple ‘hi’ so she had mine. Jenn smiled and saved my information.
“Okay, well, I better go and see if I can get a room at that B&B. It’s been nice talking to you, Rhett.” She gave me a small wave, then turned and walked across the street toward the Millwood Guesthouse.
I watched her until she was out of sight, a smile on my face as I watched her hips sashay as she moved.
The taste of pistachio ice cream lingered on my lips as I turned away, and I felt a lightness in my chest as I realized my usual growing panic had quieted to a dull throb.
Throwing my napkin in the trashcan I bumped into someone.
I looked up and saw Alison Schaffer, Lucy’s co-worker and the on-and-off-again girlfriend of my friend, Caleb.
She was pretty enough, with long brown hair and legs for miles, but if I was being honest, I thought Caleb could do better.
She had a jealous streak and could be incredibly possessive, which was a total turn-off.
“Hey, Alison.” My cheeks grew hot like I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t. I wasn’t sure why I was so paranoid.
“Hey, Rhett,” she replied with an overly eager smile. I had never quite warmed to her, for some reason. “Where’s Lucy today?”
“An exercise class, I think,” I said with a shrug.
“I saw you coming out of Crème Dulce Bakery earlier. Whatcha doin’ there?”
Alison was always noticing things that had nothing to do with her. She was a shit stirrer and a gossip. The kind of girl that made sure she had her nose in everything.
I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Cake tasting,” I replied brusquely, wanting to get away. Alison kind of creeped me out, though I never could put a finger on why. “Well, I better get going. Say hi to Caleb for me.”
“Of course, no problem.” She put her hand on my arm as I turned to walk away, her fingers cold on my skin.
“It’s always so nice to see you. We should spend more time together, don’t ya think?
” I noticed the way she seemed to catalog every detail, and I didn’t want to think about what she saw when she looked at me.
I had to resist the urge to shudder as I left.