Page 38 of Something Blue

She rubbed her hands against her shorts and gave him a wary smile. If he kept this up, she’d have to be forward with him. They were only pretending, and sending her mixed messages was something he probably hadn’t intended. So, he’d better stop.

He smiled wider, his bright whites gleaming at her.

He needed to stop. Like tonight.

She was glad he didn’t offer to take her hand as they walked across the street from the resort to where a tiny shack was. “You must’ve known this place was good,” she said as they walked inside. “Did you look up reviews or something?”

He shrugged. “Seems like the hole-in-the-wall restaurants are the best hidden secrets, especially in busy cities.”

“You’re right. Destin is known for their fishing, but cooking it right is harder than it looks.”

“Agreed. Should we sit at the bar?”

She nodded. “Maybe socializing will help calm my nerves.”

He gave her a sympathetic look and moved to slip his arm around her waist. Stepping away, she barely escaped in time. Why didn’t he stop the physical affection when they were alone? He didn’t seem to mind and instead pulled out a chair for her at the bar.

“Thanks,” she said. Telling him to hold back his good manners seemed rude. She sighed as she looked over the menu.

“Still starving?” he asked, his eyebrows coming together.

Not at all. She looked back to her menu and nodded. Her queasiness from earlier had only increased, but she didn’t want to give Andy any hints that she was chickening out. “Why don’t we get the seafood bar so we can try a little of everything.”

He closed his menu and winked at her. “Sounds good to me.”

When the waitress came, and Sadie asked for a ginger ale, he must’ve guessed. “You don’t feel good, do you?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. A little nervous, but I’m sure I can do it.”

He frowned and held the back of her shoulder. “I was serious when I said we don’t have to ride anything. I won’t think any less of you.”

“If you go with me, I’m sure it’ll be okay.”

He stood, taking her with him as they made their way to the bar. “You’re not fooling me, but okay. Take it easy on the food.”

The smell of fish about did her in as she reached the bar. She decided on a small piece of salmon and a few crab legs. He piled his plate high with everything but oysters. As they ate, they talked to the other tourists at the bar, swapping stories of home, and she almost forgot their plans for the evening. She chewed slowly, eating only a safe amount of food. Even if she went on a ride, by the time they walked to the mini amusement park, she’d be fine.

He tried to feed her bits of food she’d never tried from his plate, but his hand so close to her mouth, and she always declined. She watched him as he talked about Las Vegas with a few guys. He spoke animatedly as he recommended the best shows and attractions to see when they visited the following spring. Andy seemed comfortable with anyone.

They cleaned their greasy fingers with lemon-scented wipes, paid, and then took their time getting to the park only a block away.

The food she’d eaten crawled up her stomach, threatening to spill. She swallowed a sip of soda whenever it got too close, but by the time Chase found them in the crowd and waved them over, her stomach sloshed painfully.

“Thought you wouldn’t come,” Piper said, joining the three of them.

Sadie sighed, too tired to listen to her backhanded comments. “Do you ever get tired of focusing on everyone but yourself?”

The words slipped out before she could stop them. Piper’s mouth dropped open, but no words came.

Andy gave her a thumbs up behind his back.

“Let’s go then,” Piper said, snappier than before. “We’ll see who gets the last laugh tonight.”

The park was brightly lit with tiny lights strung throughout it. The mini-putt already had a long line, the waterslides were running, and muffled screams could be heard in the distance. Sadie’s eyes zoned in on the three adult rides she’d avoided since they’d installed them ten years ago. One was a bucket seat that went two hundred feet in the air and came down, similar to a Ferris wheel but much faster. The second resembled a ride at the fair, swinging bucket chairs in every direction at a frightening height. The third was the most intimidating—slingshotting someone into the air by a bungee rope, then allowing them to fall to their death.

As Sadie was deciding which ride would be the safest, Piper came up behind them. “We’re thinking about that one.”

Sadie looked to where Piper pointed. Her stomach squished uncomfortably as she stared at the scary Ferris wheel ride. Well, at least she wouldn’t be going upside down. “Fine. Let’s go.”

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