Page 18 of Spindrift

“Dependson your perspective.”

“Whichis?”

“Ilove it here. Granted, the winters are long and the roads are shit, but it’sworth it.”

“Mydad thought so, too. He and my mom split when I was eight. He came back here. Ispent the summers with him until I was a teenager.”

“Emiliaof theEmilia Rosa.”

“Yes.I have a boat named after me.”

Thewry note in Emilia’s voice made Morgan laugh.

Storm’s-A-Brewin'came into view around the corner with its dark blue awnings hanging over thecheerfully lit windows.

“Beforewe go in, I have to ask—was she named Stormy or is it a nickname?” Emiliaasked.

“Hermother named her Victoria, which she hates, by the way. Apparently, she had terribletemper tantrums as a kid. Her brother started calling her Vic-stormia, andStormy stuck.”

“Isuppose Stormy is better than Vicky.”

“Ifyou ever feel like living on the edge, call her that.” Morgan opened the door, andas Emilia stepped through it, she caught some faint hint of scent. Floral.Sweet. Emilia’s perfume, or maybe just a fancy brand of shampoo—whatever itwas, it inspired the unhelpful urge to lean in and breathe deeply.

“Boifriend!”Stormy waved from behind the bar. A red bandana held her tempestuous blackcurls in place. Morgan caught Emilia’s raised eyebrow at Stormy’s exuberantgreeting.

“Boiwith an ‘i.’ It’s a long story,” Morgan said as she approached the bar.

“Notreally,” said Stormy. Only two other customers were in the shop, which didn’tbode well for business. It also gave Stormy an excuse to insert herself intotheir conversation. “Morgan’s my stand-in partner. Whenever some creep hits onme, I tell him about my big, strong, truck-driving boyfriend.” She snapped thebar towel at Morgan’s biceps.

“Ouch.”She rubbed the spot where the towel had hit.

“Onetime, I had a customer who just wouldn’t let it go, and Morgan happened to behere . . .”

“Gotit. She likes playing the hero, doesn’t she?” Emilia took a seat at one of thebar stools and shot Morgan a sardonic look that quickened her pulse.

“Isee you know all there is to know about the Don. Do the doggos need any water?Morgan’s finicky about community water bowls. Kraken gets his own cup.”

“Luckyboy,” said Emilia.

“Luckyowner. I know he drinks out of the toilet at home,” said Stormy.

“Hedoes not.” Morgan put her hand on Kraken’s head, only half feigning her woundedtone. No dog of hers would ever drink out of some bacteria-filled cesspool.

“Mhmm.What can I get you ladies?”

“I’lltake a stout,” said Morgan.

“AndI’ll try your porter.”

“Excellentchoices, though I would have pegged you as an IPA drinker,” Stormy said toEmilia. “How are you liking Seal Cove?”

“Ifeel like I dove right into the middle of it.”

Anotherjoke? Morgan couldn’t tell.

“Notsomething I’d recommend. I don’t touch that water until July, and that’s withpadding.” She patted her curvy figure.

“Ora wet suit,” said Morgan.

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