Page 48 of Knockin' Boats
Ash
“Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?” Mel’s tinny voice asked from the cell phone I’d propped on the foldout table, which was pretty much the only counter space I had in Hudson’s houseboat.
“I forgot to go grocery shopping, and after the day I’ve had, Ireallyneed comfort food.”
I closed the near-empty refrigerator and slumped into the hard plastic seat at the table with a pout.
I’d been quick to take Hudson up on his offer, and I was glad to be out of my parents’ house, but I missed the comforts of a well-stocked pantry, spacious kitchen, and shower that didn’t make me claustrophobic.
Maybe Sawyer was right all along, and I really was a spoiled brat.
“Why didn’t you eat at the resort?” Mel asked.
“Normally, I just eat something I make on the boat, but my stomach was in knots after the DreamBoats showed up and the freaking falafel wouldn’t hold together in the fryer.”
“You’ve made falafel before, haven’t you?”
“Yes!” I threw up my hands. “But I guess it got too warm in the boat. Or the oil got too hot. It just kept falling to pieces.”
“You’ll figure it out, and then your falafel will taste like heaven.”
“Maybe,” I muttered, “but that doesn’t stop me from looking like an idiot in front of Sawyer. Bad enough I kissed him, but now he thinks I’m incompetent too.”
“Oh.Sawyer.”
“Don’t say it like that. I just don’t want anyone at the resort thinking I can’t do this.”
“They don’t think that,” Mel said, attempting to smooth my feathers. But I was ruffled. More ruffled than I’d been in a long time.
My stepdad had sent the DreamBoat crew over to “support” me, but I was pretty sure he just wanted to check up on how I was doing. No doubt he was celebrating my meltdown and counting the days until I came crawling back.
When I’d texted my parents to tell them I’d found another place to live, Rick’s only response had been,Come get your things by the end of the week or I’ll toss them out. I’m not a storage locker.
Mom had cared a little more. She’d asked if I’d gotten back together with Mel, though, and was undoubtedly disappointed in my reply:Never happening, Mom.
She didn’t necessarily want me with Mel. She just wanted me settled with someone. Mom had always hated being single, and I think she expected me to be lonely or sad.
I’d never felt that way, though. Not until now, when I was on the other side of the lake from my only friend.
I wondered if that’s how Sawyer felt when he left. But then, why did he shut us all out?
“You need to get out of your head,” Mel said. “It’s not that late yet. Why don’t you go get some dinner?”
“I could go grocery shopping,” I mused. “Maybe I should go to the resort kitchen after hours and experiment with my falafel?—”
“No.”
I paused. “No?”
“No, Ash. Take a breather. Relax. Eat something you didn’t cook yourself.”
“You’re bossy.”
“Yep, but you’ll thank me later.”
I glanced out the window. I’d packed it in a little early today, disheartened after my mess. Traffic had slowed significantly, so I doubted I’d missed anything.
