Page 129 of Resting Beach Face
“That’s it, exactly.” I sighed. “He loves Kat, too. He’s totally happy for her to stay with us. I…still have mixed feelings about that. He didn’t sign up for raising a teenager, you know?”
She scoffed. “Please. He knows your situation at home. What do you think single parents do when they meet someone? You’re building a future and a family, Cash. If he can’t handle that, he’s not in it for the long haul.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.” I chuckled. “How did I get so damn lucky?”
“Maybe it’s karma,” Poppy said.
I raised an eyebrow. “You think I deserve good karma after fucking around for so long?”
“No.” She kicked my ankle. “I think you deserve good karma for being a good person, Cash. For looking out for your sister. For trying so hard with your family, trying for longer than a lot of people would have. You deserve this happiness. You’ve waited a long time for it, so try to enjoy it, okay?”
I nodded, my throat too tight to answer right away. I took a few gulps of my decadent coffee. “Thanks, Pops. You’re a great friend.”
“I know I am.”
“If it weren’t for you explaining the ace spectrum to me like I was a kindergartner, I might have screwed up this thing with Declan. I owe you so much.”
“Well, you just bought me a hot chocolate,” she said, lifting her drink. “Let’s call it even.”
It wasn’t close to even, but Poppy didn’t like it when people made a fuss. “I’m buying the next round, too,” I said.
“Deal.”
Poppy, proving she was the best friend ever, gave me a lift over to the resort so I wouldn’t have to grab a water taxi at the marina. I clocked in and greeted Grandma Kitty with a tight hug that made her squeal and slap my arm.
“You look happy today, Cash.”
I rounded the front counter in the lobby, taking up my station and logging into the booking system. “I guess I haven’t been the best company over the past few days.”
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t put it that way,” Kitty said. “But you’ve obviously been worried.”
I nodded. “I’m seeing everything I have to be grateful for today,” said. “Like the best Work Grandma ever.”
She chortled. “You just keep buttering me up, mister, and I might bring you a cupcake later.”
“Ooh, you’re the sweetest grandma, too. Anytime you want to throw Brooks over and adopt me, I’m ready.”
She laughed. “Grandma’s heart has plenty of room for everyone.”
A few hours passed while I did the mundane tasks of my job. I took a room service order, answered a question about our cable service for another guest, and gave a young couple directions to the Outdoor Market.
I wondered if Declan and I were doing the same thing right now—and how much he hated it. It was a shame that the B&B life wasn’t for him, because I loved it over there. Even when I was taking a booking call or chatting up a guest, it was so much more relaxed that it never really felt like work.
The phone rang, and I picked it up on autopilot. “Treehous—er…” I cleared my throat, aware that Skylar had just approached the desk. “Swallow’s Nest Resort. This is Cash speaking. How may I help you?”
“I’ve got an important question,” a blustery voice said. “Why thehellcan’t your resort keep tourists out of my hole?”
I recognized Chester’s voice and rolled my eyes. “Hold that thought.”
“But—”
I stabbed the Hold button and looked at Skylar. “It’s the daily vent session from the Weekend Hookers. Did you need something?”
Skylar grimaced. “Do you want me to take it?”
“Nah, that’s why you pay me, right? Don’t go punishing yourself for no reason.”
He laughed. “Okay. Just come by my office when you’re done. We need to chat.”
