Page 19 of Sea La Vie
I glance at Tate out of the corner of my eye, wondering if he still wants me to help him at the cottage after the disaster we called our family breakfast. “You’re not doing anything are you? You don’t mind clearing these dishes while I fiddle around outside?”
“I can wait,” Tate says with a nod. If dad hears him allude to us having plans, he ignores them.
“Thanks, kid,” my dad says before his lumberjack frame ambles from the kitchen. Seconds later, I hear the door to the backyard shut.
“Give me a few minutes to clean up,” I say. “You can go ahead and get started if you want. and I’ll join you later.”
Tate glances around the mountain of dishes on the table and the pots and pans strewn around the kitchen. “I can stay and help,” he offers.
I shake my head. “Seriously, it’s fine. I’ll be done with these in no time. Go ahead and go to the cottage and I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”
Tate sighs, but I motion him to the door anyway.
“Thank you, Lainey.” I raise an eyebrow. “For bringing me to your family breakfast and for coffee. I’ll see you in a little bit.” He turns and walks to the front door, and I watch him go, hating myself for enjoying the view.
7
Lainey
“So the octopus actually stuck to him?” Eden giggles as she wipes down the espresso maker, then slides me her newest creation. I take a sip and savor every second of it.
Since breakfast ended in a dumpster fire the other morning, I’m just now getting the chance to tell Eden about Tate’s encounter with the octopus.
“Is that cinnamon and honey? Delicious,” a soft moan of ecstasy escapes me. “And almost. I pulled it off before it stuck to him, but it was still gnarly.” I wrinkle my nose in disgust and Eden does the same. “You should make this one a permanent item on the menu. It might be my new favorite.”
“Here, take one to Tate.” She slides one more across the counter before I can protest. “You need to lighten up on him.”
“What do you mean?” I scoff. “I’m nice to him. I changed his tire. I invited him to our family breakfast. I’m helping him with the cottage when I can. What more should I do for the guy?”
Eden shoots me the same pointed look she gives Sam when he’s in trouble. “You acted like the thought of him as a boyfriend was absolutely disgusting the other morning at breakfast. You should’ve seen the way he deflated when he realized you had no interest whatsoever.”
“He’s basically a tourist now, Eden. He doesn’t vacation here every summer like he used to. We are two completely different people than we were as teenagers. We have a history and it didn’t end so great.” I shrug and add, “Also, he’s not my type.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun,” she says with a smirk.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “No way. He’s always so smiley…and happy.”
“Gosh, you’re right,” Eden says, brows drawn together. “We better call the cops.”
“Eden! He rolled into this sleepy town in his ridiculously over the top car, expensive suit, and Italian loafers, acting like he never left and broke my heart to begin with. He doesn’t fit here. And don’t you think it’s weird that he came back randomly after staying away for so many years?”
Eden shrugs. “You don’t need to know everything about the man to—”
“Stop right there. No more,” I say, biting back a smile. “Not interested. Period.”
Then why are his dark, hickory-colored eyes and bright smile the last thing I thought about before finally falling asleep last night? “He’s just so…I don’t know,” I saw with a flip of my hand.
“Tall, dark, and handsome? I could see why that bothers you,” Eden says, taking a sip of the coffee she made for me. “Thisisgood,” she mumbles, more to herself than me.
“Then go get him, tiger. He’s all yours,” I say and jump off the bar stool.
“No way. I tried relationships once. Your brother ruined me for life.” Eden shudders, and Sam runs around the corner, effectively putting an end to our conversation.
Eden and Henry were high school sweethearts, inseparable and in love. We all thought they’d get married and live a long happy life, even after the surprise of being pregnant with Sam. Until, one day, they called it quits. Eden won’t tell me what happened, and neither will Henry. All I know is my sweet, shy, soft-spoken brother left on a full ride to USC’s football team for summer training, came back after he found out Eden was pregnant, and now Eden can’t stand his guts.
“Aunt Lainey! Can I go surfing with you this morning?” Sam asks, shoving what’s left of a blueberry muffin into his tiny mouth. “Please?” He begs through muffled crumbs and wipes his sticky fingers down the front of his shirt. “I’ve been practicing with Dad!”
“Not today, Peanut,” Eden says, swooping him into her arms and peppering kisses along his chubby cheeks. Sam squeals in delight. “Aunt Lainey is going to help herfriendthis morning.” She winks at me and shuffles Sam into the back, no doubt to get him cleaned up from his breakfast.
