Page 9 of Sea La Vie
My heart twists as Lainey can’t get the word “friend” out. Before I have too much time to dwell on that, Lucille looks me up and down, her sweet charm turning to immediate suspicion. “I’ve heard about folks like you,” she mutters and crosses her arms. Clearly, she doesn’t remember me. Whether that’s a good thing or not is to be determined.
“Folks…like me?” I ask.
She snorts and squints her eyes through her impressively thick glasses. If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the floor right now.
“You think you can charm a sweet innocent girl like Lainey, weasel your way into this rental, stab us in the middle of the night, dispose of our bodies in the bay, and steal all our money don’t you?”
I’m quickly realizing why this rental isn’t exactly busy. Lainey giggles and lays an arm on Lucille’s shoulder. “Lucille,” she says gently. “Have you been watching Dateline again when Dave leaves, like he told you not to?”
Lucille looks back to Lainey and a blush creeps up her neck and onto her cheeks. Busted. She turns to me and squints again. “You can stay but if I catch you smoking, I’m charging you triple and you lose your deposit.”
“Deal,” I say, but not before noticing the ashtray beside a well worn paper agenda.Hypocrite. I hand over my credit card and Lucille writes each number down and checks it twice before handing it back.
“Better not be stolen,” she warns, then tucks the pen into her gray bun.
“It’s not, Scout’s honor,” I promise.
Lainey shoves her hands into her pockets and rocks back and forth on her still bare feet. “Well, I think you’re all set. I’m sure you saw the diner on the way in and the general store in case you need a toothbrush or anything.” She glances at a clock on the wall. “Actually, it's too late for the toothbrush. They closed at seven. The diner should still be open though.” She walks to the door and I follow her, afraid to let her leave so easily.
“Wait,” I say. “I think I left my cigs in your truck.” I glance over my shoulder at Lucille, who’s staring daggers at me before following Lainey to her truck.
“You smoke now?” Lainey eyes me quizzically, one eyebrow raised.
“No,” I chuckle. “I just couldn’t help myself.”
I shove my hands into my pockets and before I can stop myself, I ask, “Do you think I’ll see you again?”
Lainey shrugs one shoulder and opens her truck door. “Probably,” she says. “It is a pretty small town.” The engine roars to life, and she pulls back onto the sandy road leaving me standing in the dark, save for the light above Lucille’s door flickering around the beating moths. I pull out my phone to call Jordan, quickly notice there’s no cell service, and return it to my pocket. Probably better I didn’t talk to him anyway. I feel likeI’ve lived a whole life in the past twenty four hours. And to my chagrin, all I can think about is that left dimple that finally poked through Lainey’s tough exterior, that beautiful head of messy hair, and how much I missed her.
4
Lainey
“You’re back early,” Eden says as she hands me a mug. I take a sip, and close my eyes in delight. Pure heaven. I’m Eden’s unofficial taste tester before anything goes on the menu, and this definitely deserves a spot.
“It’s good, right?” She smiles. “It’s a Mocha Macchiato.”
“It’s great,” I tell her and take another sip. “And yeah, I got lucky and caught a few early this morning. Paul beat me out there, but whatever. I caught enough.”
Eden eyes me warily. She pushes her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and leans against the counter. Today, she’s wearing cut off denim shorts, combat boots, and a tank top with a flannel tied around her waist. It’s not what I would’ve picked as summer attire for myself but somehow, she rocks it. “Enoughfish?” She knows taking over dad’s fishing vessel hasn’t exactly been easy and has offered me a part time job on more than one occasion. While it’s tempting to spend my days surrounded by the smell of paperbacks and coffee, I don’t want to give up myfamily’s legacy. I just need to make it through a couple more months.
“Enough for now,” I tell her, giving her a one-shouldered shrug. “If I would’ve woken up thirty minutes earlier, I would’ve beaten Paul. I’m so mad at myself.”
“Paul isn’tthatbad,” Eden says.
I roll my eyes. “Just because you think he’s hot, doesn’t mean he isn’t our arch nemesis.”
Eden smirks. “You have to admit, he’s pretty hot.”
“He’s my dad’s age, Eden. Gross.” I fake a gag and Eden lets out a sardonic laugh.
“I really worry about you going out there by yourself,” she says as she pushes a long brown strand of hair behind her ear. “If Henry would pull his head out of his—” before she can continue, a fifty pound rocket shoots into my legs.
“Aunt Lainey!” Sam cries. “Look at my pet worm!” Before I have time to protest, his sticky fingers are reaching into his pocket and pulling out a limp earthworm.
“Sam, gross! Take it outside right now!” Eden commands. When Sam stays planted, Eden points toward the door. “Out!”
Sam hangs his head and shuffles out the front door, Eden’s eyes never leaving him. I watch as Sam walks outside, looks around, and shoves the worm back in his pocket. When he comes back in, Eden points back to the door, and Sam’s shoulders sink as he turns around and goes back outside.
