Page 27 of Fight For Her
I transformed into a prune in the shower while letting myself mull over all the details. All I had to do was tell a little fib for a few days and then pretend Coby and I broke things off amicably. No harm no foul. My potential new boss would never find out about my embarrassing fifteen minutes of fame, and I’d get to figure out if a move to LA was what I needed.
I tried not to think of how hurt my mother and Mia would be when I told them I’d be leaving Florida. Thinking of Mia’s puppy dog eyes and how long we’d been only a few minutes away from each other on top of my mother’s train wreck of a life without me physically in it was not a fun feeling. I’d have to wait to tell them, but there was no point in upsetting either of them until it was necessary.
The familiar weight of guilt sat heavy in the pit of my stomach at all the lies I’d be telling the two most important people in my life over the next few days. Ultimately, I had to do what would be best for me in the long run. I couldn’t mope around Palm Cove for the rest of my life when golden opportunities like these were ripe for the picking. I knew as difficult as it would be, they’d both understand.
Finally, all clean, and dressed in a loose tan romper with a cable knit cardigan to cover my exposed shoulders, I made my way down to the lobby. I was starved and in need of coffee.I should have coordinated with Coby so we could have walked next door together, but I shrugged the thought away figuring he was a big boy and knew where to find me.
A woman was sat at the large wooden front desk as I made my way through the lobby toward the restaurant next door. With just a glance at her, I could tell she had a big personality and was most definitely Bethany’s mom. Her dyed red hair was styled in an almost conical-looking beehive do, and she wore a nautical patterned sweater with layers of silver necklaces. She called out to me as I tried to sneak by. If I had to have another conversation before coffee, I’d die.
“Yoo-hoo!” She waved me over and put her book on the counter in front of her. I sighed and plastered on my best PR smile while waving back and walking to the desk. “You must be Kendahl. A nice-looking man was waiting for you, but he got hungry. He asked me to give you this.”
She handed me a black umbrella from behind her desk. “Isn’t he a sweetheart? I’m Ginger by the way, Ginger Marin.”I took the umbrella she offered, and she grasped my hand in hers, shaking it so vigorously that I was afraid the umbrella might launch out of my grip and become a deadly projectile.
Smiling politely, I retrieved my hand and thanked her. I was being kind of rude by not striking up a conversation, but as I said before, coffee and food were at the top of my to-do list and anything keeping me from them would have to wait.
“I say rain is just confetti from the sky.” She looked out the window with a frown. “But I do wish Mother Nature would finish up her business. I’d hate for my poor Mikey’s wedding to be rained out. I know how much they’re looking forward to a beach wedding.”
I nodded along offering a chorus of “uh-huhs” and “you’re rights.”When she started asking me if I was married to that “big hunk of a man,” I snapped back into the present.
“No, we’re uh…,” I hesitated knowing I should have this answer at the ready if we were going to do this thing before nodding again and adding, “just dating. It’s all very new.”
Releasing a breath, I let the thought of me and Coby having a beach wedding pop into my mind before the bubble popped with Ginger replying, “Well, you better get on that. Boy oh boy, if only I were ten years younger.” Shaking her head and laughing, she looked off wistfully. “And single, of course. I have my husband, Tim, bless his soul. But between us girls, what I wouldn’t do for a little peek of the goods if you know what I mean.”
I suppressed my laughter as I said my goodbyes. I knew all too well what she meant.
As soon as I stepped outside, I was instantly grateful for the umbrella. Rain pelted the top of the umbrella’s canopy, and I had to grip it with two hands to keep it from blowing away. Gray skies thick with clouds went on as far as the eye could see. I only hoped this storm would pass quickly.
The windows that were wide open letting in a salty breeze the night before were shut tight, and I felt like I was walking into a completely different place without the boisterous noises and music drifting through the windows.
My eyes zeroed in on Coby the moment I walked into the dining area. I hadn’t even mouthed a hello to a single person before I noticed he was sitting next to Shawn soaking wet. His hair reminded me of a spilled bottle of ink, drenched and pushed to the side of his forehead. I couldn’t tell if he was wearing a black shirt or if it was a lighter-colored shirt that was darkened from being soaked through.
Looking side to side, I saw that no one else was wet, at least not more than I was from the breeze misting drips toward my face.
If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. As soon as he spotted me checking him out, his face broke into a bright smile.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
“What? You mean I’m the only one who thought this was a wet T-shirt contest? Damn, I was hoping you were signed up too.”
Coming across the table to sit at his side, I elbow bumped him but couldn’t suppress my grin. “Seriously. Aren’t you freezing? It’s not exactly beach weather out there.”
“Nah, I’m good, nothing a strong cup of coffee won’t fix. I’m glad Ginger caught you on your way out. I didn’t want you getting soaked.” He pulled his chair closer to me, then leaned in to whisper into my ear, “At least not soaked in the way I want you to be.”
He smelled so good, like mint and shaving cream, and his voice melted over me like warm chocolate. It took me remembering that we were at a table with an audience for me not to nuzzle into him like a cat.
“Wait.” I cleared my throat. “Did you give me your umbrella?” That had to be it. Ginger’s words replayed through my head about Coby asking her to make sure I had it.
Head tilted to the side, he scratched his beard. “It was the last one. They only had a handful to give out.”
Okay, that was sweet of him—really sweet. “Thank you. I’m sorry you got wet. You could have waited for me.”
He shrugged, looking back toward his menu. “I didn’t know how long you’d be.” His eyes lit up and his voice boomed, “Plus, I’d do anything for my newgirlfriend.”
Reality snapped back into place. Shit, it was real. Coby and I were going to fake this thing. Only, with the way he was looking at me, I didn’t know if he realized it wasn’t real for me.
As the servers came around to take orders and drop off drinks, the comments began.“It was meant to be.” A random relative of Mike’s remarked from across the long table. “After last night, everyone has been placing bets. I better go find Don; he owes me a twenty.”
I exchanged looks with Mia and Shawn who nodded and laughed. “I told you everyone’s invested.” Mia reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.” Her eyes connected with Coby’s, and she gave him a look that said, you better behave or else.
