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“How old is this guy if he has a kid?”
I shrugged. “I dunno. Older than us, but not like old or anything. Probably not even forty yet.”
“And what’s the story on the mom?” Beth raised one brow at me, scrunching up her face.
“Well, Hudson said she ran off to Europe.”
“Ouch. So, to recap, it sounds like he’s tall, dark, and emotionally unavailable.”
I bit my lip, tucking one leg up under the other. “Maybe. Probably. Yeah, good assessment.”
“Let me guess—you’re already in love with him.”
“Shut up!” I said, kicking her under the table.
“Lana, I know you. Just be careful. I know you’re all save-the-world-one-kid-at-a-time. But I’ve seen this movie before and the ending is rarely happy. Just tread lightly, that’s all.”
“Fine, Negative Nancy. I will.” I stood, suddenly itchy and wanting a nice, hot shower. “Thanks for the warning.”
“One of us has to be the realist!” Bethany shouted at me as I walked to the bathroom. “Only looking out for you, sis!”
“Thanks!” I shouted back. Although truth be told, I kind of just wanted to fantasize about Hudson’s dad for a hot minute. I hadn’t seen anyone that good-looking infor-ev-erand needed to savor the moment.
* * *
Even after a long,steamy shower, I was still amped. I didn’t have to be up early tomorrow, so I decided to walk over to Big Chowder and meet my friend Willow for a drink.
“You sure you don’t want to come?” I asked Bethany for the third time.
“I’m sure,” she grunted, not bothering to look away from Season 452 ofThe Bachelor.
“You know he’s going to pick the girl you don’t like, right? It happens every time. I don’t understand why you’re still watching this.”
“Me neither.” She shook her head. “But I can’t stop. It’s that train wreck effect or something. Have fun with Willow.”
“Will do!” I sing-songed, the door whining closed behind me. The air temp was perfect now that the sun had set, with a light breeze sweeping in from the ocean. I inhaled the salt air as I turned off our road and hit Main Street.
Summer was peak tourist time for Starlight Bay, so there were still a fair number of people wandering around, though most of the shops were closed. Big Chowder sat on the corner closest to the beach and they attracted a good crowd in the evenings. I spotted Willow sitting at one of the high-top tables right outside the restaurant, already drinking a beer.
“Hey, is this seat taken?” I asked her in the lowest voice I could manage.
She spun around, then burst out laughing. “Very funny, Lana! For a second there I got excited. Thought I might finally meet a traveling unicorn and get out of this town.”
“Not a chance,” I said, giving her a quick hug before I sat down. “No way am I letting you leave me.”
“Hey, Lana. Whattaya having?” Misty, the cocktail waitress and one of my friends from high school, asked.
“I’ll have what she’s having.” I pointed at Willow’s green glass bottle.
“Coming right up. You want to start a tab?”
“Nah. I have to teach lessons in the morning.”
“Party pooper,” Willow teased, nudging my arm. “So responsible.”
“You ever teach five-year-olds how to swim in the blazing sun with a hangover? Not fun,” I said, unfortunately speaking from experience.
“True. I’ll give you a pass.”
