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“You better get dressed,” Lila says. “You don’t want to miss the boat.”
I laugh. “Especially since we already got crabs.”
She smiles. It’s a good moment between siblings, even if we’re missing Ensley. We’re still at ease with each other.
“When will you be back?” she asks. “We’ll have to drive Garrett to the airport by ten. Drew left us the rental car since they’re taking a boat to the tiny island.”
“Oh, right.” I completely forgot about Garrett’s flight when I made plans with Gabe. “Can you do it? I have a ... thing.” I know the moment the words are out of my mouth that I’m never going to get away with saying so little. This is my sister we’re talking about.
“A thing. In a foreign country. Where you know no one.” She leans her hip on the counter.
I sigh. Might as well get it all out. “I went back to that beach bar last night.”
“I heard you come in late.”
“I wasn’t ready for the night to end.”
Lila opens a loaf of bread. “The wedding get to you? It got to me.”
“Because of Asshole?” Rosie’s father is the worst.
She shrugs and pops the bread into the toaster. “Maybe.”
“Don’t be mooning over him. He made his choice.”
“I know.”
I pause, thinking maybe the change of subject means I don’t have to bring up the bar challenge, but, of course, Lila doesn’t let it go.
“So, what are you doing that keeps you from saying bye to Garrett?”
“Oh, I’ll say bye.” I sip more coffee, waiting to see if I can stop there.
“And then you’ll be where?” Her toast pops out, only the barest gold. I like mine closer to burned.
“A liquor store.”
She scrunches her nose. “Why? I don’t like alcohol, and you only do it with Ensley.”
“I might need a few things.”
Lila opens a jar of grape jelly and spreads a thin layer on her toast. “Did the wedding drive you to drink?”
“No.” I might as well lay it all out. “I somehow got roped into a cocktail challenge. I’m going up against a local bartender.”
“Oh!” She holds her toast. “That sounds kind of fun. Is it at that beach bar? Rosie and I could go since it’s all outdoors.”
“It is. In the afternoon. The morning part is to get the liquor I need.”
“How are you going to get the leftover bottles home?”
Always practical. “He’s covering the cost. I assume he’ll keep them.”
“He?”
“The bartender at that bar. I think he owns it. Or runs it, at least.”
“All this happened after the wedding?” She crunches into her toast.
