Page 19 of Her Pretty Words
Licking the powdered sugar off my fingers, I toss the wrapper to the mini donuts away and then prop my laptop open and begin working away at the dinner table. I edit until my stomach growls again, and when I check the time, it’s a quarter after seven.
I can either go to The BARnacle and feed into Grayson’s delusions, or I can eat another packaged snack. The latter makes me queasy, so I set my pride aside and throw on a sundress withtiny shorts underneath so I can ride my bike without giving the whole island something to stare at.
I don’t let my eyes wander when I enter The BARnacle. I head straight for Elliot, taking an empty seat at the end of the bar.
“Twice in two days, how did I get so lucky?” He smiles.
“Don’t get too excited. I’m ordering to go.” I give Elliot my order for shrimp tacos and shrink into the bar stool.
Two petite hands cover my eyes, and a sweet voice says, “Guess who?” My lips curve upward, and I turn around to find a girl with short brown hair. Sarah, Elliot’s wife, and my lifelong friend.
She steps to my right, letting her arm rest over my shoulders like we see each other every day. No hug, no formalities, just two people picking up where they left off. She smells like coconuts. “And hello, Mr. bartender.” She smirks at Elliot.
I could almost swear he blushed, but he plays it cool like he has since we were children and gives her a nonchalant wink before ambling off to take more drink orders.
I grin. “That man is so in love with you.”
She shrugs. “I know.” She takes a seat on the barstool beside me. “How long are you in town for?”
“I haven’t decided. I’m hoping at least a month.”
Her husband hands me a paper to go bag.
“You’re leaving me already?” Sarah frowns.
I bring my voice to a whisper; Elliot is already on the other end of the bar making a drink. “I’m hiding.”
Her eyes narrow. “From?”
I glance around but don’t see him, maybe he already left. “Grayson.”
“Who?”
I shrug. “Tall, really dark hair, pale blue eyes?—”
“Dracula?”
I laugh. “What?”
“The guy brooding over there at the other end of the bar.” She leans back so I can see what I missed before. Grayson leans on his elbows, taking a large bite of a burger.
I nod. “That’s him.”
She scrunches up her nose. “Yeah, I refer to him as Dracula because…well, look at him.” She shakes her head. “He gets takeout every day. This is the first time I’ve seen him actually sit down to eat. I don’t think anyone on this island knows him.” She lifts a shoulder, then calls out to her husband. “Beer, please!”
“I better go.” I grab my bag and hand Sarah a twenty-dollar bill. “Give that to Elliot for me.”
“Fine, but I expect a phone call soon. I want to know all about why you’re hiding from Dracula and where that engagement ring of yours went…” She glances at my hand. I try not to wince at the reminder.
Backing up so I can escape without gaining anyone’s attention, I whisper, “I’ll call you.” And then I book it to the door and sigh with relief the second I’m outside.
I put my bag of food in the basket of my bike and peddle off. The breeze against my face makes my lips curve up. I cruise for a while, enjoying the peace and quiet.
“Cute dress. It really masks what a ferocious woman you are.”
I give Grayson, who is now walking right next to me, my middle finger. “Stop following me.”
“I’m just going home.” He shrugs, feigning innocence.