Page 54 of P.S. I'm Still Yours
She’s halfway to the door when she halts and shoulder-checks me.
“You got any plans tomorrow night? My friends and I are having dinner at my place. Just something low-key with cocktails and takeout.”
“Nope, no plans. You, Cal, and Vince are the only people I know around here. About that—do you know if Vince’s parents still vacation here?”
She nods. “Yep. Every summer without fail. He messaged the group chat just this morning, actually. He’s getting back into town tomorrow night.”
There’s a group chat?
I’m a little hurt, even though I get why I wasn’t included. After all, I stopped visiting Golden Cove years ago while Cal, Vince, and Jamie continued to get together.
Jamie’s obviously gifted with telepathy because she adds, “It’s not that we didn’t want to include you. It’s just… we didn’t want to spam you with messages, and it had been so long.”
“You really don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I know. I just don’t want you to think I didn’t want to talk to you anymore, because I did. I should’ve reached out more often. I—”
I cut her off. “Jamie, it’s okay. Really. No hard feelings.”
We’ve barely spoken these past five years, so absorbed by our own lives and tragedies that we inevitably drifted apart, but now that I’m seeing her again, I wish I’d tried harder to keep in touch.
It’s just one of those situations where it’s no one’s fault.
Her shoulders drop with relief. “Anyway, I’m going to add you real quick.”
She unlocks her phone to do just that, but then she notices the time. “Shit, now I really have to get back to work.” She trails to the door. “See you tomorrow, my place? Six o’clock?”
I nod. “Sounds good. It should give me enough time to go drop some résumés around town.”
If I’m going to be stuck here all summer, I might as well make some money out of it. Getting a job would also give me an excuse to stay out of the house and avoid Kane.
Jamie’s eyes light up with interest. “Wait, you’re looking for a job? Because we have an opening at Sandy’s. This girl I used to work with got knocked up by her mom’s boyfriend, and they shipped her off to boarding school.”
I fake gasp. “How scandalous.”
She laughs. “Please. This is nothing compared to the shit I hear on a daily basis. I’m telling you, the tea gets so hot it almost makes up for having to wear this shit.” She gestures to her pink uniform. “I might even be able to get Fred to pay you a few dollars above minimum wage. He’s been working for two since Trudy got sent away. Poor guy is desperate.”
“Is Fred your boss?”
“Yes.” Her eyes grow in realization. “I have to ask, do you have any waitressing experience?”
I cringe. “Not really.”
Doubt flashes in her eyes, her smile waning.
“But I worked at my mom’s store in high school, so I’m good with people. And I’m a fast learner. Plus, I have nothing going on, so I’m free anytime. Days, nights, weekends. Doesn’t matter.”
Her smile is back in an instant. “See? Selling yourself already. Let me talk to him, and I’ll get back to you about an interview.”
I give her a grateful smile. “That would be great. Thank you so much.”
She shoots me a grin over her shoulder and walks out.
* * *
I go to bed early that night.
I figured I’d toss and turn, but I was certain I’d manage to quiet my mind after a while. It would seem I failed to take into account that I’m not just nervous about what’s going to happen tomorrow.