She did the giggle again. “Yes, I do. Want to sit with my friends and I? I saw you yesterday with the young girl and pointed you out to them. They’re fascinated that your grandfather is Dean Finlay.”
My dad’s dad is the famous drummer for Slacker Demon. They’re the iconic rock band that was now retired for the most part. They’d become grandfathers and the new generation wasn’t to their liking. When asked they came together for fundraisers, but that was the extent of their performances. Still though, there were the worshippers. They had a lifetime of fame that spanned three generations of fans that would never forget them.
“Most people are,” I replied. And just as I said those words Bliss’s dark hair came into view. She was walking this way somewhat casually. The simple white lace cover-up she wore over her hot pink bikini didn’t show nearly as much body, compared to this other girl. Bliss looked classy and sure of herself. She had the brain to go with everything else. “Excuse me, my girl is here,” I said without looking back. I then headed to meet Bliss in my eagerness. Had I been another guy, one who wasn’t in love with Bliss York then I’d gone the other route. She would’ve been my first and I would’ve enjoyed every moment of losing my virginity. I knew that, but no, not now, she wasn’t what I was looking for.
Bliss York
LUNCH WITH NATE and Octavia. Great. Just what I wanted to do. Never.
Sitting across from them at some fancy lunch place that I didn’t even know was in Sea Breeze I tried to keep a polite smile and I didn’t make eye contact with Nate. Which was difficult when I could feel his steady gaze on me. Watching me. Trying to read something into my expressions. I was easy to read. I hated that. Knowing he could see how uncomfortable I was.
“I like the way you incorporated the scarf into the summer pieces I’ve chosen. It works and it’s exactly what I had in mind. You have an eye for this thing. We just need to get you into the clothing. Your wardrobe doesn’t fit with the look of the place. But with your body advertising the inventory then we will sell more.”
In other words, my clothes were too cheap. My momma had always bought me designer clothing. I had never been accused of not being stylish. However, compared to Octavia I might as well be wearing clothes from a thrift store. She had another level of acceptable. I had seen the price tags on the items she bought for the store. I imagined her closet was full of similar items.
“I’m open to whatever you need me to do,” I assured her. I was thankful I had this job. It gave me my independence and I was finally able to live like an adult. Not a kid.
She flashed a very white glamorous smile my way and I wondered how much that smile had cost. There was no way those teeth were real. They were too white, too straight, too perfect. My braces hadn’t even given me those straight lines.
“Now that the summer line is in and I’ve chosen everything, I’ll give it a couple weeks then begin buying for the fall. It’s still warm here then so I’ll keep that in mind.” I wasn’t sure who she was talking to, me, Nate or herself. But she continued to rattle on about profit and design and expanding. She hadn’t even been officially open yet and she was talking about opening five other stores within the US. I wouldn’t be surprised if she started planning her stores in other countries before the salads got to the table.
“The tourist arrive here the first week in June?” Octavia asked as she looked at me.
“Yes sometimes sooner. We start to see more traffic the last week in May. Depends on when schools let out in the surrounding states.”
She nodded and the waiter arrived with our salads. I took a peek at Nate and he was frowning at his salad in disgust. I assumed he was used to places like this. I knew his lifestyle outside of Sea Breeze was very different.
“A shrimp poboy would have been a helluva lot better than this,” he grumbled.
Octavia rolled her eyes with an amused smile. “You’d have those shrimp poboys at or wedding reception if I let you. What is a poboy anyway? Why call them that? It’s so degrading. Why not just call them a hoagie. It’s what they are.”
A hoagie? What was a hoagie?
“Jesus,” he muttered but that was the only response he was giving her.
“I see you two have worked well together,” Octavia said as she went to take a bite of her salad.
I froze. What did she mean? I hadn’t been looking at Nate or even saying anything about him. I’d been very careful. Had his staring at me gave it away? Dangit Nate! I needed this job.