“Fuck off.” I smile.
23
Chloe
“Aspen, you are a creative genius,”I gush as I stare at the screen on her digital camera. “That lobster roll looks even better in this pic than in real life.”
Aspen smiles proudly. “Thanks for giving me something to do besides stare at my fat feet. I actually like this photography side gig thing more than I thought I would. I might do more of it.”
“We good?” Finn asks from his position by the counter.
“Golden,” I reply.
I look out at the restaurant in front of me. I had asked Terra if she could get a few of the regulars to agree to be photographed, and when I got here a few hours ago, there were fourteen people here to be photographed. She had bribed them with a coupon for one free lobster roll platter each. A few were still peppered around the restaurant enjoying the fruits, well, seafood, of their labor.
Aspen waves goodbye and heads out, telling me she will get me proofs in a couple days. Finn watches the door close behind her and turns to me. “You’re not leaving too are you? My mom is dying to chat with her favorite child’s girlfriend.”
I try not to blush. “Someone told her?”
“Jake over there did,” Finn points to Jake, who is sitting at the bar next to Nova.
Jake looks up, eyes wide and a hand to his chest. He’s trying to look innocent, but he doesn’t at all. “What? No one told me that she didn’t know. I assumed that Mama’s boy had blabbed to her already. He told Charlie!”
“Is Mrs. Hawkins here? Now?” I ask, slightly terrified at facing her for some reason.
“Not right now,” Nova says. “We needed someone to keep Declan busy so he didn’t show up and see what we’re doing. Lucy is working on new recipes with him at our place. Terra is still trying to ambush him.”
“Ambush sounds so dramatic,” Terra rolls her eyes. “This is why I waited so long to tell you about this project, Nova. So you wouldn’t get all dramatic.”
“Now everyone knows except Declan and it doesn’t feel right,” Nova mutters and I feel bad for her. There are a lot of politics in this family I don’t fully comprehend.
Terra wants to answer her, but a couple is waiting for attention by the cash register. I recognize the man as Mr. Butterfield, but the lady he’s standing next to I don’t know. I sat them together though, for the photos, and they stayed together at the booth afterward. Mr. Butterfield starts to pull out his wallet, but Terra puts her hand up. “No. It’s okay. I gave you coupons, remember Mr. Butterfield?”
He nods and smiles softly at her. “I know sweetie, but I insist on paying. For both of us.”
“Mr. Butterfield…”
He shakes his head again. “Terra honey, you and your family are so good to me when I drag my lonely butt in here every week. The photos were the least I could do. And that sweet little thing over there…”
He points at me and gives me a wink. I smile as he continues, “She sat me with Meredith, and now I have a lovely soul to enjoy chowder with next week.”
“And maybe we can go to the movies together this weekend?” Meredith says.
“I’d love that,” Mr. Butterfield says and hands Terra a twenty. “Keep the change, Terra, honey. Worth every penny.”
He juts out his elbow, and Meredith beams as she loops her arm through it. Nova jumps up and holds the door open for them. After they leave she presses her hand to her chest. “Oh my God, was that not the cutest thing in the universe?”
“So cute!” I reply as Terra nods emphatically. Jake just looks confused, and Finn is laughing too hard to say anything.
“I’ll still need to get pictures of your parents sometime soon,” I say to Terra, moving back to business.
Terra nods. “You could always come to the Seafood Festival. It’s the week after New Year’s. They’ll be there, and with any luck, we’ll have a trophy to photograph too.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Nova warns and makes a cross in front of her chest.
The bell jingles on the door, and Logan walks in. I know my entire face lights up. I can feel it. I should stop it because more than half his family is here and they’re watching us like hawks, but I can’t.
“Hey!” he says to his family and then his eyes sweep over to me. His grin deepens. “Hi beautiful.”
