I ignore my frustration and disappointment and smile at Charlie again. “I wanted to ask you a question.”
Ten minutes later it’s official, my day with the Stanley Cup — a tradition each winning player gets — will be spent at Hawkins Lobster Shack. I take one more look at Declan as Charlie heads back down to join his eldest on the boat. Deck’s removed his shirt in the growing heat. It takes everything in me not to stare, but I somehow manage to pull myself away and walk back around to the parking lot in front of the restaurant.
When I see my car in the parking lot, I also see Javi and Nova Escalara. Nova is holding Andie and there’s a grin on her pretty face. Javi is closer to the hood of the car, talking with Aspen. Nova is the first person to glance up and notice me approaching. She smiles. “You’re niece is perfection.”
“I know.” I smile and fight the urge to feel awkward, which I’ve had since the day I found out she’d eloped with Declan. It wasn’t jealousy that always made me feel weird around Nova. I wanted what she had, but it wasn’t her fault I wouldn’t allow myself to have it. That fact kept me from being jealous. But for a very long time I felt like I knew something she didn’t, but should, and so I felt uncomfortable around her. Now that they’re divorced and she’s madly in love with Finn I’m more comfortable around her.
“So? Declan didn’t drown you in the ocean. That’s a win,” Aspen remarks and I give her a smirk that says ‘up yours’.
“What are you two fighting about anyway?” Nova wants to know as Andie reaches up to tangle her pudgy fingers in Nova’s long wavy hair. “We aren’t fighting. We’re just… I don’t know…”
“People change,” Javi says and shrugs. “They’re not mortal enemies or anything. They’re just dealing with their own shit.”
“Yeah,” I agree but immediately change the subject because I don’t want everyone psycho-analyzing my ‘friendship’ with the first man I ever had sex with. “Anyway, the Cup Day is officially going to be here so I have to let the league’s Cup Coordinator know the itinerary as soon as possible.”
“The Cup? It’s coming here?” Javi’s dark brown eyes spark with excitement. “Please may it be a day I’m working.”
“Even if it isn’t, I’ll put you on the guest list,” Aspen replies and grins up at him.
“Does River know? He’s going to explode he’ll be so excited,” Nova says, reluctantly handing me Andie who has her arms stretched out to me, her little fingers clenching and unclenching.
I take my niece and immediately give her a raspberry on her neck which makes her squeal with delight. “I’m sure Logan is calling him as we speak.”
“Here comes Maverick. He is going to shit himself he’ll be so excited.” Javi motions with his head to the parking lot entrance as Jake’s car pulls in. There are surfboards hanging out the back window.
Jake parks and gets out. As he’s walking toward our group, Finn comes jogging out from the restaurant. He’s wearing a wetsuit now. Terra is behind him, also in a wetsuit, with a take-out bag in her hand.
“Abbott is bringing the Cup to the restaurant,” Terra announces as she hands Jake the take-out bag and he bends down to kiss her.
“Are you kidding me? Oh my God that’s amazing!” Jake declares and grabs my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “When? I need to know if I have to call in sick that day.”
“Ocean Pines’ new fire captain would do that?” I ask.
Jake twists his face up like that’s a stupid question. “It’s the Cup.”
“Well, you don’t have to because even if you’re working, you’ll get to see it,” Aspen interjects and brushes her hair out of her face. The wind is flying again. “I’m arranging it so the police and fire departments get photo ops.”
“Aspen is my personal assistant on this whole Cup Day thing,” I explain.
“Since I can’t leave Andie for stakeouts and stuff yet.” She sighs. Aspen really does miss her private investigation business.
“Thankfully I’m the manager so I can just schedule myself and make sure I don’t miss it,” Finn tells everyone, grinning. “I’ll make sure the whole family is scheduled.”
“Declan doesn’t want to work it,” I tell him.
“You’re kidding, right?” Jake looks completely baffled, his jet-black brows pinched.
“I’ll talk to him,” Nova says quietly.
“I will too,” Finn adds.
“It’s not a big deal. This isn’t his thing,” I feel the need to say because I don’t want them digging too deep on this. I mean, I know Declan will never out me, but Finn, Nova, and the rest of the Hawkins family aren’t stupid people. They may just figure it out on their own that he’s not avoiding public events, he’s just avoiding me.
“You know he’s just gotta tell the town to fuck off,” Jake announces. “Or leave, which I did and do not recommend.”
“He did it too, and he’s not doing it again,” Finn vows and his expression turns dark. “You know what he needs?”
“What?” Aspen asks.
