“Yeah.” I swallow down the tasty sandwich. Ma’s food is made with so much love I swear even if she just made buttered toast, it would be better than anyone else’s. “I’m not dreading the idea myself, to be honest.”
She drops a hand on top of my head, pushing my shaggy hair back from my forehead. “I love you, Declan.”
“I love you too, Ma.”
“And you know that list I gave you outside? Of the people that matter more to me than any silly church? There’s room on it for someone else too,” she says quietly.
“Who?”
“That’s up to you.” She ruffles my hair and walks away calling, “Eat your crusts. You’re not seven anymore.”
I can hear Terra and Finn snicker behind me. I try not to smile but I can’t help myself. Ma is annoying in the most endearing way possible. And whether she likes it or not, I’m pissed at her church and still feel guilty. By the time I finish my sandwich, the place is thinning out. I’m swallowing the last of my sweet tea when Jake walks in with someone.
Gael. The cute guy from the bar.
They’re both wearing wetsuits. I almost choke on that last swallow of tea. Finn looks up from the cash register where he’s processing Mrs. Cofax’s bill. “Hey! I know you!”
“Yeah. Hey!” Gael says. He hasn’t noticed me yet. I contemplate dropping to the ground and crawling like a military guy in the brush towards the back door to escape. “I was surfing by Wiggins Rocks and Jake was out there too. He told me I had to come here for lunch. Best lobster rolls in the tri-state area.”
“And award-winning chowder,” Terra adds and walks right up to him. She extends her hand. “I’m Terra Hawkins. Daughter of the owners. Betrothed to your surf buddy.”
“Hey! Yeah. So you’re Declan’s sister,” Gael says, shaking her hand.
Fuck you, universe, I think as Terra and Finn both swivel their heads to me. Of course Jake and Gael’s heads follow. Both look surprised to see me. Gael also looks pleased. I force a smile to my lips and wave. “Hey!”
“I didn’t know you’d be here. Didn’t know this was your restaurant when Jake invited me,” Gael says. “What a nice surprise.”
“Yeah. Cool.” I smile again. I know it looks fake and forced. Because it is and I’m a shitty actor, which is hilarious for a guy who pretended to be straight for decades.
“Umm…” Gael grows uncomfortable, his smile dropping and his eyes looking over to Jake. Then Terra. “Mind if I use your bathroom to change before I order? Eating in a wetsuit isn’t fun.”
“Yeah of course. Back there on the left,” Terra points to the restroom door. Gael smiles and adjusts the backpack on his shoulder before heading past me to the bathroom.
“Good to see you again,” I say and it probably sounds like a lame attempt to make this less awkward. Because it is.
“Yeah. You too.” He pauses and his dark eyes look earnest as he adds, “I didn’t mean to ambush you or anything though. I swear I didn’t realize this was your place. I just wanted a lobster roll. Jake made it sound so good.”
“Yeah. Sure. I know. I get it. And honestly, it’s not a big deal,” I reply. He nods and continues on to the bathroom.
“Well, that’s a steaming pile of uncomfortable,” Finn says to no one in particular but then he looks me right in the eye. “You didn’t call him, did you?”
“No. I didn’t.”
“That’s the guy from Dorothy’s you told me about?” Terra says to Jake and he nods. Her hazel eyes flare and she grins. “Oh. He’s hot, Deck. Why didn’t you call him?”
“Oh my God, can this not happen right now? Or at all?” I reply and glance over my shoulder to the restroom door. “And whatever he orders is on me, okay?”
“Ah, the guilty kiss-off lunch,” Finn says knowingly. “I swear I could have built a whole new restaurant with the meals I’ve comped to women here.”
“No. It’s not like that. I just… I mean, he’s a nice guy and… oh fuck. I like someone else, okay?” I blurt out.
Every single member of my family currently in the restaurant comes to a full stop. Finn stops walking. Terra, who has lifted onto her tiptoes to kiss Jake, stops mid-pucker. Jake’s eyes stop closing and turn to stare at me.
“WHO?” The word reverberates around the restaurant, making the customers we still have look up because all of them bark it at once.
I shake my head and shush them. And then Gael opens the door to the men’s room and walks out. He looks around and then at me. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing important,” I reply and walk over to a table by the window that looks out on the patio and dock. “Grab this table. Jake will sit with you, and I’ll order you something spectacular. Just tell me if you have any allergies.”
