Page 7 of Here & Now

“Ohio,” Callie said.

Zane had already guessed they were Midwesterners. He’d gotten pretty good at discerning where people hailed from based on their accents.

“What do you do there?”

And so it went. Zane half-listened as the women talked about their jobs at an insurance company and how they’d needed a break from the dreary Ohio weather. It was all very familiar to him, and frankly, he was a bit bored. Luckily, it was a short drive to Captiva, and soon he pulled into the parking lot of The Mucky Duck.

The place was hopping as usual, but he knew the manager and a lot of the staff, and he was sure they’d get a table.

They walked up to the hostess desk.

“Hey, guys,” she said. “Inside or outside tonight?”

“Ladies?” Marco said.

“Outside,” they both said.

“Right this way.”

Callie put her hand on Zane’s arm. “Where’s the ladies' room?”

“It’s inside and to the left.”

Callie and Gina split off as the hostess led the men to a table. They sat across from each other, and she set down four menus. Then she punched her hands on her hips and smirked at them. “You two should start an escort service. I swear you get more action than anyone else on this island.”

Marco laughed. “Jealous?”

“Maybe.”

He winked at her. “I’ve asked you out a million times, and you always shoot me down.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll be right back with some water, and then I’ll take your orders.”

Marco’s gaze followed her as she walked away.

Zane studied his friend’s expression. “Do you really like her, or is she just another conquest?”

“Who, Tessa?”

“Yes, Tessa.”

Marco shrugged. “I’ve known her forever.”

“So?”

“So, she thinks of me like a brother.”

Zane shook his head. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

“I think…” Zane’s voice trailed off as Tessa came walking toward them, but she wasn’t alone. He caught a glimpse of the woman trailing behind her and recognized her strawberry-blonde hair. Bree.

Tessa led her to a table for two nearby, and as Bree sat down, he wondered if she were meeting someone. Tessa set down one menu, and he had his answer: she was alone.

“Earth to Zane,” Marco said.

“I know her.”