Page 9 of Here & Now

Three

Bree listened to the laughter coming from Zane’s table and tried not to feel envious. It was a beautiful night, and they were beautiful people enjoying themselves. Having scanned the outdoor seating area, she noticed she was the only one sitting alone. She felt conspicuous, but this happened to be one of her favorite restaurants, and she had a craving for their fish and chips.

I’ll eat fast and leave, she thought as she turned her attention to the ocean.

Sanibel and Captiva Islands were connected, but each had a unique vibe. As the larger of the two, Sanibel was busier, while Captiva had a more remote, laid-back feel.

She wondered if Zane came here often and if he was dating the pretty brunette who couldn’t stop staring at him. Not that she blamed the woman, since she was doing the same thing. For some reason, she was intrigued by her neighbor, and not just because of how hot he’d looked wrapped in a towel.

His friend, who looked like a surfer, was also attractive, but her gaze kept returning to Zane. Maybe it was because he was a familiar face in a crowd of strangers, or maybe she was feeling exceptionally lonely tonight. In any case, she shouldn’t be staring at him, especially when he was on a date.

Soon the waitress appeared with her food and a strawberry daiquiri.

“Oh, I didn’t order that,” Bree said, pointing to the drink.

“Somebody ordered it for you,” the waitress said.

Bree furrowed her brow. “Do you know who?”

The waitress shook her head. “The bartender said some guy requested it be sent to your table. You must have a secret admirer.”

“Oh.”

“Enjoy your meal, and let me know if you need anything else.”

After the waitress left, Bree took a sip of the fruity cocktail. It was cool and refreshing and the perfect accompaniment to the food. She ventured a glance at Zane again, and he was looking right at her. Her cheeks flushed as she realized he must have ordered her drink. She wasn’t sure whether to feel flattered or outraged on his date’s behalf.

Shifting her attention back to the ocean, she dug into the fish and chips, enjoying their crunchy, salty goodness. Despite his bad behavior, she enjoyed the daiquiri too, sipping it slowly so the alcohol didn’t go straight to her head. She was a lightweight, so she erred on the side of caution.

While she was eating, she picked out Zane’s voice and the women’s laughter in response to what he’d said. She pegged him as a regular Casanova, and probably his friend too.

Why not? He was young and, as far as she knew, single. This was what young, single people did on Friday nights. Only, he shouldn’t have bought her a drink while he was out with someone else.

She finished her meal in record time, and when the waitress reappeared, she held out her credit card.

“It’s already been paid for,” said the waitress.

Bree’s eyes went wide. “By whom?”

“I’m guessing the same guy who paid for your drink.”

She was flabbergasted and even more irritated at Zane. “Well, at least let me give you a tip.”

The waitress shook her head. “You’re all set. Have a good evening.” With that, she took Bree’s empty plate and walked away.

Bree slung her purse across her body and stalked toward the parking lot, keeping her gaze straight ahead and refusing to look at Zane. She swore she felt his eyes upon her, though, and she couldn’t wait to escape.

She was almost to the car when he called out to her, “Bree, wait.”

She paused but didn’t turn around until he was right behind her. “What do you want?” she snapped.

“I just wanted to say hello.”

“You’re on a date.”

“So?”

She scowled at him, incredulous. “Excuse me, but when one is on a date, one should be paying attention to said date and not buying drinks for someone else!”