Maddy examined them carefully, undoubtedly noticing the same potentially inebriated state. “Did you guys drive here?”
“No. We’re staying at the Hampton down the street.”
“Ok, cool.” She visibly relaxed. “One second.”
I didn’t get a chance to talk to her much. The bar was hopping. I chatted with Mary, a cute waitress who’d been working at the Grille as long as I’d been in Corolla. She’d cancelled on me the one time I’d asked her out, and I was okay with it. There was no reason to make my visits to the Grille awkward. The first two summers I was at the beach I enjoyed the tourists, but I was bored with them now. It had been close to three years since I’d had any semblance of an actual relationship, and as hard as it was to admit, a part of me was kind of craving it. Maybe it was watching Maddy and Colin. Who knows?
“Macon, could you watch the bar?” Maddy gripped the bar top and her face drained of color.
“Sure.” Her request surprised me. She never let me behind the bar.
“Thanks.” She dashed off. Something was definitely up with her. I just had to find out what it was.
I walked back behind the bar and talked to my first customers. Thankfully they just wanted beer.
“Hey,” a soft voice called.
I glanced up from opening the beer to see Carly.
“Hey there, how are you?” I couldn’t deny some excitement at seeing her again. She was wearing another one of her little sundresses. They showed off every one of her curves.
“I’m doing well. I came by to say hi to Maddy. Where is she? She wasn’t at the inside bar either.”
“She dashed off and asked me to watch the bar, so I am.”
“How long has she been gone?” Concern crossed Carly’s face, and my suspicion grew.
“Long enough. Want to check out the restroom? Maybe she’s sick or something.”
“Ok, sure.” Carly hurried off inside.
“A Sex on the Beach and a rum and Coke,” A middle aged woman flashed me a smile.
“I’ll get your rum and Coke, but you’ll have to tell me what’s in a Sex on the Beach.”
“Oh. I think you know.” She rolled her tongue over her teeth in what I think was supposed to be a suggestive gesture.
“Uh, I don’t actually know the ingredients. If you don’t mind waiting, Maddy will be back soon.”
“It’s vodka and peach schnapps with orange and cranberry juice. But, you can make it any way you like.” She raised an eyebrow.
With perfect timing as always Carly and Maddy returned.
“Sorry. What can I get you?” Maddy shot the customer a smile.
The customer didn’t even look at her. “Oh, he’s got me taken care of.”
“Is that so?” Maddy attempted to keep a straight face.
“Yes. He seems more than capable.” The woman zeroed her gaze in on my arms.
“Oh yes, Macon is very capable.” Maddy grinned at me. She was definitely enjoying the show.
“I was just telling him to put a spin on a Sex on the Beach. I’d love to see his take on it.”
Carly snickered. “I’d like to see that too.”
I glanced at her. Was she talking about the drink?
I bumbled around behind the bar searching for the ingredients before Maddy put me out of my misery. “I’ll take care of it. Is it just the one Sex on the Beach, or did you want anything else?”
The woman composed herself, probably realizing I wasn’t flirting back. “A rum and Coke, as well.”
Maddy quickly made the drinks. The woman paid and walked off.
“Think the rum and Coke was for her husband?” Carly asked.
“Probably,” Maddy mumbled.
“Are you doing okay?” I watched Maddy carefully, she wasn’t as pale.
“Yeah. I’m just feeling under the weather.”
“Why don’t you see if you can close up early? Max won’t care.” If I were sick the last thing I’d have wanted to do was serve drunk tourists more booze.
“It’s too busy for that. And obviously I can’t have you cover for me.”
I glanced at my watch. “It’s getting late anyway.”
“Late? It’s not even eleven.”
“I guess I’m getting old. Either that or it’s the fact that I’ve been up since five a.m.” I cracked my knuckles.
Carly laughed again. She had a cute laugh.
“Is Colin still working?” Maddy wiped down the counter even though it didn’t need to be cleaned.
Carly nodded. “Yeah. He’s taking this whole only working when you work on the weekend’s thing seriously, isn’t he?”
“It’s a nice compromise. Otherwise we don’t get quality time together.”
“Was Paris amazing?” Carly finally took a seat on the stool next to me. She’d been standing.
Maddy leaned over on her elbows. “I already told you it was great.”
“I know, but we haven’t talked without my brother.”
“We had a really good time. It’s definitely an adjustment to be back though.”
“Yeah, you don’t have room service anymore.” I gave Carly a knowing look. “This girl can’t cook for anything.”
“So I’ve heard. But she can bake. Did you try one of her cookies?” Carly twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
“No, I forgot about those.” I’d been more concerned with who Maddy was with rather than what she was doing at the store.
“There’s a whole container of them in the kitchen. I dropped them off this morning.” Maddy leaned back against the counter again. And like magic her moment of relaxation was ruined as four people walked over.
She sighed and strode over to them. “Hey guys, can I help you?”
I turned to Carly. Maddy was busy, so I figured it was only polite to entertain her guest. “So, how long are you in town for?”
She sipped her drink. It was some sort of martini. “I’m not sure. As long as Colin lets me crash at his place I guess.”
“So, for the whole summer?” That could be a fun change of pace.
“That’s up to Colin. I don’t think he’s going to love me cramping his style with Maddy for that long though.”
“It’s not like she lives with him.” Although she might as well have been.
“True, but that’s the problem. He wants her to.”
“And she wants to. I’m pretty sure she has commitment issues or something.”