“Don’t even think about it.” Ben cut Jake off. I thought the brothers might fight, but the tension broke when Ben laughed. “Oh, sometimes I can’t stand the love.” Evidently he was used to their bickering.
I took a minute to really look around the bar. The usual paraphernalia lined the walls: neon signs and beer advertisements. It was really just the feel of the place that was foreign. I looked over at the bar and noticed Gavin. I smiled, wondering if his weird reaction to me was only because I caught him in a bad mood. Evidently not. He held up his beer in a quasi-greeting before turning away. I shrugged it off. He wasn’t worth the effort. I thought it was weird that Molly had warned me about Jake’s moodiness, but she always made Gavin out to be a nice guy. Maybe he was only nice to her.
Molly’s childhood best friend, Kelly, came in and immediately pulled me in to a hug. I felt instantly drawn to the bubbly girl. I could tell it wasn’t an act. She really was happy to meet me. I guess we had something big in common—we both loved Molly.
We pushed a few tables together and sat down. I ended up sandwiched between Ronny and Jake. It was a very entertaining spot to occupy. Ronny was a comedian, and Jake was as Molly described him: weird, but in a cute way.
I looked up as Gavin and Kelly’s husband, Tom, sat down at the table. I tentatively glanced at Gavin again, but he didn’t even bother to acknowledge me this time. What a jerk. But then again, maybe he thought I was flirting, and he just wasn’t interested. I couldn’t deny the guy was nice on the eyes. Tall, tan, and athletic, he was pretty much physical perfection. He even managed to make a one or two day old beard look sexy. I ignored him and turned back toward Jake.
Tom asked me how I was enjoying Clayton Falls, and I told him the truth: I liked it, but it was different. Somehow that ended up getting me in a weird pseudo fight with Gavin. I don’t really understand how it happened, but it was obvious neither one of us was going to give in. I was actually glad when Ronny broke the tension by making a crude comment implying we’d hooked up. As if.
“Ignore him,” Jake whispered reassuringly in my ear. I nodded and let myself get excited about a day at the beach.
Gavin left pretty soon after, and the tension went with him.
“What’s up with Gavin? That was so out of character for him,” Molly asked as soon as he left.
Tom looked behind him, probably checking to make sure Gavin was out of earshot. “I don’t know. He’s been acting funny since last night. He practically tore a kid apart today when we pulled him over.”
I spoke up. “I think I upset him somehow.”
“Don’t think that. You have nothing to do with it,” Ronny said emphatically.
“Was he really giving you a hard time about your accent?” Kelly asked.
“Yeah. Then I made the mistake of telling him he had one too. That didn’t go over so well.”
Tom laughed. “I wish I could have seen that.”
“Really, don’t let him put you off. The people here are actually really nice.” Kelly smiled.
“You all can stop reassuring me. I’m really not that worried about what one person thinks of me.” Of course, I was confused by it.
“All right, I just want you to feel at home here.” Molly reached across the table to squeeze my hand.
“I know, and I do. I mean how could I not feel at home in my amazing new digs?”
“See, I told you you’d like the pool house.” Ben nudged Molly. I got the vibe that she hadn’t been too keen on the idea, and he was talking to her as much as me.
“You’re living in their pool house?” Ronny set down his empty beer.
Jake tipped his chair back. “Yeah, the ‘rents used it as an excuse to kick me out.”
“It’s about time,” Ben ribbed.
I decided to jump back in. “I can understand your reluctance to leave. I mean, living rent free has its perks.”
“Exactly. Finally someone’s on my side.”
“She never said she was on your side,” Molly teased.
“She didn’t have to. By the way, Becca, do you want a ride home? I realized after I left that I once again forgot those books.”
“Sure, it doesn’t make sense for Molly and Ben to go so out of their way.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Molly said quickly.
“You ready to go? I want to surf in the morning, so I’m going to turn in early.”
“Sure.” I was definitely ready to head home. It had been a weird night. I started to say my goodbyes.
“Hey, Becca, can I talk to you for a second?” Ronny asked.
“Sure…”
“Cool.” He walked a little way from the table, and I followed. I noticed Jake watch us with an amused expression.
“I know this might seem a little forward, but I’d love to take you out sometime.”
“Oh, yeah? Thanks.” Ack, thanks? I never knew what to say in that kind of situation.
“So is that a yes?” he asked hopefully.
I thought about it for a moment. He was cute and seemed nice, but I knew nothing about him. On the other hand, offending him might make things weird for Molly. I wished he hadn’t cornered me. “What did you have in mind?”
“Maybe dinner one night this week?”
“Here in town?”
He gave me a funny look. “Sure, unless you want to go into Wilmington. I’m game for either. It’s the company I’m after.”
“Well, I don’t know what my hours are going to be with work.”
“Okay. I can tell this is making you nervous. How about coffee?”
I relaxed a little. Coffee sounded more casual. “Okay.”
“Great. Can I get your number?” I gave it to him and let him program his into my phone.
“You ready?” Jake joined us.
“Yup,” I said quickly. I wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen next.
“Good night. I’ll call you.” Ronny smiled before walking back to the table.
Jake and I walked out to the lot. He stopped in front of a jeep with the top down. “Ronny didn’t waste much time, did he?”
“No. I didn’t see it coming.” I pulled an elastic off my wrist to tie up my hair so it wouldn’t blow all over the place.
“What did you agree to?” He started the engine and pulled out of the lot.
“Coffee one night this week.”
“Good call. That way, if the conversation is boring, you don’t have to suffer through a whole meal.”