And I’m more than happy to give that to her.
Being lost in thought must be taken as hesitation, because Grant throws an arm around my shoulder, steering me toward the bar. “A beer won’t kill you,” he says. At the bar, Lainey gets us each a beer before I lead them to a spot on the beach that’s a bit more secluded and not overloaded with guests. From here, I can still see June, who, when she spotted me walking with her brother, gave me a huge grin and a thumbs up, the nut.
Once we sit, Decker forces us to cheers, something I’m pleased to see Grant and Miles roll their eyes at before we all sit back, taking in the scene before us. Guests mill about on the sand, chatting and laughing, some taking in the last few sun rays, others packing up. Every table in the outdoor seating for the restaurant is filled, and I know it’s the same on the pool deck.
“This place is amazing,” Miles says, looking around. “I’ve been the number one hater of this place, what with how sketchy the old company was with growing it, but this is perfect. Adds to the town without taking anything away, isn’t too uptight, but also a bit of a nicer experience than just getting a beach badge.”
“I couldn’t have done it without June,” I say, eyes still on her. She laughs, chasing a little girl who has escaped from the kids’ area, then lifting them up and over her shoulder. The girl laughs, squealing as June brings her back to the group.
“You two work well together,” Grant says, and I turn to him, he’s taking me in with a skeptical older brother eye.
“Is this where I get theif you hurt my sister,talk?”
“No,” Grant says, sitting back, casual as can be, sipping his beer.
I’m not buying it in the least.
“Because you don’t want witnesses?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.
“No. Because I don’t have to give you that warning.”
I look at him, a bit skeptical, but take it as a win all the same.
“Oh. Well. That’s good, I suppose. June told me you were going to be a bit protective, but sometimes she likes to tell me shit just to?—”
Grant’s smile grows wider.
“I don’t have to, because if you hurt her, there will be at least three other people ahead of me in line, so it won’t even matter. I won’t even get to you first. “
“I’m sorry?”
‘Claire, for one,” Miles says with a nod, already on the same page as his best friend. “Claire tells me regularly she wants to kick someone’s ass.”
I look behind him at where the small blonde is chatting with some guests.
“And you could probably take Claire,” Decker says, “But then you’d have to deal with Miles if you hurt Claire.”
“Fair enough,” I say with a nod.
“And then if there’s anything left, you’ve got to deal with Nate.”
I met Nate today, Claire’s older brother, and it’s clear he has a deep soft spot not just for his sisters, but whoever his sisters deem to be one of their people.
“Got it,” I say with a nod. “Just don’t let June find out, okay? She’s under the impression we’re all going to be friends.”
The three men look at one another, a bit confused.
“We are,” Decker says with a shrug. “Consider it a double-duty celebration. We’re also celebrating you passing the vibe check. You’re officially one of us.”
“I’m sorry?”
“We all love June, but we wouldn’t be here all day on a Friday if we didn’t also like you, too,” Grant says. “You’re good for this place. If today crashed and burned, you’d probably have to high-tail it out of town, if you didn’t get canned. So welcome to Seaside Point,” he says, tipping his beer to me.
It’s not the rousing endorsement of friendship that I think June wants for me, but it’s good enough for me.
“Pleasure to be here,” I say, reaching out to tap my bottle to the other men’s.
Friends.
