“Thank you.” She rushes inside before she has to have any more communication with us.
“That waitress is very quiet. I’m not sure this is the job she wants.”
“Cooper said she’s had a rough go of it, and Bob views her as a daughter. She’s worked here since she was a teenager. I think her parents kicked her out when she was still in high school and left her. Bob took her in, now she lives in the apartment next door.”
“That’s sweet, but it also looks like it could use a handy-man.”
“Bob’s not a fancy guy. But it’s all in working order and clean. He’s a good guy. Definition ofdon’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Well. That’s all that matters, right? I’d rather he be a good guy than have a mansion. I know from personal experience, the mansions can be a real hell.” I give him a weak smile, and his drops into a frown.
We sit quietly for a minute, watching the boat slowly make its way into the dock.
“So the fireworks are next week for the Fourth. Would you want to go with me?” he finally asks.
“Is that a good idea?”
“Yeah, the whole department will be there. And we pull guys from the other departments to help out. It’s a big festival down at the public beach. Vendors will line up in the parking lot. A craft fair and food vendors.”
The quiet waitress slips through an impossibly small crack in the door, dropping our Cokes on the table and leaving again without a word.
“If you think it’s safe, then I’d love to.”
“We’ll get Ripp to join us. Then we’ll both be there. He can pretend to be looking for, and trying to kill, me. Besides, Willow is singing for the live music, and the town turns the basketball courts into a dance floor.”
Dancing with Wyatt to live music sounds like the best date night. Add in some fireworks, and it’ll probably be the best nightI’ve had since a field party in high-school. Before Daddy cared who I was with. Before I was just a pawn in his business.
“That is so the setting of a Hallmark movie and very sweet. I’d love to join you.”
Rosie drops off our fries and lobster rolls, silently going back inside the restaurant.
“Okay, how do we do this?” I ask, rubbing my hands together. I’m excited for my first lobster roll.
Wyatt cuts each roll in half.
“First, you need to experience both kinds. One with butter and one with mayo.” He picks up the one that looks like it has butter on it, holding it up to me. “Bite.”
Following his direction, I take a bite of the first one, letting the buttery goodness pop on my tongue. “Mmm.”
He repeats the gesture this time with the mayonnaise roll. “Drink first. Then bite.”
Biting into the mayonnaise lobster roll, I know right away that I have a clear winner.
“Definitely mayo!” I murmur with my mouth full and my hand covering my face.
“Good choice.” He smiles at me. “That’s my favorite too.”
He swaps his mayo half for my butter half, giving me the whole sandwich.
“Hey! I want both. I need more than one bite to decide fully, and it’s your favorite too!” I swap them back.
“What do we think?” Bob’s deep voice announces. He’s followed by two men, one I recognize as Kane, the other must be his brother.
“She’s a keeper. She chose correctly,” Wyatt announces proudly. “Soph, this is Granger Pierson. He caught your lunch for you.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” His hand extends to shake mine.
Wiping my hand on my napkin in my lap, I extend my hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
