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We set off for town when I remembered I didn’t even have my purse on me. “Can we stop by my place? I need to grab my purse.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got this. After all, I’m getting free labor out of you.”
“How is it that Shane can afford to be here when he runs his own business?”
“I didn’t ask him to stay,” he said with a shrug. “I asked him to come down and check out the place. I guess he decided he liked it enough to stick around, even if he suggested I light the place on fire and burn it to the ground.”
“He didn’t!”
James glanced over at me and smirked. “I honestly have no idea why he stuck around.”
“So, you knew each other from college?”
He tensed slightly, his hand tightening on the wheel. “Yeah.”
Since it seemed like a sore subject, I didn’t ask any further questions.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No, but I don’t usually eat in the morning. I wait until lunch time.”
“Why?”
“I’ve just never been a big breakfast eater.”
“I’m starving,” he said, rubbing his stomach. “There’s a nice cafe in town. Do you want to stop there?”
“Sure, but won’t Shane be upset we just left him at the house?”
“He said he has business to take care of. Besides, I didn’t ask him to stick around. If he needs to leave, he will.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve known him a long time. There are no expectations between us. We’re friends with our own lives. I could wake up one morning and find that he left and he’s not coming back.”
“And that wouldn’t bother you?”
“Why would it?” he asked. “It’s not like we’re business partners. He has his life and I have mine. When he’s ready to leave, he will. I might get a note on the counter,” he grinned.
“Like a dear John letter? That’s so cute.”
“We’re not cute,” he said defensively.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot I was talking with a man. You’re absolutely right. It’s manly and…butch.”
“Butch?”
“Hey, I’m just trying to come up with appropriate words so I don’t hurt your manly feelings.”
He rubbed at his chest like the whole thing made him uncomfortable. I had to laugh inside. We drove through the town, parking just outside a small restaurant. It seemed we were the only ones up this early. The whole island seemed to still be sleeping. It was very peaceful.
We sat outside, right next to a palm tree and enjoyed the breeze as we waited for the waitress to come out. I pulled out my phone and tried to take a selfie with the palm tree in the background, but I couldn’t get the right angle.
“What are you doing?” James chuckled.
“I want the palm tree in the picture.”
“You know I’m sitting right here.”
