AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stand to bump fists and offer a bro hug before Brock makes his way over to Gramps.
“Why does it smell like pussycakes in here?” Jay opens his offensive mouth, sticking his foot right in it. He grins before we bump fists and hug it out. I roll my eyes.
Only Jay.
He’s lucky he’s a damn good surfer and an even better friend.
“It’s baked scrod, asshole.” I look over at Gramps and Brock, who are rolling with laughter.
I’ve lost my appetite.
“What’s new, Gramps?” Jay gives him a tap on the back.
I love that my buddies love my grandfather as much as I do. It’s important to me.
Jay’s been around since we met in high school. He finally moved down here about two years ago, and thankfully, he and Brock hit it off. Jay’s always loved to surf, and he’s the spitting image of a Cali surfer.
“Getting into trouble like always.” Gramps stands and stretches. I clear the plates and head to the kitchen for some beers. It’s a nice cool night, perfect for some backyard beers and a fire. “Everyone want a cold one?”
I know Brock and Jay will, so I’m asking more for my grandfather. He sometimes has a beer with us, but lately, he’s been turning in earlier. I wish he'd slow down during the day with running errands and helping others. He tires himself out.
“Not me, son. I’m calling it a night.”
Just as I thought. I fill the sink and throw all the dirty dishes in. I grab three beers from the fridge and head back to the living room. “Still have that lady friend coming over?”
“None of your business, mister. I don’t kiss and tell. Maybe you should go find yourself one.” Gramps tosses me a look.
I playfully roll my eyes and go over to hug him goodbye. “Yeah, yeah. Have fun. And use your cane.”
“Who’s the older one here? Good night, guys.” Gramps is out the door a second later.
Once I’m back in the dining room, I toss them each a beer. “Fire?”
They nod in agreement and follow me outside. Rocky runs ahead of us, his blond tail disappearing out the doggie door.
“Lady friend for Gramps again? Guy gets more tail than I do,” Jay muses.
“Where the fuck does he find them?” Brock wonders.
“Where else besides the beach?” I set my beer down on the table and busy myself with starting a fire in the pit. Logs, check. Twigs, check. “What’s up with you two fools?”
The guys launch into their own lives and stories, Brock thinking of getting serious with his girlfriend while Jay still juggles the women. He wants to settle someday, but he’s just not ready yet.
Jay helps me down at the shop sometimes, but his main work is a construction company he runs with his father. I've helped them out in the past, but it's not my thing. The ocean is where I belong.
Brock works as a chef at a local seafood joint, a popular tourist attraction, and he surfs in his free time, also helping me on occasion.
“What about you, Cole? How's the shop?”
I blow out a breath and stoke the fire, wishing I had a different answer. “All right, hanging in there. I hope the summer season brings me some business.”
“I meant to ask you, have you done any advertising?” Jay asks.
I scratch my chin and think. I don't do much honestly, never having the time nor money to invest. I'm swinging week to week as best I can. “I’ve got business cards out there in a few of the local places. There are some fliers around here somewhere that I never passed out. It's hard doing everything, and that's the part I let slip. I figure the business will come to me.”
“It helps to be on the beach, but you've got to reach out further. How do you expect to grow?” Jay points out. It's a good point, and one I haven't thought much about. But he's right. I need to expand and advertise, push myself to be bigger.
“I could help you with some tips,” Brock chimes in. “I do some of the marketing plans for the restaurant.”
