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Despite his grumbling about the phone, Andy could tell her father was genuinely having a good time.
Dad:How did it go with Dave?
Andy’s stomach dropped. She so didn’t want to deal with this right now. Fingers hesitating over her phone, Andy tapped out a quick reply that was at least factually true.
Andy:I got a raise.
Dad:Atta girl! I knew you could do it. Night, Andygram.
Andy:Thx. TTYL.
Andy’s stomach knotted as she cast the phone aside. She hated the deception. But she also didn’t want to spoil her parents’ time in Paris — again — with her drama. That conversation could wait.
Scooping up Petals, Andy deposited her in the small tabletop cage she kept on her dresser. Then she padded over to her bed tent and settled inside.
“Pretty bird, Andy. Pretty bird.”
Andy felt more like a lying bird at the moment. But she was also too tired to dwell on it. “Good night, Petals.”
The next afternoon during work, Andy was feeling the effects of her gaming binge — and the shitty night’s sleep she’d gotten as a result of it. Her ability to mask her frustration at the usual examples of customer stupidity was sorely hindered by fatigue. And a growing anxiety.
Anxiety about her dad and telling him about that interview with Dave.
Anxiety about Kyle and whether she actually stood a snowball’s chance in hell with him.
Anxiety about Mary, who was currently parked on her stool behind the counter because, after the woman’s tenth Braxton-Hicks contraction of the day, Andy wasn’t messing around.
And finally, anxiety about Luke and the text she’d received from him that morning instructing her to pick out a wetsuit to wear to the beach tomorrow.
Tomorrow, damn it!
What was wrong with the man? Andy wasn’t ready to try PB again yet. She’d only paddled seventy-five laps in the pool. She had at least a hundred more to go before she felt brave enough to—
“Excuse me!”
Andy turned from the wall of beach shoes she was stocking to a teenager who’d been loitering in the store with her friend.
“How much is this board?” She held up a shortboard similar to the one Mary had shown Andy during the tour. She knew immediately it was one of Luke’s designs.
“There’s a tag on the back of it.”
The girl gave a snap of her gum and rolled her eyes. “I know that. But how much is itreally? Don’t you price match?”
“No. I’m sorry, we do not.”
“That’s ridiculous. I could buy this same board over at ManCave for half the price.”
Andy bit her lip to hide a smile, knowing the chick was full of shit. And not too bright either. Apparently, the board’s exclusive K-M logo had been lost on her. “Well, you’re welcome to purchase it from ManCave then.”
The chick’s eyes narrowed.
Andy smiled sweetly. “Would you like me to put that back for you?”
The girl gave a huffy snort, shoved the merchandise at her, and stomped off to her friend. “This place is so lame. Let’s go.”
Mary rounded the cashwrap to intercept. “Sure thing, but why don’t I ring you up for those sunglasses first.” She held up a hand and winked. “I miss nothing, babe.”
The sour-faced teen pulled the shades from her tote, slapped them into Mary’s palm, then stalked off to the exit.
