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Wilson took his turn and flipped Dune off.
“I didn’t feel like sitting at the bar,” Dune said with a shrug.
“That’s because from here, you can see who walks in,” Speed said.
“Not true, since I didn’t see you fuckers come in.”
“Be honest with us,” Wilson begged.
Dune sighed. “I fucked up when I saw her earlier. I offered her a job, thinking she’d tell me to fly a kite, but she accepted it, and starts tomorrow.”
Wilson tapped Speed on his chest. “One week.”
“How much?” Speed asked.
“Fifty.”
“You’re on.” They shook hands, much to Dune’s chagrin.
“The worst friends ever.” Dune went to grab his beer but saw that his pint was still empty. He got up from his seat and ambled toward the bar. Dune turned toward the restaurant and looked at the people he had grown up with. Gone to school with. They knew everything about him, and he of them. Most of his classmates had left the island for college and work. Dune didn’t need to leave. He had a job. A company to run.
Until now, he never thought of what it would be like to go work for someone else. To not have the freedom he did. Every day, he woke up and never dreaded going to work, except for now. He wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow. It was a mistake asking Prada to come to work for them, and completely out of character. He had a devoted crew, who busted their asses seven days a week for Blue Lobster Adventures.
But he needed an excuse to see her every day, and this was it. That was, until she broke a nail and quit. He fully expected her to be late tomorrow and possibly not show up. He didn’t want to admit he liked her, but he did. Despite the designer labels and the feisty attitude, she had an air of innocence about her that kept him invested. Dune knew she was here for the summer and had come from Connecticut. Being friends with everyone had its perks, and the owner of the home had made it known they had an out-of-stater coming for the duration of the season. Like Dune had told Caroline, he knew everything.
The bartender tapped him on his shoulder, and he turned, took his beer and headed back to the table where Wilson and Speed were.
“Didn’t get us anything?” Wilson asked.
“Did you ask?” Dune fired back. He waved at the waitress, and she came over. They ordered some food, as well as a pitcher of beer for Speed and Wilson.
“So, what’s Miss Rich Girl going to do for Captain Blue Balls?” Wilson asked and then shook his head. “I mean Blue Lobster?”
Dune shrugged. “Hadn’t thought that far ahead.” He took a drink of his pint and then set it down. “I’ll have her work a bit with Ana and Randy. Take her on some tours. I told her she could hand out pamphlets and whatnot. Other than that . . .” He sighed and took another drink.
“Does she have any experience on a boat?” Speed asked.
“Dunno, didn’t ask.”
“Geesh, she’s going to fall overboard,” Wilson added.
“Then Dune would jump in and save her, and they’d live happily ever after.” Speed made a fist, placed it over his heart, and beat it against his chest.
“She’ll be fine,” Dune said. “I’ll teach her.”
Speed and Wilson scoffed at the same time.
“I’ve never seen you like this,” Speed said. “She’s really gotten under your skin.”
Dune ignored him and nodded toward the waitress, who had their food. She set it down and then said she’d be back with refills for them. Dune took a bite of his burger before he responded to Speed, hoping he’d change the subject. But when he looked across the table, both of his friends stared at him.
“What?” he asked with a mouthful of food.
“Don’t ‘what’ us. Just admit you like her.”
“She’s pretty.” Dune shrugged. “But so is your sister.” He directed the last bit at Wilson, who tried to slap Dune from across the table. Dune dodged his hand and laughed. He set his burger down and wiped his mouth. “I don’t know her well enough to know if I like her. What I do know is, she’s here for the summer and going to be bored. I don’t know why I care, but I do. Honestly, she seems lost, almost vulnerable. Like something back home has her unsettled and here she is.” Dune sighed and rubbed his face. “Hell, maybe she’s running from something.”
“Or someone,” Wilson said.
“Could be. Won’t know until she tells me,” Dune said. He went back to his burger. When he finished, he tossed some money down onto the table and told the guys he’d see them in the morning.
Outside, the breeze from the ocean washed over him. He loved the smell of sea salt and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. He was right where he planned to be for the rest of his life, being the captain of an entertainment enterprise.
