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He pulled out Kassandra’s chair, and they sat with their cardboard cups of coffee.
“I’m not attracted to you,” he said frankly. She gasped, laughing, so he quickly explained, “I mean, you’re beautiful and fascinating, and usually I want to hit on someone like you, but today I’m just interested in talking to you and hearing what you have to say.”
She reached up and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. “No fever,” she said, barking out a laugh.
“I wonder what the significance of it is. Like, are we going to be friends? I don’t recall having a female friend I didn’t want to have sex with.”
“I need friends,” Kassandra said. “I’m pregnant. Did you know that?”
“Congratulations! I have three girls I don’t know and don’t support.”
“It’s never too late. Think of the impact having a loving father can make on a child.”
She gave him a brief description of how her father had influenced her.
“I’ll never be that good, but I want to be better at it,” Ryan said.
“I saw you at Lisa’s last weekend, but your girlfriend was monitoring you.”
“That’s Jolene. She’s just a friend. I didn’t sleep with her! Anyway, Laura told her I screwed everyone on Sea View.”
“Not me,” Kassandra said, laughing.
“What are you two hiding from?”
They looked up to see Sandra standing in the entrance to the café.
“Join us. We’re sharing stories,” Kassandra said.
“I think I will. I just got a reprieve from my partner.” Sandra held up her phone. “I don’t have to go to Las Vegas this week. There is a God!”
“I’m going this weekend,” Ryan said. “National Association of Broadcasters convention. I can man the PBS booth. Anyone want to go?”
“I would if I didn’t have to set my office up,” Kassandra said.
“Andy would probably love to go,” Sandra said, placing a box of pastries she’d bought on the table.
“None of the guys are talking to me,” Ryan whined.
“Andy is. I’m serious. Ask him. So, I have a bit of interesting news.”
“Speak!” Ryan called out. “I miss all the family news.”
“Max wears makeup,” Sandra said with a grimace.
“Who’s he again?” Kassandra asked.
“My sister Alison’s boyfriend. I wondered,” Ryan said. “But I haven’t exactly been in a situation where I could question another man’s lifestyle. Max is such a nice guy, totally benign, unlike me.”
“Shut up, Ryan,” Sandra said, scoffing.
“Is he just wearing makeup, or is it part of the journey to something else?” Kassandra asked.
“I don’t know if Andy questioned him.”
“This is such an interesting place. I thought Tony and I would come in and be the boring couple up the beach, and here we are just adding to the color.”
“Are you open to reconciling?” Sandra asked.
