AllFreeNovel
Share Us
25
Harrison flipped the burgers on the grill, the noise around him grating on his nerves.Spencer had come for Labor Day, along with his wife and family, and Harrison had invited Bea and Grant.He’d invited his sister and her family, and the vibe on the beach this holiday felt…familial.
If only Cass were here.
She was currently in Waco, helping Conrad get settled into his new apartment.He’d decided to return to Baylor, and Harrison would never tell a single soul about the relief he’d felt when Cass had told him that.
She’d been in Texas for the past couple of weeks, and Harrison really missed her.He got to sleep for an extra twenty minutes, because he didn’t have to run over to Gourmet Goods and get her coffee and pastries.
He actually found himself wishing he did.It hadn’t been a chore or a burden to him; he loved seeing the beautiful brunette in the morning before work.The sight of her glorious smile, and the taste of her lips, helped him through the long, hot days on the job.
He enjoyed laying in the hammock with her, or walking along the beach for his physical therapy with his hand tucked around hers.He loved talking to her, and he’d go to any restaurant or movie just to be with her and inhale the scent of her fruity, flowery perfume.
The fire beneath the burgers sizzled, and Harrison frowned.He’d gotten lost inside his thoughts again, and he wondered if he’d fallen in love with Cass.
You have, he told himself, and instantly he tried to deny it.An argument ensued within himself, and he still hadn’t declared a winner before Grant came up beside him.“Those done?”
“Ready.”Harrison turned toward him, slid the spatula under a burger, and put it on the plate his best friend held.He piled them up, and he followed Grant onto the patio.He’d opened the shade, so the sun wouldn’t bake them, and he stayed silent while Grant put the food on the table.
“We’re ready,” he said.“Bea’s got all the salads, and Harrison’s got all the trimmings for the burgers.”He smiled at his wife, who curled into his side and wrapped her arms around him.
Harrison swallowed and looked away, once again thinking he’d fallen for the woman who lived a few houses down.Spencer bumped him, and Harrison came back to the present.“Hey.”
His brother held an empty plate, and he handed it to Harrison.“No cheese?”
“You’re lactose-intolerant,” Harrison said.
“That’s why I made the Greek salad,” Bea said.She smiled at Spencer and Harrison.“Spence, your wife is amazing.”
“Yeah?”Spencer’s attention diverted to Bea, and he certainly didn’t need to be told how awesome Jenn was.He loved her deeply, and they had a great relationship.“Why’s that?”
“She said she’d give me the recipe for this dessert salad.”She carried a plate with only the cookie monster salad on it, which included whipped cream, green apples, and yes, cookies.Bea lifted a bite of the fluffy stuff to her lips, smiling as they closed around the fork.
Spencer chuckled, and Harrison started down the table and filled his plate with potato salad, dessert salad, and then he stacked cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, and then a couple of small slices of pickled jalapeño.He squeezed mayo, mustard, and ketchup on his top bun, and then he pressed it all together.
He turned away from the food table, the big, oval table where others had started taking their seats in front of him.Bea sat beside Grant, with Julie on her other side.Julie’s husband was behind him in line, but a free seat sat beside her.
Harrison wouldn’t take that one.Jenn had sat down at the end, and Spence would take the seat beside her.A second table had been set up for the teens and kids there, and Harrison didn’t want to sit there either.There was room at the adult table, but Harrison was the only one there without a date.
You have a girlfriend, he told himself, and then he forced himself to go sit down in an empty seat beside Grant.
“When’s Cass gonna be back?”Grant asked just before taking a big bite of his burger.He bent over and tilted his head to the side, opening his mouth wide to get everything in.He’d made a double-quarter-pounder, and Harrison honestly didn’t know how he’d eat all of that.
“Uh, this week sometime,” Harrison said.“Thursday, I think.She’s listing her house in Texas, I believe, and then she’s got to meet with that country club she signed.”
Grant nodded.Bea threw a glance to Harrison, but she said nothing.Still, Harrison caught something in her eyes he wasn’t sure of, and he didn’t like it.He watched her for another few moments, but she didn’t look his way again.
Later that afternoon, while his brother’s kids ran through the shallow water and the sun beat down on them even through the umbrellas he and Spence had pounded into the sand, Harrison’s fingers flew over his phone.
Everything’s okay with Conrad?
Yeah, Cass said.I think I cried more dropping him off this time than last year.
Harrison frowned, and instead of continuing to text, he tapped the button to call her.The line rang, and she picked up quickly.
“Hey there,” she said.“How was the barbecue?”
“Good,” he said, relaxing into his camp chair at the sweet sound of her voice.“Why more crying this year?”
