We assured them that everything is fine before hanging up and spending the next few hours strolling down the beach, swimming in calm waters, reading, eating, joking, and talking about Frankie’s imaginary husband.
Rex Jackson stays out of my mind for most of the day, although that begins to change as the day starts drawing to an end.
The sun hovers above the horizon, smoothly sliding toward the water and painting the dark blue ocean in a deep hue of red.
The shadows get longer, and surfers begin to show up when I find myself ticking my head up and swinging my eyes toward the water, waiting for something.
I don’t know what.
“Unless you have telepathic powers and conjure him to do what you want, I doubt he’ll show up,” Frankie mutters, her nose stuck in a fashion magazine.
I jerk my eyes to her.
The late afternoon sun slides across her shoulders, highlighting her tanned skin.
She tips her sunglasses down and peers at me from above them.
“You can’t have it both ways, Luna. Have him and not have him. Want him and not want him. That’s not how these things work.”
I take her in from her pink painted toenails to her tiny bikini and glamorous sun straw hat.
“How come you’re single if you know so much, Miss Big Mouth?”
“That will change,” she says, grinning self-assuredly.
“How?”
He waves me off, her sunglasses going promptly up her nose.
“You’ll see. We’re going places this weekend.”
“What places?”
“We’re going out. Meeting people.”
I pull upright and stare at her. She’s so cute when she huffs, giving me professorial vibes.
The magazine hits the towel with a thud.
“We’re eating out tonight. Amber called again and insisted on meeting her and her friends at a restaurant downtown. Nothing fancy. It’s an Italian bistro with a large terrace where she and her people hang out.”
“When did she call you?”
“This morning before you woke up.”
I wrinkle my nose at her.
“How well do you know her?”
Her arms flail up.
“How well do you need to know someone to have a slice of pizza?”
I wave her off dismissively.
“Go away.”
“Only if you come with me. I’ve told you about her,” she says in a different voice. “She’s some spoiled brat who has a tribe and wants us to join her group of friends.”
Sighing, I plop back.
“Not interested.”
“Fine. I’ll go. You stay home,” she tosses back at me.
“That’s not fair.”
“Neither it is to be stuck at home when we could go out and explore. Wasn’t that the whole idea?”
She waits for an actual response.
I tilt my head to the side, slinging my gaze to her.
“Yes, it was.”
“Your crush could be there too,” she mutters.
“Haha. Right.”
“Even if he isn’t, Amber is the chatterbox of town. I’m sure we can find a thing or two about him. Besides, she’s our best chance to get access to this crowd. Stuff happens in this sleepy town. Parties, hangouts. I want to go. Besides,” she says, leaning back and plopping her sunglasses back in their place. “I want to find the next Mr. Right now.”
I laugh.
“You know... Seriously, now,” she says, tilting her head to me and yanking her sunglasses off. “You should start small, take baby steps. I’m not saying to go out there and get hot and heavy with some guy. Just give them a chance. No wonder Olivia left a box of condoms on the kitchen table.”
“Patio.”
“Patio. Whatever. She wanted to send a message.”
I gesture, fed up.
“Fine. We go out. You get a chance to meet Mr. Never Gonna Last, but don’t count on me for double dates.”
Her eyes glint with glee.
“Yay. Thank you.”
Swiftly, she pivots and riffles through the contents of her beach bag.
She scoops out her phone and slides her sunglasses back on her nose, looking away.
“Hey. Amber? Yeah. It’s me, Frankie. We’re on for tonight. Perfect. We’ll meet you there. Cool. Bye.”’
She drops her phone on the towel and does a happy dance in her beach chair before stretching her arm out for a high five.
I look at her, smiling faintly.
“Leave me alone. Let’s see how it turns out first.”
11
LUNA RAE
The evening falls over the coastal town bringing in the settled feel of a lazy summer that comes with great food and a bunch of long-lasting memories.
We are the first to arrive and learn quickly that a few tables have been reserved for us.
The hostess shows us to the terrace.
“You said it’s only them and us,” I say under my breath.
“That’s what I thought,” Frankie retorts quietly. “She has a lot of friends.”
Our table sits next to the sidewalk, potted plants outlining the space, lights flickering above.
“It looks nice,” I say as the waitress hands us the menus.
“It does.”
“What would you like to eat?” the woman asks.
A smell of grilled food comes to us—my stomach growls.
“We should wait,” I say, perusing the menu. “Although I’m so hungry.”
“You can start with an appetizer,” the waitress suggests.
I lift my gaze from the menu.
“What do you recommend?”
“Caprese Salad with balsamic reduction. It’s delicious. You can also try Crespelle all Valdostana.”
“What is that?”
“Crepes stuffed with Fontina cheese, covered with bechamel sauce and baked in the oven.”
I ponder.
“It’s tasty,” she says.
“Okay. I’ll have both.”
She moves her eyes to Frankie.
“A cold platter for me and salad. Thank you.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Coffee for me,” Frankie says.
“Nothing. Thanks,” I say in response to her questioning look.
The woman nods, picks up the menus and leaves.
“Any news from her?” I ask, pointing to her phone.
She tips her gaze down and scrolls through the messages before plopping it back on the table.
“No.”
Her eyes move away.
“I like this place. This feels good,” she says, sweeping the street with a wandering gaze.
The street is quiet for the most part, only a few cars crawling by, most people heading to the restaurants.
Not far from us, a club is open.
The crowd is rowdy over there–– it’s a gathering spot for bikers.
A few riders slide by before parking their rides in front of the place and entering the bar. Noise wafts through the air, a bunch of people having a good time inside.
As the minutes tick by, the terrace we’re on fills with customers.
This spot seems to be a gathering place for college students like us, mainly, a lot of families dining inside.
“They’re late,” I notice as the server brings our food.