Home > Second Start (Holiday Springs Resort #5)(6)

Second Start (Holiday Springs Resort #5)(6)
Author: S.E. Rose

She nods. “Fine.”

“So, tell me what’s going on with you?” I ask, much too enthusiastically.

She rolls her eyes. “Brit, we talk like all the time. You know exactly what’s going on with me. Plus, unlike you, I’m totally not exciting.”

I decide to grill her. “Boys?”

She shrugs and tosses her wavy hair over her shoulder. “No one in particular right now.”

“Job?”

“Figuring it out still.”

“How’s your dad?”

“He’s still here, being a pain in the ass.”

“Oh, come on, you are the son he always wanted.”

She groans. “I know.”

Harley was named after her great-grandfather, who was also a builder. Christopher Richards had wanted a son, but instead, the Gods had graced him a super girly daughter. But Christopher wasn’t all bad. He was super good looking and very smart and charming in that annoying schmoozy type of way.

“How’s the gallery?” she asks.

“It’s fine. Busy as usual. Dad has a few new artists coming in soon.”

“Hey, strangers.” I don’t have to glance over to know that Ty is standing next to us. I’d recognize his voice anywhere.

“Hey,” Harley says coolly.

I look up at him. “Hi, Ty.”

“You want to join Parker and me?”

I glance over and see the blonde is gone, as is Cole. Harley looks at me, clearly letting me know that this is totally my call.

“Oh, come on, Britastical, get your ass over here!” Parker calls out from his seat.

I grin and roll my eyes. It’s hard to ever be mad at Parker. He’s like a giant puppy. Or maybe a giant wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Fine,” I mutter as I grab my glass and coat and head down to his side of the bar.

“Get in here, Evans,” Parker says as he stands. I set my glass and coat down, and he pulls me into a giant bear hug.

“Can’t breathe,” I gasp after a moment.

He lets go, and I take a deep breath. “Lay off those ‘roids, Parker, geez,” I say as I look at his physique. He’s over six feet of pure muscle. He always has been, but I feel like he’s even more muscular than I remember him.

“Try not to crush Brittany,” Ty snarls at him. Parker gives him a look.

“So, what’s happening? I haven’t seen you in forever,” Parker asks as I take a seat next to him.

I shrug. “Just decided to come home for a bit. I needed some peace and quiet to work on my music.” Yeah, it’s a white lie, but I don’t want to get real with Parker. Parker’s fun, and he means well. I know the guy would have my back in a fistfight, not that I get in those, but he’s also the town crier. I tell him one thing, and pretty soon the entire town will know. He’s not known for keeping his mouth shut.

“That’s cool. You should play here some night,” he motions to a corner that looks like it might be used for live music.

“Maybe,” I offer.

“Jeez, Park, give her a minute, she just got home a few days ago,” Harley interjects as she sips more of her drink.

“Well, OK then, Ms. Richards,” Parker retorts with a raised eyebrow. Harley rolls her eyes.

“How’s your sister?” she asks him.

Parker’s younger sister, Victoria, is a model in New York City. She’s nineteen and gorgeous. I saw her about a year ago when she was in LA for some premiere. We had dinner. She’s a sweetheart. Honestly, I worry about her in the modeling industry; it’s brutal.

“She’s fine. Dating some new douchebag.”

“A douchebag? I’d hardly call Winston Gannon a douchebag.”

I spit my drink out as I cough. “Did you say Winston Gannon? As in ‘the’ Winston Gannon?” I manage as I compose myself, and Harley pats on my back.

Parker laughs. “Uh, yeah, is there another one?”

I slap Parker on the arm. “Winston is like... well, he’s not a douchebag, that’s for sure.”

Winston Gannon was a Hollywood darling. He had been on some television show as a teenager and then transitioned into superhero films. “I’ve never heard a single bad thing about him.”

“Whatever, he’s too perfect, if you ask me,” Parker scoffs.

Harley giggles. “Yeah, I hear all of him is perfect,” she says with a wink as she holds her hands a foot apart.

“Harley!” I scold, which only increases her laughter. Ty is sitting on the other side of Harley. I notice he’s been unusually quiet. I wonder if it’s because he’s thinking about the girl who just left, or maybe he’s just annoyed that I’m here.

Zane brings us another round of drinks as Harley starts reciting every movie that Winston has ever been in since he started acting at the age of twelve, or at least that’s what she finds on the internet.

Somehow, Parker turns this into a drinking game, and two hours later, Harley asks if she can crash at my place.

“My place!” I screech with laughter. “It’s your place!”

She giggles uncontrollably. “OMG! It is my place! OK, it’s my dad’s place, but that makes it sort of my place, right?”

“Har, I think you are overthinking this one,” Ty says to her. “Parker, why don’t we walk these two back to the cabin?”

“Ty, we got it,” Har says as she stumbles out of her seat.

“Whoa there,” Ty says as he grabs her.

Zane looks at us. “You guys need help getting them back to the cabin?”

“We got it. Have a good night.”

Zane nods, and Harley and I link arms as we stroll out of the bar and through the lodge. There are still a few patrons out and about, but it’s fairly quiet.

Parker and Ty walk on either side of us as we amble down to the cabin.

“It’s like having bodyguards,” Harley says with a laugh.

“Right,” Parker mutters as he grabs her elbow to keep her from falling over a rock on the path.

“You’re my hero, Parker George,” Harley slurs as she grips his arm.

“Great, I’ll add that to my résumé.”

“OK, Lucy, we’re home!” I call out as I search my pocket for a key.

The door opens, and my dad, well a very disheveled version of my dad, is standing at the door.

“Harley? Parker? Ty?” he says in a groggy voice.

“These two had too much fun, so we brought them home,” Ty says to him as he helps me up the steps.

Niko pounces toward us and practically knocks me over while trying to get to Ty.

“Whoa, boy!” he says as he hugs Niko.

Niko then starts jumping up on Harley and Parker.

“Niko, sit!” Harley says. Niko sits and thumps his tail on the ground, whining to be released so he can smoother us with more of his doggie affections.

“I’m just going to pass out here on the sofa if that’s OK, Mr. Evans,” Harley says as she flops on the sofa after Parker helps to get her coat off.

Ty throws a blanket over her.

“Night,” I say to everyone as I grab the railing and nearly trip.

“Uh, here let me help you up the stairs,” Ty says.

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