Page 18 of I Saw Her First

8

Daisy

Iglance at my duffel bag sitting behind the counter at Joe’s. Jesse is supposed to be here soon to take me to Greenport, an idea he had after the dinner at his dad’s went south last week. I said yes at the time, because whowouldn’tsay yes to a week’s free vacation on the beach? But during the past few days, I’ve been wondering if I should cancel. Ever since I found out that Weston is Jesse’s dad, I’ve been rethinking our relationship. The fact that he’s the son of the guy I’ve been crushing on for the past year feels weird. And when I think of the way he behaved at dinner last week… I don’t know. It’s hard to see Jesse in the same way.

The door to Joe’s swings open, and two of my regulars step inside. Actually, they’re more like friends now. Violet and Kyle run a restoration company that specializes in historical houses, and they live in the neighborhood. I got to know them last year when they started coming to Joe’s and needed a little nudge to get together. They’re an unlikely pair—she’s around my age and he’s in his forties—but they’re perfect together. Just goes to show that age doesn’t really matter if you’re a good match.

“Hi,” Violet says, smiling as she approaches the counter.

“Hey, guys. The usual?”

She nods, running a hand through her blond hair. Kyle steps up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist.

“Make hers a single shot,” he tells me. “She’s already had two today.”

“Hey,” Violet protests, but he squeezes her and she relents. “Fine. A single shot.” She lifts her gaze to the ceiling. “Like, what even is the point?”

I laugh as I go to the espresso machine. “He drinks decaf,” I point out, referring to Kyle’s usual order of a decaf cappuccino.

Violet wrinkles her nose. “I know, and I’ll never understand it.”

Kyle strokes his beard, looking at his girlfriend with love. “You don’t need to understand it. Just trust me when I say you don’t want to see me on caffeine.”

She gazes up at him, rising on her toes to press her lips to his. I focus on the coffee, attempting to ignore them, but it’s hard when they’re like this. My heart tightens as I watch him brush a few strands of hair from her eyes and press his lips to her forehead. He adores her—it was clear from the minute I saw them together last year—and every time I see him be sweet with her, my chest hollows with longing. I want someone to be sweet with me like that. I want a man to look at me the way Kyle looks at Violet, to treat me like I’m the best thing to ever happen to him.

I hand over the coffees and watch Violet and Kyle leave, thinking about Jesse. Ihavea boyfriend, yet here I am acting like I’ve got no one. Maybe I should go to Greenport with him, regardless of my reservations. In fact, maybe getting away—from Joe’s, from Weston’s house—isexactlywhat we need. It will give me a chance to figure out how I feel about him, without his dad around. I know Weston said I was welcome at his house, but I feel uncomfortable there. It’s not only the tension between himand Jess, it’s the way I keep thinking of Weston, sitting alone in the living room, playing with the Nikon. The way my chest ached at the sight of him. I don’t want to feel that again.

Besides, some time away at the beach will be good for me. I haven’t taken a proper vacation in years. It’s no wonder I’ve been feeling stuck. A little sun, sand, surf—and maybe sex—could be exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s not like I have to marry Jesse, for Christ’s sake. We could just go and have a fun week. Why not?

Celine pushes through the door to cover my shift, clearly thrilled to be working when the weather is far more suited for an afternoon by the pool. I haul my duffel bag onto my shoulder as she picks up a rag to wipe the counter.

“Thanks, Celine. See you in a week.”

Her mouth pulls into a sardonic smile. “Have a blast. I’m not jealousat all.” She rolls her eyes, turning back to the counter with a huff.

I snort a laugh as I step out onto the hot street. Summer in New York can be unbearable, and I’m relieved to get a break from the suffocating heat of the city. Now that I’ve made up my mind, excitement ripples through me at the idea of spending the week at the beach. I could use some peace and quiet. Denise has been in rare form the past few days, working from home so I never get a moment to myself, and I need to not be around her right now.

I glance along Fruit Street looking for Jess. I’m not entirely sure how we’re getting to Greenport—it’s two hours away, in the North Fork of Long Island—but he said he’d organize a ride for us. Maybe he’s hired a car, or—

My thoughts grind to a halt when I hear the obnoxiously loud rumble of a modified car, and a moment later, the Dodge Challenger belonging to Jess’s friend Rex rolls into view.

Oh, God. Did he really borrow Rex’s car to drive us there?

My stomach bottoms out when the driver’s-side window rolls down, and I find myself wishing Jessehadborrowed the car from his friend.

“Hey, hey, pretty lady,” Rex drawls, shooting me a cocky grin. “Heard you need a ride.”

I grind my teeth. I’ve met Rex several times, and he is the absolute epitome of everything I hate about guys his age: loud, arrogant, immature, and always ready to party. I don’t know why Jess is friends with him, but it seems a little too early in the relationship to question his friendships.

Jesse leans across from the passenger side to wave out Rex’s window. “Hey, babe. Rex is giving us a ride.”

I pause for a second, considering my options. Do I really want to spend the next two hours in the car with Rex? No. But do I want to give up my week at the beach? Jess said the place we’re staying is on the water, and I’m looking forward to sitting back with a book and forgetting about real life for a while.

Besides, do I want to walk back into Joe’s and tell Celine I’m not going after all? More to the point: do I want to go home and deal with Denise tonight?

Hell no.

I sigh. I guess if Rex is only giving us a ride, that’s not so bad.

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