Page 51 of Dreaming at Seaside
Chapter Twelve
THE NEXT MORNING, Bella was in the shower when she heard Jenna calling for her from the bedroom.
“Bells? Belly? Bella!” Jenna stormed into the bathroom where Bella was showering.
Bella peered out from behind the shower curtain. Jenna wore a red bikini and a pair of cutoffs. She thrust a plate of something that resembled mangled bread toward her. “Good Lord, Jenna. What is so urgent?”
“After seeing you and Caden together at the beach last night, I decided it was time to take action with Pete. He arrives in ten minutes, and I wasn’t sure what time you and Caden were leaving. Sorry to barge in.”
“No, you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not. You don’t mind, do you?” She didn’t give Bella a chance to answer. “I need you to try this.” She shoved the plate closer to Bella.
“I’m all wet.” She didn’t mind Jenna barging into her bathroom. In fact, the day Jenna stopped treating Bella’s house as her own would be a very sad day for her. One that Bella hoped never happened—even when they were old, gray, and saggy. With Leanna and Kurt coming together, and now her and Caden, maybe they needed to think up a sign that they were getting busy inside and not to come in.Like the proverbial sock on the doorknob. The thought made her smile.
Jenna scooped up a hunk of whatever it was and shoved it into Bella’s mouth. “Pete loves pumpkin, so I made orange pumpkin bread, but I didn’t have enough butter or flour, so…” She furrowed her brow. “How is it?”
“Jen…”
Jenna plopped down on the toilet lid. “Oh, no. I knew it! I have been baking the stinking thing for an hour.”
Bella drew the curtain closed and finished showering. “Why don’t you just get something from Leanna? She always has good stuff.”
“She’s at the flea market already, and besides, I really wanted to try to get his attention, you know?” Jenna went to the mirror and brushed her hair, then used Bella’s eyelash curler.
“Hand me a towel.”
Jenna tossed her one.
“That red bikini will get his attention, Jen.” She stepped from the shower and looked at Jenna in the mirror. “Look at you. You’re gorgeous, you’re smart, you’re compassionate, and you’re funny. Jenna, you don’t need extras. Just be you.”
Jenna’s shoulders dropped. “I’ve been being me around Pete for years, and either he’s gay or he’s just not into me.”
Bella ran a comb through her hair. “He’s just shy, and when you’re around him, you’re shy, too. Why don’t we have a barbeque and you can invite him? We’ll liquor you up, and you’ll be yourself again instead of lost in your Petey crush.”
“Maybe I should invite him to go with us on the fishing trip.”
Bella shrugged. “Sounds good to me.” She went into the bedroom and put on a yellow bikini and a short, sheer, cover-up.
Jenna went into Bella’s closet and brought out two pairs of flip-flops—one pale yellow, one light blue—then held them up next to Bella. “Did you and Caden decide where you’re going?” She put the yellow flip-flops on the floor, and Bella slid her feet into them.
“The beach.” Bella lowered her voice. “He’s never done the deed outdoors.”
“Bella!” Jenna’s eyes widened. “He’s a cop. You can’t delinquentize him!”
Bella arched a brow. “Says the girl who pretty much eggs me on with every slightly bad thing I ever do.”
“That’s you, not a cop.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Do you really think I’d suggest that we do anything that could get him in trouble?”
Jenna arched a brow.
“Have some faith. I’ll try to behave.”Maybe.
At the sound of tires on gravel, Jenna looked out the window and gasped.
“He’s here.”
