Page 10 of Hearts at Seaside
Bella stared after them. “Gosh, I love them.”
“We know,” Leanna, Amy, and Jenna said in unison.
They sat on Jenna’s deck and talked about Leanna’s business and Bella’s new life on the Cape. Jenna could barely concentrate when Pete drove by on his way to the pool.
“Jenna, you look like you’re worried about being chosen for the Hunger Games. What’s up?” Amy tucked her legs beneath her on the deck chair.
“I’m just…You guys, you don’t really think Pete was checking up on me, do you? I mean, he’s never seemed very interested. Why would he be interested now?”
“You’ve never given him any competition before. It’s always been all about Pete. Every summer,Pete, Pete, Pete.” Bella waved her hand. “Now, with Charlie, you’ve shaken Pete up like a snow globe and upended all that stuff in his head.”
Leanna’s phone vibrated and she read a text. “I hate to change the subject, but that was Kurt. He said he’ll do what he can for Evan and that Dane loves to take people out on the boat, so it looks good.”
“Thanks, Leanna,” Bella said. “Please thank Kurt for me, too. Evan will be so happy. After last summer’s fiasco, and how hard he’s worked to rectify things with everyone, I’m glad this might come through for him.”
“I’m excited for him to meet Dane.”
Bella smiled and waved to Caden and Evan as they drove by on their way out of the community.
“Can we circle back to my issue for a minute, please?” Jenna waved her hand. “I’m in serious agony here. I’ve reorganized everything in my entire house, and I’m about ready to start on each of yours.” Jenna tugged at her bikini top, which was headed for a wardrobe malfunction.
“Yes. Focus. I just got my cabinets back to the way I like them after the last time she got ahold of them.” Leanna brushed her dark hair from her eyes.
“Kurt loves when I organize your cottage.” Kurt was as organized as Leanna was disorganized. When Jenna had organized the cabinets in their cottage after Leanna had spent the weekend there while Kurt attended a writer’s conference, he’d praised Jenna for a week.
“Yes, that he does. Thank goodness he didn’t rescueyoufrom the water.” Kurt and Leanna met on a stormy night when Kurt rescued Leanna’s dog, Pepper, after he’d been swept out to the deep water.
“Oh, please. We’d totally knock heads. He likes quiet, and I’m anything but quiet.”And he’s not Pete.Jenna pressed her palms on the table. “Okay, so here’s the deal. I have a confession.”
“You love Pete; we already know,” Amy said as she nibbled on a piece of scone.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. The truth is, Charlie asked me out for tonight, and I really liked him, but Pete showing up got me all confused, so I told Charlie I had plans.”
“Face it, girlie. You’re hooked on Petey,” Amy said in a singsong voice.
Jenna groaned and buried her face in her hands. “No, I kind of regret telling Charlie no. And if I am still hooked on Pete, then I’m an idiot.”
“No. He’s the idiot for waiting so long to really take notice,” Bella said.
“Yeah, but who hangs on to a crush for this many years? I think I have to go out with Charlie again, don’t you? I mean, to be fair, he really was pretty great.” Jenna ran her finger along the edge of the table, remembering what it felt like to be with Charlie. “He was attentive and not at all like I expected. I thought he’d be rough around the edges, which I know is a gross generalization because he’s a construction worker, but he wasn’t at all. He was easy to talk to and fun and…”Not. Pete.
“So, what’s the issue?” Amy leaned her elbow on the table, her chin in her palm. “Did you kiss him?”
Jenna smiled.
“She did,” Bella said. “And?”
“And he kissed me good night despite my being a mute bimbo…It was nice. He’s a good kisser.”
“Therein lies the problem,” Bella said. “Nice? Really? Nice?”
“It was. He was sweet and kind, and—”
“Come on. Your first kiss should never benice. It should be wild, passionate, intense.” Bella slid her eyes to Leanna. “Right, Lea?”
“Absolutely.” Leanna glanced at her cottage. “Your first kiss should basically suck the air from your lungs and leave you mindless.”
“Spineless,” Amy added.
