Page 10 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Most of them were,” Shay told her. “My one friend, Tucker, had to leave early to take his younger sister home.” Her face fell for a few seconds before it lit up again, and she said. “But he’s going to be at the beach party tomorrow night as his father owns the Beach Hut, where we’re having it.”
“Ah!” Bailey nodded. “Well, kiddo, I hope you have a wonderful time. Take lots of pictures, and I expect to be told about it the next day.”
“I will do that,” Shay promised before saying goodbye to Bailey. “I was just going to ask if you wanted me to make you some tea, Dad?”
“No, thanks, honey,” Ethan shook his head.
“Okay.” Shay smiled and kissed his cheek. “Good night.”
“Good night, sweetheart.” Ethan watched Shay disappear from the study and pull the door behind her.
“I don’t think it’s Connor or Reef that Shay has a crush on,” Bailey told him.
“How can you tell?” Ethan asked his sister.
“When she spoke about them, there was no spark,” Bailey explained.
“Well, that’s a relief that I don’t have to worry about her having a crush.” Ethan sighed in relief. “Thank you for finding out about her friends for me.”
“I knew you’d never ask her outright,” Bailey told him. “And I didn’t say she didn’t have a crush on anyone.”
“Oh?” Ethan’s brow creased, and his heart accelerated.
While he wanted Shay to make friends, Ethan wasn’t sure how ready he was for her to have a boyfriend. She was only fifteen.
“Shay has a crush on one of her new friends,” Bailey enlightened him.
“I thought you said she didn’t have a crush on Reef Donovan!” Ethan said. “I’m not ready for Shay to have a crush yet, so I’m really not ready for her to deal with heartache because he has a girlfriend.”
Bailey grinned mischievously. “No. It’s not Reef. When Shay mentioned him, she acted the same way she did when she mentioned the rest of her new friends.”
“Okay, then tell me who you think Shay has a crush on so I can check the boy out!” Ethan growled.
“It was Tucker, the guy whose father owns the Beach Hut.” Bailey’s words made Ethan’s brows shoot up.
“Now I wish it was Reef or Connor.” Ethan shook his head. “Tucker is the son of Brad’s new wife’s brother, and you’ll never guess who he is.”
“Finn Shaw or Finnster, a former world champion surfer,” Bailey stole his thunder by beating him to the punchline.
“Did you Google them?” Ethan frowned at her, his eyes narrowing accusingly.
“Well, you were going to do it anyway,” Bailey guessed. “And now I’m also interested, as it’s not every day our Shay makes friends.”
“Now look who’s being overprotective.” Ethan laughed.
“Being overprotective is not the same as having a constant bodyguard shadow!” Bailey hissed as she typed on her laptop, her voice trailing off and her eyes widening at the screen.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked her.
“What did you say Reef’s last name was?” Bailey looked at her brother worriedly.
“Why?” Ethan frowned. “Was Harriet wrong about the guy?”
“No!” Bailey shook her head. “Um…” She cleared her throat and changed the subject. “You know what. I’m just glad Shay is starting to come out of her shell.”
“Bailey!” Ethan’s voice dropped, and he looked at her pointedly. “What’s going on? Is there something I should know about the kid next door?”
“No!” Bailey shook her head emphatically. “It’s not Reef.”
