Page 15 of Memories By the Shore
I shrug. “I mean. She’s nice.”
Gail shakes her head, laughing. “You are unbelievable, Jasper.”
“What?” I ask, even though the distaste in Gail’s tone is always apparent. She hasn’t liked Melanie since meeting her at an event at City Hall last spring. Gail says she’spower hungry and craves the attention associated with being with the mayor. If that’s true, the joke is on her because she’s not getting anywhere with me.
“You are the mayor of a touristy beach town. It’s like every young woman’s dream,” she trails on.
“Your point?” I accept her flattery but brush off the comment. “Don’t you have kids whose love lives you can meddle in?”
“I do, but they’re not as fun.” She warmly smiles.
“Aren’t I the lucky one,” I quip.
“You brought this on yourself!” she teases.
Gail is the same age as my mother would have been. She was our accountant at my dad’s shop for years. When I became mayor, I knew she had to come. Taking on the title of assistant from accountant took a lot of convincing and a pay raise. But let’s be honest, she runs this place.
“I did, didn’t I?” I laugh.
“Don’t forget, you must attend the opening of Easton’s new coffee shop this evening,” she reminds me. Easton is my best friend. I wouldn’t have forgotten.
“I know. He’s been blowing up my phone about this second location for months,” I say, clicking on a random email.
“He’s so excited,” Gail mutters. “I’m close to finalizing the last-minute paperwork for Coconut Grove Days. I’ll keep you updated.” She turns on her heels to leave my office, then quickly flips her neck around. “Are you going to take Melanie then?”
When I was a teenager, I never struggled with girls. Now, at twenty-eight years old, I’m struggling with maintaining long-term relationships.
“She’ll probably be there. She’s at all my events, but I’m nottakingher like a date if that’s what you’re asking,” I answer, giving Gail a side-eye for her good-hearted overstepping.
Gail smiles, raising her eyebrows. “Just checking!”
“Thank you for your concern, but again, it’s unnecessary.”
Gail turns to leave my office but quickly whips her head around once again. “Oh, and I must leave early today, if you don’t mind. Devin is flying into town with his new girlfriend this afternoon.”
“I bet you’re excited to see him,” I say, keeping my head down and skimming the documents in front of me. “And this is the first time meeting your son’s girlfriend, right?”
“Yes!” she replies excitedly. “I spent yesterday evening cooking.”
“Have fun visiting with them this weekend,” I say, jumping to a new task of glancing through my emails. I can’t stay focused.
I stare at these unanswered emails, none of which need to be addressed immediately. I feel my eyes gloss over. My mind is blank. This time of the year rips me apart. The pain never subsides, and the hole in my soul remains unfilled.
I wipe my hands down my face in exasperation with myself.How can I let her get to me after all these goddamn years?
“I’m taking a personal day,” I yell through the open double doors of my office.
Gail pops her head in, a sympathetic expressionon her face. “I figured.”
I nod, then log off my computer and grab my things. The beach is the only place I can go on this day that makes me feel better.
I’m already itching to hit the waves after the short drive from town to my small beach house. I walk in, strip off my clothes, and slip on shorts. Heading straight for the back patio, I grab my surfboard, ready to clear my head. The minute my bare feet hit the warm sand, I feel calm.
“Successful grand opening,” I compliment, approaching the bustling restaurant with a satisfied smile. I love seeing Coconut Grove flourish with new businesses.
“It definitely helps having my best friend as the mayor.” Easton pats me on the shoulder while we walk into his coffee shop after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I shrug it off. “You say that all the time, but I have to attend events like this all over town, you know that.”
