Page 28 of Wild Tides
One of the bakery’s staff called out our number, and Vi hopped up, returning a moment later with two paper plates, each with a steaming slice of pizza.
“And my loyalty always has been, always will be, toyou,” I said pointedly.
“I think you mean my brothers,” she muttered, ripping into her lunch.
“No, Cupcake, I mean you.” I held her gaze, willing her to understand that I meant every word. Everything I’d done was for her. Including keeping my distance.
She fidgeted with the edge of her paper plate. I reached out, stilling her fingers. The touch was brief, just long enough to feel her warmth. But it was enough to draw her face up. The hint of doubt there sent a coil of dismay swirling.
She didn’t believe me. Not yet.
But I wanted her to. Badly enough that staying away no longer felt selfless—just lonely.
Chapter 14 – Violet
Ireally wanted to stay angry with Lee. He’d been part of the misery of my high school years, and that stung. I thought we were friends. Maybe it was delusional to believe my brothers had acted alone in their pranks on the boys I liked. But I’d thought Lee was too serious, too good a guy, to go along with their tricks. Even after all these years, discovering he played a role in keeping me off-limits felt like a betrayal. That anger settled deep, like a wound I hadn’t realized was there.
He'd had plenty of time to come clean. Why now?
But part of me knew why now. For someone who plotted murders on the regular, he had an oversized conscience. I could see him struggling with putting the moves on me when the past still hung between us. He wouldn’t want it to come out later, and I could respect that. Begrudgingly.
Telling myself that high school was a long time ago helped. Remembering all the sweet things he’d done for me in the last year helped more. The time he’d helped me troubleshoot my generator. The weekend he crawled under my house, trying toclose off areas where the raccoons were getting in. But I still wasn’t quite ready to forgive him.
He’d gone to my brothers. Before me.
I was a grown-ass woman. I could date whomever I wanted. Who? Whom. Whatever. My brothers were finally tied up with women of their own. Good women. Ones who wouldn’t let them intrude on my love life. Maybe Lee thought it was a mark of his loyalty to talk with them first. Which again, countered his argument that his first allegiance was to me.
But damn, I wished it were true. As one of four kids, first loyalty was never mine. My brothers always hung together like glue. Rightfully, my parents refused to pick favorites. As the only girl, I should have had a lock on my mother, but her soft spot had always been for Drew.
Gran’s loyalty blew like the wind, landing wherever benefited her most. I loved her mercenary little heart. I didn’t blame her for supporting my brothers’ teenage shenanigans. She was practically still a teenager herself.
An older couple pushed into the Salty Pantry, making the cheerful bell above the door jingle, and I pulled my focus from the accounts I was pretending to balance on my laptop, smiling.
“Good afternoon, welcome to the Salty Pantry. I’m happy to answer questions, if you want to look around. Let me know if I can get you anything.”
The couple circled, stopping at my popcorn sample station. I hid a smile. It was my best marketing hack: offering free samples of popcorn dusted with the Island Salts popcorn blend. I sold more cases than our website and distributors combined.
The mingled aromas of tea, baked goods, and popcorn hung, rich and heady, and warm as a fall day. The Salty Pantry invited you to browse, buy, and stay awhile. Neat and organized, with artsy photos from the salt farm on the walls, the space avoided the cold precision of a grocery store, landing somewherebetween a tea shop and an artisan market. Not too crowded, not too sparse. I’d placed a few chairs inside for patrons who preferred to sip and eat away from the elements. Adirondacks graced the front yard beneath umbrellas - for husbands holding purses and customers who liked to people-watch while they enjoyed their treats.
After ringing up the couple’s popcorn blend and a BBQ salt that was excellent on pork tenderloin, I tried to focus again on my books. The Salty Pantry was turning a tidy profit. Not bad for a tiny island boutique in winter.
It made me feel a little less guilty for closing up shop while I was helping Lee. While I could have called in a favor and asked Gran to cover for me, no one wanted that. Not really. Letting Gran loose on an unsuspecting public was a good way to end up with online reviews that said, “The penis decorating demonstration was a bit raunchy, but the caramel is delicious.”Ask me how I know.
Anya: How’s it going with Lee?
Anya’s nosy text broke up my slow afternoon, and I jumped on my phone, eager to complain to someone who wasn’t him about our situation, even if it was only via text.
Vi: Getting on my last nerve.
Anya: Is that what you call it when a man takes you out to a fancy meal and orders the whole stinkin’ menu?
Vi: Maybe.
Vi: Still mad.
Anya: Does he want to come make me mad?
Vi: You have Drew for that.
