Page 28 of Seven Summer Weekends
“Nice,” she said, diverting her eyes. “You may be his biggest fan, after all.”
Addison thought of Kathy Bates locking James Caan in her cabin inMisery. Again with the horror stories! She was glad these two would be on their way soon and wished she would never have to see Ben Morse again either. She stopped her mind from wandering to what precipitated his signing above Katie’s hip. What a perv.
“When are you headed out? Do you know what ferry you’re catching?”
“Soon! Jessie has a Venus Viva appointment.”
Addison was too embarrassed to ask what that could be.
“Do you want me to walk you to the boat with my wagon?”
“No thanks, we have our wheelie bags. We had a great time.” She added, “And sorry again about your aunt. She seemed like a really nice lady.”
“Wait, you met my aunt?”
“Yes! At one of Ben’s book signings. Looking back, I think she was already sick. She invited us here.”
All she could say was, “Hmmm,” while briefly air hugging Katie goodbye. She was so looking forward to her friends’ visit.To make her feelings official, she texted Kizzy, Lisa, and Pru in the group chat the minute the women left.
COUNTING THE DAYS!
A succession of hearts washed the rancid thoughts of her neighbor having sex with her young houseguest from her brain. Until her next interaction with him in front of the deli counter at the Bay Harbor Market.
Addison waited in line, clutching her list. She had decided to shop for her dinner and the next day’s meals all at once instead of riding to the market whenever she felt hungry, as seemed to be the local practice.
Ben showed up behind her and looked over her shoulder.
“Figures, you have a list.”
She folded it up, as if he were looking to cheat off her on an eighth-grade Spanish test.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just not done here. Like walking to town instead of riding. You don’t bring a list to the market—you look around, see what the guy in front of you is getting, what jumps out at you.”
“Next,” the ear gauge guy called out. Addison was hoping to get the good-sandwich guy, but for what she was ordering, she assumed it didn’t matter. She opened up her list and again covered it with her hand.
“Half pound of artichokes and a piece of tuna, please.”
“For how many?”
“Just one.”
“Same for me, boss,” Ben called over her shoulder. Addison shot him a look.
“What?” he said. “Why should he put the tuna away, only to take it out again?”
Addison rolled her eyes while they waited for their fish to be cut and weighed. Ben’s presence seeped under her skin before making it crawl. She turned and asked him, quietly, “If you weren’t intending on lying to me, then why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
“You were reading my book. We spoke about it. My picture is on the back flap. I assumed you knew.”
“Well, I didn’t finish it yet. And you introduced yourself as Ben. Not Benjamin Morse.”
“You’re right. ’Cause Ben is such an odd nickname for someone named Benjamin. My sincere apologies.”
“So you assume everyone knows you?”
Two people walked by. “Hi, Ben,” said one. “Hey,” said the other.
