“Are we all set for the lodge next week?” Hunter asks, interrupting the love-fueled intensity across the table.
Chase slowly drags his eyes away. “Yep. Check-in is on Tuesday after three. We have the entire property until Saturday checkout at eleven. Did you see the email I sent last week?”
“Forgot.” Hunter shrugs. “And what’s so great about this place? We have to shower in trees or something?”
Kayla and I laugh. Fort Bender is not Hunter’s favorite place. He complains every time we suggest going. I suspect the only reason he hasn’t started this time is because it easily gets him out of having to deal with his mom.
“There’soneshower inonetree, and no one has to use it if they don’t want to. There are regular showers inside. It’s just a gimmick to pull the tourists in,” Kayla explains.
“I mean, I’ll shower outside for all to see if that’s what everyone wants. It can’t be more awkward than watching you two.” The table shakes when Chase kicks Hunter’s foot. I push on his shoulder, and Kayla shoots an icy glare at him, all while he cracks up.
“Boy,no onewants to see you in the shower,” I say.
“Debatable.” He smirks at me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say his eyes lingered a few seconds longer than usual.
I do know better though, and before I can think more about it, he clears his throat and looks at his phone.You see what you want to see, Ash.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ASHLIE
After landing in Fort Bender, we pop into Patti’s Place for lunch. The dark weathered wood gives the diner a rustic feel, bringing back some nostalgia from my teenage years when the bell tinkles overhead. This place holds a lot of memories.
“Grab a seat wherever,” Ms. Patti calls over her shoulder, tending to the few regulars on this slow Tuesday afternoon. “I’ll be there in a sec.”
Hunter leads the way to a booth at the far side of the diner. As soon as he slides into the vinyl seat, he twists to look around the room. “It looks exactly the same.”
“I forget you haven’t been back since then.” The faded photos of surfers and anglers lining the walls are just as I remember. My eyes drift to the brown and white striped surfboards anchored at the end of the diner. “That summer was iconic.”
“It was alright.” He shrugs. “I would’ve sat at the counter, but someone’s already in ‘your seat.’”
“My seat?”
Hunter points to the stool in the middle. “Yeah. The first time we met, you said, ‘Chase, you better tell your friend to get out of my seat.’” He uses a high-pitched voice and splays his fingers, pretending to be me. “Then you pulled out a book and ignored us for the rest of lunch.”
“I mean, thatwasmy seat. But that’s not the first time we met…”
“Yeah, it was.”
“The first time I saw you was at the museum with Artie.”
“Naw. It was right there. You were wearing that swim captain jacket and had your hair piled on top of your head.”
I blink at him, not only realizing he’s right, but also taken aback by the details. “You remember what I was wearing?” I ask.
“I…” He pauses, mouth gaping as he drops his eyes.
“Well, talk about a blast from the past!” Patti places menus and glasses of ice water on the table. Her dark hair is graying now at the edges, but her friendly smile and plump frame still give off young Mrs. Claus vibes—glasses and all. The flour-stained apron only adds to it. “I haven’t seen you two together in years. How you been?”
“I’m good! Glad to be back home,” I say.
“Can’t complain,” Hunter replies, sliding out of the booth seat. “I’m gonna head to the restroom. Can I get a burger and fries please, Ms. Patti?”
“You got it!” She nods and waits until he’s out of earshot before turning to me. “Well, it took you two long enough to figure it out.” Patti gives me a knowing smile.
My head juts back, brows pulling together. “Me and Hunter? We’re just friends, Ms. Patti.”
“You mean to tell me hestilllooks at you like that and youstillhaven’t noticed?”
