He raised his eyebrows. “You think so? I figured he was long gone.” Lee had stayed at the Ridge campground and become good friends with the Stokes, but he hadn’t been who they thought he was.
She pressed her lips together. “I don’t want you taking chances.”
Interesting. So the police didn’t think this was the end of it. Maybe he should tell Nhiari about the journal and the treasure, but it wasn’t his secret. “I won’t.” He always considered the risks before he did anything.
They wandered back inside. He hugged Nhiari. “Take care of yourself.”
She nodded and her expression softened. “You too.”
Re-joining his friends he found his dinner had been delivered and they were talking about the football season rather than about Georgie. Relieved, he resumed his seat. “What do you think our chances are this year?”
“We’ve got it in the bag,” Jerry said with a confidence Matt had always envied and despised.
Sudesh nodded. “We’re unbeatable.”
Matt tucked into his burger, happy to let both men boast about how the team would win. And if his gaze slid over to Georgie’s table more than once, no one needed to know.
It was later than Matt had planned by the time he moved to go. He should have headed back to the Ridge more than an hour ago because he had to be up at first light, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave while Georgie was still here.
And she should have left an hour ago as well with her working tomorrow. But she just kept laughing and drinking and having a good time with her friends. He’d counted at least three margaritas, so he wanted to make sure she had a lift home. She wasn’t foolish enough to drive, but she was foolish enough to walk. Not that it was far and Retribution Bay was a safe town, but there were still a lot of tourists around.
As the girls’ group stood to make a move, he pushed back his chair. “I better head home.”
“Yeah, good to see you again.” Sudesh stood and he and Jerry moved towards the cash register with Matt. “Looks like Georgie might need a lift home.”
Matt scowled. “I’m sure one of the girls will take her.”
Jerry grinned. “She might like a better option.” He brushed down his shirt.
Not if Matt had anything to do with it. He couldn’t let Jerry take advantage of her.
They all gathered around the register to pay, and Matt took Amy by the arm and moved her away from the others. “Are you giving Georgie a lift home?”
“Yeah. Gretchen will give her a lift back to pick up her car tomorrow.”
Good.
When it was their turn to pay, Jerry held up his credit card. “My shout.” He handed the card to the wait person. “I know you don’t earn a lot, Matt.”
Matt ground his teeth. Jerry might have stopped the insults, but he never resisted the urge to one-up Matt and show he was better.
Sudesh clapped Matt on the shoulder and smiled sympathetically as he said to Jerry, “Thanks, mate.”
Great, now Sudesh was pitying him as well. They’d both be surprised if he told them how much he had saved in the bank. Still he was getting a free meal, so he wouldn’t complain.
Outside he took a breath of the clean air. The girls were waiting so he hugged his sister goodbye.
“Remember, no snooping,” she whispered.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, smiling at her grunt of acknowledgement. “I’ll follow you back to the Ridge,” he called to Amy.
She gave him a thumbs up.
Jerry stepped forward. “You need a lift, Georgie?”
Georgie glanced at Jerry, surprised and then her gaze flicked to Amy, then Matt, and back to Jerry. She grinned. “That would be great. Thanks.” She strutted over to Jerry and tucked her arm into his. “Shall we go?”
Matt’s mouth dropped open. She smirked and turned her back, walking away with Jerry. Matt took a half step after her, stomach clenched, gut aching. He turned to Amy. “I thought you were taking her home.”
