Chapter Twenty
Having my parents visiting turned out to be amazing fun. I actually enjoyed them more than my sister, though I’d never tell her that. For starters, they didn’t press me about Billy. They didn’t torment me about my dating life. We just had fun.
The truth of it was that I hadn’t heard from Billy since he left town, and while I was disappointed about that, I think I halfway expected it.
My mom caught that he hadn’t called, and she lightly asked about it, and I just as lightly mentioned back that we didn’t really have anything going beyond a brief friendship. She looked a little sad about it, but she didn’t press…
So, when we were in Fireweed having breakfast and a man asked me out, she didn’t give it a second thought when I accepted.
First of all, I was shocked that I even said yes, but the word just tumbled out.
It was like being with Billy had opened up the floodgates, and I was no longer scared of my decision-making skills with men. The world was my oyster and all that. I needed to get out there and start dating and what better time than now.
The guy was tall, blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, and I’d imagine a good body under all the layers of winter clothing, so what the heck? I forgot to get his name, but I was sure he’d mention it at some point.
We’d set up a date for the following night, and now that time had already arrived.
I laughed thinking back to the whole event. My dad seemed completely amused with the entire situation, which made me feel slightly better. I was worried my parents might have been hung up on Billy.
“Look at you go,” my father had teased as the man walked away. “Is that what normally happens when you go out for breakfast?”
I had to laugh and nodded. “Except usually I always say no.”
The fact that my dad seemed somewhat proud that his daughter got noticed while eating eggs benedict made me chuckle.
Anyway, the night had come, and I’d called Holly to ask about the guy, but when I didn’t have a name, it complicated things a bit. She was pretty sure it could be one of seven guys and all were pretty normal in her estimation except for one, so the odds were in my favor.
I didn’t want him coming to Hound Island so I had my mom drive me—yes, drive me—back onto the ferry and over to Fireweed. Now that was parental devotion.
There was a small Italian place that he’d texted me about. It was easy to find and my mom let me out at the front door.
Let me just mention, that I’d apparently grown leaps and bounds in the last several weeks of my life because the thought of having my mom drop me off at my age for a date would have normally made me want to crawl back into whatever hole I came out of.
But instead, I held up my thirty-something head up high and thumped into the small restaurant where the man was already waiting.
He was just as good-looking as I remembered and he seemed kind.
“You look beautiful, Tiff.” The way he said Tiff did absolutely nothing for me. In fact, I kind of didn’t like it one bit.
“Thanks. My wardrobe choice is a bit limited at the moment.” I set the crutches against the wall and struggled to get the chair out from under the table. I took a seat with a thud and glanced up at the guy, who was studying me carefully.
“I feel like I’ve seen you before.”
“It’s a small island so you just may have.” I smiled, hoping for some sort of connection. “So this is awful, but I didn’t even catch your name the other day.”
He laughed and nodded. “I wondered about that. It’s Stewart. Stewart Greenman.”
“Stew,” I said.
“Nope. Stewart.”
“Ah. Gotcha.” The server came over, and I ordered a glass of wine.
“How long have you lived on Fireweed?” he asked.
“I’m actually staying on Hound.”
“Oh, you didn’t mention that.” He glanced at the menu and folded it back up. “I’d suggest the veal parm.”
“I think I’ll have the manicotti. Veal’s a little too much of a downer for me.”
His jaw clenched, but he clicked his neck back and forth to relieve whatever veal tension had built up.
“What do you do for a living?” he asked.
“I’m a pet sitter extraordinaire.”
He didn’t look impressed.
“What do you do to make the days pass by?” I sat back in my chair.
“I teach elementary.”
“That’s got to be fun.” I smiled, leaning back toward the table.
“It has its moments. Pays the bills.”
“I think it would be so much fun to help little ones reach their full potential, especially nowadays with all the computer apps and—”
“You sound like a public education billboard.”
I laughed and shrugged.
This was going to be a very long dinner.
“So have you lived on Fireweed long?” I asked.
“I moved here about three years ago.”
“Do you like it?”
“Hate it.”
My brows shot up. “How could you hate a place like this? Everyone’s so nice.”
“Exactly.” He shook his head and let out a deep sigh as if being nice in the world was somehow the cardinal sin. How crazy was that?
The server came over and we ordered our dinners.
“So you’re not a fan of nice people?” I tried again.
“I’m sure they’re fine in small doses, but I know that it can’t be real.”
“Wow. That’s pessimistic.”
“You spend enough time around the people I do all day, and you’d know where I’m coming from.”
“Second graders?” I asked, cocking my head in confusion.
“You bet.” He nodded. “That’s where you can really see it. The parents come in all nice. The kids come in all nice, but underneath it all…”
“Huh.” I wasn’t so sure this guy should be teaching. “Well, I’m sure soon enough you’ll run into some assholes, and you’ll feel right at home.”
“I can hope.”
“Yes, you can.” I nodded, wondering how in the world I could escape this dinner. There was dating and then there was this.
I definitely needed to make some rules for myself if I was determined to get back out here. First of all, I should make sure there was chemistry. Second, I should ensure that there was something in common, so maybe I should hang out at dog parks more often. Third, I needed to get their name beforehand so I could Google them.
“Wow, I’ve never been on a date where I’m talking to myself this early on.” His nose was scrunched as he waited for me.
“But it does happen to you eventually on all the dates?”
“It can, but that’s just part of the process.”
No, it really wasn’t. I wanted to sigh, but I was worried that might kick him over the edge.
The guy obviously didn’t understand sarcasm, so that was going to be my fourth requirement. Someone who could laugh at himself.
“Do you have any hobbies?” I asked, not really because I cared, but I needed something to fill the time.
“I don’t have time. With all the papers I have to correct and lesson plans I have to get ready.” He shook his head. “I’m a slave to my job.”
“Even on the weekends?” I asked.
“Especially on the weekends.”
“That’s too bad.”
“You probably wouldn’t understand.” He took a sip of wine. “It’s not like dogs can keep a person that busy.”
“Nah. They pretty much take care of themselves.” I rolled my eyes. “In fact, some nights they even cook me dinner.”
And he nodded. “Yeah. I’d assume so.”
Wow, he really didn’t get sarcasm.
“So you don’t have pets.”
“What makes you say that?” His brows furrowed as if I’d suddenly struck a nerve.
“Because pets are like children. They are a lot of work.”
Just when I thought I might take a fork to my wrist, the server came over with our meals. I about wanted to jump up and kiss him, but I stayed calm and thanked him.
We ate mostly in silence and every single second was completely uncomfortable. My mind unwillingly went back to Billy, and I shoved him right back out. There was nothing I could do to force that situation, but I could at least get out there.
Billy proved that I still had a beating heart. I just needed to find the right man.
“This is really good.”
“It’s one of my favorite restaurants,” he agreed.
At least he liked good food.
“Do you cook?” I asked.
“No. I can put together a mean turkey and provolone sandwich, but that’s about it.”
I nodded and focused on my manicotti.
When we’d finished our meal and the server brought the check, I felt like a million dollars. I was free. Any second, I’d be free again.
He slapped his credit card down on the bill, and I felt really conflicted about letting him pay. I never wanted to see him again, and chances were on this island, I would.
“How about we go back to my place for a little fun?” Stew’s eyes stayed on mine, and I tried not to laugh.
“Stew, I’m flattered. But I actually don’t do fun.” I smiled. “At all, but I hear there is a great app called Tinder that might fit the bill for you.”
I quickly slid my card out of my wallet and placed it next to his.
“Seriously? We’re two good-looking people, why not just have a little fling?”
My stomach turned over, and I had to signal the server over so I didn’t wind up laughing in this guy’s face. Everything about him had turned creepy, and I just wanted out. I texted my poor mom to come get me. She’d been hanging out at a coffee shop down the street. I think I needed to at least wait until the cast was off before trying this again.
“I’m not into that,” I muttered, grateful the server was already on his way back with our receipts. “But like I said, there’s an app for that.”
“You think I can get women to come to this Podunk town on Tinder?” He tossed his napkin on the table.
“I don’t know why not. You’re completely charming and irresistible.” I took my card back and signed my receipt.
“I know,” he agreed and that was the time I stood up and grabbed my crutches.
“It was really lovely getting to know you,” I lied. “But my ride is here. Thanks again.”
I turned around to leave a sulking Stewart in the Italian restaurant, and all I wanted to do was call Billy and laugh about what I’d just encountered.
My mom was parallel parked right in front of the restaurant and gave me a sympathetic smile as she saw me hobbling as fast as I could to get out of the place.
“How’d it go?” she asked as I tossed my crutches in the backseat and hopped around to my open door.
I climbed into the car just as my phone buzzed. It was close to nine, so it was probably my sister.
“Beyond awful. Like so awful it reminded me why I didn’t do that.” I shivered as my mom turned toward the ferry.
“Well, I’m proud of you for getting out there.”
“Thanks.”
I slid my phone out of my purse and looked down at the text that had come over. It was from Billy and my heart literally froze.
How did your date go?
How did he know I was on a date? Was it my parents? Holly?
“I got a text from Billy asking me how my date went.” I glanced at my mom, who didn’t look surprised. “Did you tell him?”
“Heavens no.” She shook her head. “I can’t for the life of me figure out what’s going on between you two, so I’m staying out of it.”
“Huh.” I started typing my response back to Billy.
About as good as I should have expected. He wanted to have a little fun (his words not mine) so yeah...onward and upward.
“I can’t believe how creepy that guy was, and he’s a school teacher.” I shook my head. “He actually wanted to sleep with me. Tonight.”
My mom laughed. “Did you point him in the direction of Winder?”
“You mean Tinder?” I chuckled.
“Exactly.”
“Finding someone can’t be that hard, right? I mean people do it all the time.” I stretched out my leg and wiggled my bare toes. They were freezing.
“They do, but it takes something special to find that one person that just…fits.”
“Those weren’t quite the words of encouragement I was hoping for.” I smiled and leaned my head on the window. “How did you and dad know?”
“It was simple for me. I didn’t want anyone else.” She let out a happy sigh. “He just made me happy. He added to my life.”
“I realize I barely know Billy, but I felt that way about him.” I turned to face my mom. “The moment I saw him, I knew there was something about him that was just…” I couldn’t put my finger on it and didn’t bother to try. “But it doesn’t matter. He’s on some adventure, and I’ll be long gone before he’s back.”
“Anyone who’d let a little road trip come in the way of love is beyond me,” my mom whispered. “Why don’t you just go for it?”
“First of all, it’s not love. It’s too soon.”
“But it could be.”
“You’re such a helpless romantic,” I teased. “And second, he doesn’t want a relationship.”
“I still don’t believe that.”
“Regardless, the message has been sent loud and clear. It took me going on a date to get him to text.”
My phone buzzed again and I looked down.
So he didn’t steal my place?
A ripple of annoyance ran through me. Billy had no place. He made sure of that when he left.
At this point, all I could do was be honest. I texted back my response.
Billy, last I heard, you had no place. You didn’t want one.