Chapter 8
Taco Tuesday was a long-standing tradition Krissy had started six years ago when Ella moved back home. She hadn’t missed one since. Not even a foot of snow could stop her from getting her weekly fix.
Ella rode up to Krissy’s house and hopped off, resting her bike against the white siding. She grabbed the bag of limes out of her basket and headed to the front door.
The house was a cute cape with navy blue shutters and a red door. In a month or two the blue hydrangea bushes that sat on either side of the door would bloom. The flower beds would be filled with colorful blossoms and the window boxes would be overflowing with a variety of flowers.
While Ella loved to decorate interiors, Krissy loved to decorate the exteriors. From May to September she was in the yard with her little shovel and clippers, maintaining the most beautiful yard in Willow Cove.
Ella didn’t mind the long winters; they were quiet, and the town became theirs again, but even she was looking forward to seeing the bright colors of late spring.
She knocked, on the door and Krissy called out for her to come in. She pushed the door open and followed the smell of chili powder and ground cumin coming from the kitchen.
She admired the new picture she’d helped Krissy hang last week. Krissy had originally wanted to place it on the far wall, but Ella thought it would shine above the couch. The picture wasn’t lost to all the other pieces in the room and really stood out as an accent piece, giving the room a much needed splash of color.
“I have the limes,” Ella said, holding them up as she walked into the kitchen.
The walls were a bright yellow accented by a multi-colored tiled backsplash that included an orangey red, white, bright blue, muted yellow and mint green. The cabinets were white and the counter tops red. Somehow all the colors worked together to create a vibrant space filled with a welcoming air. The quirkiness matched Krissy’s personality and Ella couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect kitchen for her.
Krissy turned from the stove. Her chocolate brown hair that faded into caramel was pulled back into a high ponytail, her bangs sitting above round plastic framed glasses. “Then you better get started on those margaritas,” Krissy said without skipping a beat. “I’ll be done with the chicken in five.”
Ella got to work, grabbing the bright orange ceramic pitcher from the cabinet closest to the fridge and the tequila from the bar cart.
“How was seeing your dad? I never did get to ask you,” Krissy said.
Ella shrugged. “You’d think it’d get easier, but it doesn’t.”
Krissy’s hands stilled on the lettuce she was tearing apart. “That’s because he’s your dad, El. Seeing him there it has to be tough. Why do you think your brothers won’t go?”
“Because they hate him for what he did.”
Krissy shook her head. “I think it’s more than that.”
“Maybe you’re right. But it would be nice to have one of them there with me so I didn’t have to do it alone.”
“I’d like to say they’ll come around.”
“But it’s been eight years,” Ella said, finishing Krissy’s sentence. Krissy gave her a sympathetic smile and Ella darted her eyes to the bottle of tequila. She appreciated Krissy’s concern but there was a reason she didn’t talk about her dad often. It hurt too much. “Where’s Cami?” Ella asked even though Cami was always fifteen minutes late but she needed to change the subject.
Krissy went back to tearing up the lettuce. “On her way. Said she got caught up at the coffee shop.”
“She works entirely too much,” Ella said like she hadn’t stated that a million times before.
“Try telling her that,” Krissy said. “I don’t know how she does it. She’s up at four in the morning to open by five then stays till six almost every night. And on top of that she finds time to go to the gym. I hate her.”
Ella laughed. Krissy hated any type of physical activity. She preferred to use her energy to create. She even turned her hobby of making soaps and lip balms into a business.
“I don’t know why she doesn’t hire more people,” Ella said. “You did and look how much happier you are.” Krissy was happy to lessen her responsibilities in both the ice cream shop and her soap business so she could focus more on the things that mattered to her the most; the creative portion of the businesses. If she wasn’t whipping up new ice cream flavors she was experimenting with new scents.
Krissy’s hazel eyes met hers. “I’m not a control freak like her. She’d be micromanaging those poor people left and right.” “Good point. She’d probably wind up working even more hours because of it.”
“I don’t micromanage,” Cami said as she walked into the kitchen, her platinum blonde beach waves bouncing with each step.
Ella and Krissy turned to the door. “We didn’t even hear you come in,” Ella said.
“I know. What else have you two been saying about me?”
“Other than you’re a workaholic who can’t keep her nose out of everything? Nothing,” Krissy said, grabbing a potholder that was shaped like a chicken.
“Why am I friends with you two again?” Cami asked as she draped her small black designer bag over a chair.
“Because you love us,” Krissy said.
“Only God knows why.” Cami walked farther into the kitchen and looked over everything Krissy was preparing. “Did you preheat the oven for the shells?”
Krissy froze in front of the oven, giving Cami a look before opening the door to reveal the pan of shells inside. “A step ahead of you.”
“Yup, you don’t micromanage one bit,” Ella said, dipping a glass into salt to coat the rims.
Cami turned her attention to Ella. “A really cute guy stopped at the coffee shop the other day.” She started helping Krissy with the food and licked a bit of sour cream off the tip of her finger.
“New meat in Willow Cove and tourist season isn’t even in full gear yet. Maybe it’s an omen for what’s to come. So what was he like?” Krissy asked. “Or should I say how cute was he? I need details.”
Cami swung her gaze back to Ella before answering. “Beautiful blue eyes, dark blond hair, tall with a nice build.”
Ella’s eyes widened, but she quickly recovered. Lucas was currently staying in Willow Cove. Of course he’d come in contact with other people, her friends included. And how could she forget that he brought her coffee. “Oh,” Ella said, taking a sip of her margarita.
“Funny thing,” Cami said. “He ordered two coffees. One iced black and the other… a dash of half and half with a sprinkle of cinnamon.”
“Hey, that’s your drink.” Krissy said, putting down the plate of shredded chicken in the middle of the table.
“Uh huh,” Cami said. “Exact same drink. And do you want to know another funny coincidence?”
Ella took a much more generous sip of her margarita. She didn’t even think to tell Lucas to avoid The Local Bean. Of course Cami would be there, she never left, and of course she would put two and two together, it’s what she did. “What’s that?” Ella said, trying to keep her voice void of emotion.
“He asked me for directions to the beach by the lighthouse.”
Busted.
“That’s your favorite place,” Krissy said. She grabbed a taco shell and started to fill it when she froze mid salsa scoop and gasped. “Ella Moretti, you little floozy.”
“Floozy?” Cami asked. “Are we ninety?”
“It’s not like I was going to call her a slut.”
“Why not?” Cami asked.
“Because that’s rude. Whatever. We have bigger issues here. Like who is this mystery blue-eyed hottie and why have you been keeping him a secret?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ella said, reaching for a taco shell.
Cami smacked her hand, causing her to drop the shell.
“Hey!” Ella exclaimed.
“You can get the shell after you give us answers.”
Ella rolled her eyes and reclined in her seat. “Only because I’m starving and haven’t eaten a thing since breakfast. His name is Lucas.”
Cami and Krissy both cheered. Krissy rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand. “Lucas,” she said. “He sounds cute.”
“He is cute,” Cami countered. “But we know that. What we don’t know is what brings him to Willow Cove. Business?”
“Sort of,” Ella said, not sure if she was ready to admit she was going against everything her family held dear by spending time with their sworn enemy.
“Sort of?” Cami said. “What the hell does that mean?”
“He’s helping his grandfather with his business.”
“Oh, who’s his grandfather? I bet we can learn a lot about him with that little bit of information,” Krissy said. “So who is it? Frank? Mr. Olivier?”
Ella took a breath and let it out slowly. “Joe Prescott,” she said, reaching for her margarita and then the pitcher. She had a feeling she was going to need a lot more to get her through the rest of the night.
“Joe Prescott!” Krissy exclaimed.
“His grandson?” Cami added. “You do realize that your grandfathers are enemies, right? It would probably kill your grandfather if he found out you were dating a Prescott.”
“I know,” Ella said, filling her glass up. “Trust me, I know.”
“How did this even happen?” Krissy asked.
“We met on the bus when I was coming back from seeing my dad. I had no idea who he was then, and we talked the entire way back, and he shared his black jelly beans with me.”
“Your favorite,” Krissy said.
Ella nodded. “Then we texted all night and he’s just so easy to talk to and so nice.”
“But he’s a Prescott.”
Ella had been friends with Krissy and Cami since they were kids. If anyone understood the implications of such a union, it was them. But they also always had Ella’s back even when they didn’t necessarily agree with her. No matter what, they would support her if they thought it would make her happy.
And for right now, Lucas was making her very happy.
“He must be some kisser if you’re willing to risk this,” Cami said, running her lip across the rim of her glass.
“Who said anything about us kissing?” Ella asked, heat rising up her neck no matter how hard she tried to remain indifferent.
Cami raised an eyebrow and pointed her short burgundy nail at Ella, moving it in a circular motion. “Your cheeks just gave you a way. Now spill. What else have you and Mr. Blue Eyes done?”
“Nothing,” Ella said and Cami gave her an unconvinced look. “Honestly, we only kissed… But what a kiss it was.”
“Okay now I want details,” Krissy said. “But first…” She finished quickly putting a taco together, then topped off all the glasses. She took a bite and placed the taco back on the plate. “Okay I’m ready. Spill.”
Ella picked up the salsa. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” she said, the blossom of heat moving up her neck and toward her cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was from the alcohol or from the conversation. Normally she didn’t get embarrassed in front of her friends.
She’d known them since elementary school and they helped her weather the storm with her dad’s arrest and sat with her for hours when her Mom died and years later when her grandmother passed. They witnessed her horrible obsession with High School Musical and how she’d pretend that one day she would marry Zac Efron. Not to mention the bad haircut of 06’ followed by the spray tan gone wrong in 07’. They’d been with her through it all yet talking about Lucas made her blush.
Cami raised an eyebrow. “That good, huh?” she said.
“How can you tell?” Krissy asked.
“She can’t find the words. She’s all flustered and her skin is as red as that time she thought it’d be a good idea to lay out all day with nothing more than baby oil.”
“I’m not flustered,” Ella said.
“Really?” Cami asked then pointed to Ella’s plate.
Ella looked down at the mountain of salsa that was pouring from the small bowl to her taco. “Crap!” she said, turning it upright and placing it back on the table.
Krissy nodded like she just caught on. “Totally flustered.”
“All right! It was amazing, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I mean I’ve kissed guys before—”
Cami laughed. “Oh, trust us we know.”
“Hey, I haven’t kissed nearly as many as you have.”
“Not everyone can be as lucky,” Cami said with a wink. She liked to hook up with the tourists because—according to her—once the season was over so were they. There were no attachments, just a summer of fun, which was kind of what Ella had decided to do with Lucas.
“I’m taking a page from your book,” she admitted.
“Oh?” Cami said, finally digging into her taco. “Tell me more.”
“He’s from California, only here for a short time. We have this great chemistry, and I figured what the hell. Why not have some fun before he leaves?”
“Good for you,” Cami said.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Krissy asked, always the more cautious of the group. “I mean he’s Joe Prescott’s grandson. And chemistry is great, but you lead with your heart, El.”
“Not this time.”
“I just don’t want to see it get broken.”
“Honestly, you have nothing to worry about. I know what I’m doing. Besides, for so long I’ve taken care of everyone else and for once I want to do something for me. Is that so wrong?”
“Absolutely not,” Cami said. “If you want to get down and dirty with Mr. Blue Eyes then I say go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? He gives you a string of orgasms that make you forget your name? Hell, I’d jump on that for less.”
“We know you would,” Krissy deadpanned, and Cami threw a wadded-up napkin at her head.
“Thank you, I needed a napkin.” Cami wiped her fingers clean.
Ella’s phone vibrated, and she picked it up. Lucas’ name flashed on the screen and she tried to bite back a smile, but it was pointless.
How’s Taco Tuesday?
“Is that Mr. Blue Eyes?” Krissy asked.
“Maybe,” Ella said, her smile reaching new lengths. She typed back a quick reply, ignoring the two pairs of eyes staring her down.
Delicious. She put her phone down, but when Cami tried to swipe it, she scooped it back up.
“You’re no fun,” Cami said.
“He just asked how dinner was.”
“Boring,” Cami said and before Ella could react, Cami had her phone and was typing a response.
“What are you typing?” Ella asked.
“Just helping you move things along.”
“Cami…”
“Almost done.” She tapped a few more times. “There. Perfect.” She held the phone out to Ella.
In a rushed panic she opened the text chain and her eyes widened and jaw dropped.
“You didn’t.”
Cami smiled. “I did.”
“What did you write?” Krissy asked.
“You know what else was delicious… that kiss. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Cami!” Krissy exclaimed while Ella typed back feverishly.
Sorry that was my girlfriend. She hit send as fast as humanly possible. She thinks she’s funny. She added.
Her phone vibrated again, and she held her breath as she opened the message.
Does that mean you’ve been talking about me?
She was going to kill Cami.
Maybe.
I’ve been thinking about you.
Really?
Yes. Meet me tonight by the lighthouse. When you’re done with your friends, of course.
“What is he saying?” Krissy asked.
“He wants me to meet up with him tonight.”
“Then what the hell are you still doing here?” Cami asked.
“It’s Taco Tuesday. I haven’t missed a single one in six years, and I don’t plan on missing one now because of some guy.”
“A guy who leaves you speechless and apparently, from your reaction, kisses like a god. If you don’t go, I’ll go for you.”
Krissy pushed her glasses back into place. “You did say you wanted to have fun.”
Ella couldn’t argue there but even if it was fun she felt like there still needed to be a few boundaries. “I don’t want him to think I’m some sad little dog that will come running at his beck and call.”
“Then just get control of the ball, and get it back in your court,” Cami said.
“And how do you suggest I do that?”
“Easy,” Cami said, holding her hand out for the phone. Ella hesitated, and Cami laughed. “I’ll play nice. Promise.”
Ella reluctantly handed the phone over and watched with bated breath as Cami typed a response for her. She honestly felt like she was a teenager all over again, right down to her friends helping her speak.
“You know what,” Ella said, grabbing her phone back before Cami could send. “This is silly. I’m an adult. I got this.”
“You sure?” Cami asked.
“Yes.”
Ella looked down at the screen. It’s not like he was demanding she drop everything to see him. He just put it out there and even made sure to mention when she was done with her friends, so it’s not like he was trying to take her away from her tradition. He was honoring her previous plans, just asking her to extend her night.
She should probably say no. If she got home too late, Tony would question her, but he’d been working so much in his studio that most nights he’d pass out on the couch he set up in there. If she was lucky, tonight would be no different.
Twenty-six years old, and she was worried about sneaking into the house. Maybe it was time she finally moved on and got her own place then she wouldn’t have to put any of this into account. It’d been six years since her grandmother passed away. Her grandfather would never fully recover, but did he really still need Ella to take care of him?
With a deep breath she typed the response that’d been on her mind from the minute she saw his text. She took a healthy sip of her margarita and hit send.
I’ll be there.
A few seconds later her phone vibrated.
I’ll be waiting.