Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I am,” I replied.
“And what’s the reason for this sudden display of happiness?”
Turning in my chair to face her, I took in her narrowed gaze and laughed. “You make it sound like I’m never happy, Trish. I’m always in a good mood.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re always in a good mood, but most of the time you’re a happy guy. Still, today is different. Today, you’re more than happy.”
Chip walked up. “He hooked up with his ex-girlfriend from high school.”
I shot Chip a dirty look before focusing back on Trish. “I went on a date with Adelaide Bradley.”
A wide grin moved over her face. “I love a good second-chance romance!”
I felt my brows pull down. “A second-chance romance?”
She nodded. “Yes. The two lovers who were ripped apart for whatever tragic reason. Then they finally find their way back to each other and fall madly in love again. My favorite type of romance. Who broke up with whom?”
I stared at her, blinking a few times before I finally cleared my throat. “Um, there wasn’t any sort of tragic ending. We both mutually agreed to break up, since I was going into the Navy and she was going to college.”
It was Trish’s turn to stare. “Wait. You broke up amicably? There’s no tragic breakup scene?”
I lifted my hands. “Sorry. There isn’t one in this, um, romance.”
“Boring, isn’t he?” Chip stated as he sat down in the chair next to my desk. “We need to go over this stuff.” He had a list of ships that were due to come in that I’d be piloting through the bay and up into the port.
“So, are you and Adelaide back together?” Trish asked, clearly not ready to let this go.
Smiling, I answered, “We are officially back together.”
“Hey, how do you know Trish isn’t the gossip writer?” Chip gave her an intense once-over.
Letting out a roar of laughter, Trish said, “Please, I never leave this office. And when I do, it’s to go home, take a shower, and then binge-watch TV or read a book. I could care less who’s doing what with whom.”
I chuckled. “Good to know.”
She leaned in a bit and grinned. “But, do you have an idea who it might be? I’m dying to know who it is. They seem to have eyes everywhere.”
Chip huffed while I shook my head. “Sorry, no clue. But I’m hoping they move on from me and Adelaide soon and pick some other lucky person to write about.”
Trish and Chip both laughed before she said, “Are you kidding me? Your little love story is the most exciting thing to happen in Seaside in a while. Though I do feel like it might be a bit boring, so whoever the writer is, they should add some drama.”
“Boring?” I looked over at Chip, who gave me a shrug. “Right. Okay, let’s get to work, shall we?”
“Maybe what you need is a good fight right down on Main. Oh, like in front of her folks’ restaurant,” Trish suggested.
Chip nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe she could even slap you?”
“Slap me?”
“Totally.”
“Yes!” Trish clapped her hands. “And not a baby slap. Tell her to really pull back and make solid contact.”
I ran my hand down my face and groaned. “We are not going to have a pretend fight or anything like that. Trish, don’t you have some work you need to do?”
She snarled her lip and straightened her shoulders. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t try to help.”
I watched her walk away before I turned to Chip. “How in the hell did you know I hooked up with Adelaide?”
Without looking at me, he pulled out the local newspaper and slid it my way. I picked up the paper and read it out loud.
* * *
SEASIDE CHRONICLE
July 21, 2022
TIDE’S IN
Seasiders,
A little seagull down at the marina told me Adelaide Bradley was seen stepping onto Gannon Wilson’s fancy yacht for an outing out on the water. Word is they spent most of the day anchored out and came back after sunset, though neither of them left until the next morning.
Looks like making up isn’t hard to do with these two. Seems like our former homecoming king and queen could possibly be a couple again? We’ll have to keep our ears to the sand.
Fairwinds and following seas!
* * *
I dropped the paper into my lap and sighed.
Adelaide
I nearly crumbled the paper I held in my hand as I read it. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Who is this person and how in the hell does she know everything I do?”
“Tip line,” Sutton whispered.
Harlee leaned forward and said quietly, “Addie, keep your voice down. She or he could be in here as we speak!”
I quickly glanced around my parents’ restaurant at the crowded booths and tables. Harlee was right—the author of the gossip column could be any one of these people.