Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I know what I want now.” He wanted her.
“And what’s that?” Galvin leaned against the counter again. This time, without her handy pad of paper and trusty pen.
Was she flirting with Sail?
He thought she was.
The urge to clear his throat was there, but he ignored it. “I’ll take the club sandwich with no tomato, please.”
“Would you like fries or tots?”
“Tots?” As soon as he said tots, he wished he hadn’t.
Galvin held her thumb and index finger about an inch and a half apart. “Cylinder shaped, deep-fried potato.”
Sail deserved this. He nodded. “Yes, tots. Not sure why I forgot what they were.” He winked, hoping to show her he was joking with her. “I’ll take tots.”
“What kind of dipping sauce would you like?”
When did the diner start serving tots and dipping sauce? What happened to just regular fries and ketchup? And the occasional person asking for ranch dressing? What else had his parents changed?
Sail didn’t want to look like an idiot. At least not a bigger one. “What’s your favorite?”
“I love the lemon garlic aioli.”
“Me too,” he lied.
Galvin turned away from him and went to the prep table, wrote out his ticket and set it on the board. Her recent order was up, and Sail watched her every move as she put the right condiments on each plate. He forced himself to not follow her out of fear she’d see him staring and find him creepy.
He chanced a look through the pass-through window and wondered if he still knew the cook. Chances were, he did. Unless people moved away, most of the Carter’s employees stuck around. The door opened. Sail held his breath, looked, and groaned.
“What are you doing here?” Penny asked as she came toward him.
“Hi to you, too.”
Penny held her wrist up and pointed to her watch. “Long weekend already?”
“Something like that,” Sail muttered as he picked up his straw and started peeling the paper back.
“Did you tell Jack and Pearl you were coming up?”
“Nah, I thought I’d surprise them.”
Penny huffed. “Great surprise. They’re not even in town.”
On the inside, Sail rejoiced. He had more time to figure things out before Jack laid down the law.
“Where are they?”
“New York. They went to meet Caroline’s parents.”
“Who?”
Penny rolled her eyes. “It’s like you don’t talk to your brother.”
He had three. Penny needed to be more specific.
Sail shook his head slightly. “Which brother?”
Penny sighed heavily and adjusted her shoulder bag. “Dune,” she said, as if exasperated by Sail already. “Caroline is Dune’s girlfriend?”
Now that she mentioned it, he faintly remembered Dune saying something about a girlfriend. Sail hadn’t paid much mind to it though, because Dune had a thing for tourists and usually bailed at the end of the season.
“This one stuck around?”
Penny nodded. “He’s in love.” She let out a dreamy sigh. “Dune converted the courtyard to a nightclub for her.”
Sail turned and looked toward the back door, which led to an outside seating area. “And my parents let this happen?”
“We do a hell of a weekend business now. Although, with the season being over and Caroline living in New York, I’m sure Jack will close it for the winter.”
Sail shook his head. “I’m so confused.”
Penny smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Sorry, kiddo. Tidal and Crew are home alone, so it’s probably good you’re here to keep them out of trouble.”
“I don’t know about that,” he mumbled as she walked toward the back.
Sail sought Galvin again and stared while his mind processed what Penny had said. He had a slight reprieve before he had to come clean to his father. He wouldn’t tell his parents he was home unless he specifically asked. Sail also couldn’t ask Penny to not say anything, otherwise there could be some suspicion. He’d play it cool as long as possible.
In his musing, he missed a chance to watch Galvin as she walked by. He jerked when his plate slid in front of him. “Can I get you anything else?”
Sail looked up and caught her gaze. “Your number?”
Galvin laughed. “Let me know when you’re ready to check out.” She walked to the back, leaving him there with his mouth hanging open. No one had ever rejected him before.
galvin
. . .
When the clock struck ten, Galvin slid her timecard through the slot and waited only seconds for the automated machine to print across the card. She put it back in the slot along with the other cards and began untying her apron as she headed toward the back door. Having clocked in at six in the morning, she jumped at the opportunity to pick up another shift, even though she was exhausted. The tips in her pocket proved the ache in her back and feet had been worth it.
Before she could leave, Rocky, the head cook, called her name. Galvin went over to him, feeling exhausted. He handed her a takeout container.