Friends Like These

by Carina Taylor

  “I try.” She frosted another cupcake and smoothed the icing on top.

  “What would you do if you had a golf course that was failing financially?”

  “Well, you can always cut costs. That’s obvious.” She set the cupcake plate on the island. “Or maybe they’re not thinking outside of the box. Why, just the other day, I read about a man who was a golf ball diver.”

  “A what?” I scooped a finger full of frosting into my mouth.

  “A golf ball diver. Each year, thousands of golf balls are lost on golf courses, often in the ponds. Golf ball divers dive to the bottom of the ponds and retrieve all the lost golf balls.”

  “How does picking up golf balls help with money?”

  Mom gave me the look. The one where you wonder if she’s about to disown you. “You sell them. The golf course sells used golf balls in the shops, or you can even resell them online. There’s lots of money in golf balls.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thank you, Mom.” I planted a kiss on her cheek and headed for the door.

  “You’re leaving so soon? You just got here!”

  I stopped. She was right. I hadn’t spent much time around the house since Noah, and I started dating. I took a few steps backward and snatched a cupcake. “Are you guys hanging around the house tonight? Noah’s working, so I don’t know what to do with myself.”

  “Well, no, we actually have plans. The girls have a—”

  I held up my hand. “Never mind.”

  “Dance recital.” Mom finished. “Why don’t you sit down and talk with me while you eat that cupcake? I want to know why you’re asking about money and golf courses. Is it because of your new boyfriend?”

  I sat down on the metal barstool and spent the next two hours talking about Noah with my mom while she baked enough goodies to feed the nations.

  I still couldn’t believe Alec Dunaway would leave his own grandson such a debt-ridden mess. If I ever met the man, I didn’t think I could keep my mouth shut. I probably wouldn’t even try.

  Noah was having a great attitude about it and working his hardest to bring in new members. But that wouldn’t immediately wipe away that debt. If he wanted to make a profit, he needed to get creative.

  Thank goodness he had me to help him.

  I’d made an entire list of ways for the golf course to bring in more money. Mom helped. If there were two things mom loved, it was pinching a penny and making a penny.

  Today, I would be taking care of the first thing on my list. Thanks to Mom, I knew a person could make a good living on diving for golf balls. The ponds were supposedly littered with golf balls that could be cleaned up and resold. It was like having money lying around in the water. When I first arrived at the golf course that morning, I’d asked Kent if anyone ever dived for them, and he said no. When I’d asked if he knew where Noah was, he said no. Kent had been as helpful as Tanya that morning.

  When I asked Kent if things were tight financially, he said yes, and that Noah had been complaining about it earlier in the morning.

  I peeled off my shirt and shorts then tossed them on top of my tennis shoes. I pulled the snorkel and mask from my backpack. Reaching in, I fished around until I found the laundry bag with a cinch top. I’d have to use it to hold the golf balls that I picked up.

  Someone whistled at me. I turned around to see an older man with wispy hair waving in the breeze. He grinned at me and waved with his golf club—it almost toppled him over backward. He was approaching the seventh hole and looked like he should sit down and take a break at his age.

  I reached into the bag one more time and grabbed a pair of flippers. I slipped them on my feet then rested the goggles on my head. I flopped toward the pond, readjusting my bikini straps as I went.

  Operation golf ball retrieval was a go.

  I put the snorkel in my mouth and lowered the goggles over my eyes.

  “Page, wait!”

  Noah’s golf cart screeched to a halt a few feet away. Kent sat in the passenger seat, looking smug as ever. Noah jumped from the cart and hurried toward me. “What are you doing?”

  He looked like he was fighting a grin as he took in my outfit. I’m sure if I saw myself, I’d be laughing too. It’s not every day that a person is wearing snorkel gear on a golf course.

  “I know this will sound strange—”

  “You sound like you’re in a tunnel.”

  I lifted my mask off my nose and eyes and rested it on my forehead. “I’m going diving for golf balls.”

  He looked at me, then at the pond, then at me again.

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Did you know you can resell them? If I bring up a few hundred golf balls, you could start reselling them in the clubhouse or even online. It could help solve some financial problems for you.”

  I watched as he started to scowl. He turned and pointed at Kent. “You told her about that?”

  Kent shrugged. “She wanted to help.”

  “Don’t blame Clark.”

  “Clark?” Noah asked.

  “Kent. He loves my little name for him.”

  “I heard that!” Kent yelled from the cart.

  “Back to the golf balls—I really want to help. You could wait here, and I’ll bring you back the golf balls.”

  “Absolutely not. You think Lucifer is the only cottonmouth around here? How about any gators? You could get killed.”

  His voice was getting quieter and quieter as if it scared him to yell.

  “Get in the golf cart.” He glared at me and pointed to the cart.

  I looked at Kent. He smirked at me. I’m sure I’d love nothing more than to push him out of a speeding golf cart.

  I flopped over to the driver’s seat and sat down. I gave Kent my most evil grin and rested my hands on the wheel, but then Noah was leaning into the golf cart. “Scoot over.” With a sigh, I scooted over and made some room for him. It wasn’t easy. Kent kept elbowing me in the side. There wasn’t room for three people in the front of a golf cart.

  Noah sat down, his leg brushing against mine. I was hyperaware of his presence since I was only wearing a bikini.

  “Why don’t you drive one of the golf carts with a back seat?”

  “Kent gets car sick sitting in the back.” He winked at me, and I knew I was forgiven. I didn’t want him to be mad at me. Then again, it would be ridiculous if he was mad at me, especially since I only wanted to help him. I wasn’t trying to sabotage his golf course—I was trying to save it.

  I leaned closer to Noah, smelling his cinnamon gum. I could practically see the sparks radiating between us. I think I could sprawl across Kent and feel no different from lying on an uncomfortable air mattress. I felt nothing when his arm brushed mine. Though it shouldn’t have been a huge deal, every time Noah shifted or turned the cart, his body leaned a little closer to mine, making my heart speed up a little more each time.

  Noah parked the cart and extended his hand to help me climb out of the cart—ever the gentleman.

  “Sir! Sir!”

  A middle-aged woman ran towards him. She was wearing a black button-up shirt with dark gray slacks. She wore a small black apron around her waist, and I recognized her as one of the waitresses that worked part-time.

  “Sir, we have a problem in the kitchen.” The woman spoke to him, but her eyes were on me, taking in my outfit.

  Noah sighed. “I have a feeling I know what’s going on. Kent will go with you and help. I’ll be there soon.”

  Kent and the woman headed to the clubhouse, leaving Noah and me alone.

  “What am I going to do with you, Page? Today’s stunt could have gotten you killed!”

  “It also could have helped with the finances,” I mumbled. “No sense of adventure.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “Says the woman who lives in her parents’ backyard.”

  I opened my mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove his opinions, but he cut me off.

  “Let me tell you something, if it came dow
n to finances or your life, I’d choose you every time.”

  I’d never melted into a puddle of happiness before. A puddle of embarrassment, sure. A puddle of sweat, definitely. But happiness? That was a puddle I’d gladly experience every day. It was incredibly frustrating when I still wanted to be mad at him for the comment about living in my parents’ yard.

  “What if—”

  “No more ideas. I can’t handle any more of them.”

  “What if I just—”

  He leaned a fraction of an inch closer. I loved pushing his buttons and finding out exactly how far his restraint went. I had yet to see it snap in any way. I’d seen him wrestle himself over it, but he always won—from the way he schooled his expressions to always saying the right thing. He never let himself go.

  “Coffee tonight? And you can tell me about your idea then?”

  I smiled and nodded.

  “Café du Monde?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He smiled, then headed towards the restaurant.

  The afternoon couldn’t come fast enough.

  I finished the last touches to my eyelashes just as there was a knock on my front door. I grabbed my lip stain and swiped another layer on. I didn’t want to be the girl to leave lipstick stuck to Noah’s lips at the end of the Café du Monde date. I was respectful like that—lip stain all the way.

  I walked out of my small bathroom, past my bed covered with boxes, and squeezed between easels draped with fabric. I opened the door to find Noah standing on my step.

  It’s not that I expected to find someone else there, but it didn’t take away from the effect of finding such a handsome man standing on my front step waiting for me. He wore dark wash jeans and a short-sleeve shirt; his usual Ivy League hair tussled. His woody cologne mixed nicely with the ever-present cinnamon smell that followed him.

  “You look beautiful.” He smiled, and it made it worth every painstaking eyelash I’d glued on. He looked good casual. In our whole time dating, I had never seen him wear jeans. It was a good look on him.

  While he’d dressed down for our date, I’d dressed up and put on a pale green dress along with a set of white heels. I had white, crocheted earrings and a white belt.

  “You look good. I think I like you in casual clothes. You’re more approachable.”

  He frowned. “You mean, I seemed unapproachable before?”

  I grabbed my purse and stepped out the door. I grabbed his hand before I answered him. “You were intimidating until I realized you were a big softy underneath.”

  He squeezed my hand gently as we walked down the path together. “I’ll have to practice a little harder. I’d like to think I could intimidate someone.”

  I shook my head, “You’re too nice. The only people you’re going to scare are people like me who want to go golf cart sledding.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “If I ever catch you golf cart sledding...”

  I laughed and leaned around to tap his chest. “Don’t make threats you don’t plan on carrying out.”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. He said nothing, just leaned down, and kissed me. “See, I don’t make empty threats.”

  “That threat won’t work—I like it too much.”

  He smiled down at me. “Let’s find some beignets.”

  “Sounds good to me.” We walked through the gate that led to the front yard and were greeted with the sight of Jenny and Mack climbing out of Jenny’s car. They had parked at the end of my parents’ drive, blocking off the mailbox.

  “Hey!” Jenny yelled. Did she have any other volume other than loud? Probably not. She was wearing her usual outfit of t-shirt and jean shorts. Her curly hair hung around her shoulders, and she wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup. It would have horrified my mother, but I always thought Jenny was beautiful without it. She had a forever young face. Even though she was only two years younger than me, people assumed she was still in high school.

  She hadn’t sent me a text to say she was stopping by—at least I didn’t think so. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “We were coming to steal you for a night out.”

  Usually, I loved it when Jenny stopped by to hang out. Usually Mack came with her, and we always had a blast. But I wanted Noah to myself. I wanted to spend time with him without us being at the golf course, or in the coffee shop, or hanging out with Cameron. I didn’t want to share him—no matter how much I loved spending time with Jenny.

  “We already have plans, thanks, though.”

  “Where are you guys going?”

  “Café du Monde.”

  “Perfect! We’ll follow you there!” Jenny jumped back in the car and motioned for Mack to climb in again. Mack shrugged and mouthed “sorry” to us.

  I glanced up at Noah when he opened my door for me. “How are your evasive driving skills?”

  “We’re about to find out,” he answered drily, and I climbed into the car.

  “Have you met Jenny yet?”

  “She came golfing with Mack and your aunt and uncle yesterday. She leaves an impression.”

  I lifted my hands in the air. “Preach.”

  He chuckled.

  “Actually, she’s a lot of fun—only a little different than most people are used to.”

  An hour later and we were walking down the riverfront towards Café du Monde. Somehow, Noah had managed to lose sight of Mack and Jenny. I don’t know how since he drove the speed limit—something anyone in the Boone family was incapable of.

  Unfortunately, when we walked up to Café du Monde, Mack and Jenny had already saved a table, and Jenny was standing up in the crowded space whistling for us.

  “Do you suppose there’s a chance we’re not blood-related?” I asked. Noah shook his head and guided me through the maze of tables to where they sat with three plates of beignets.

  “What took you so long?” Jenny asked when we sat down.

  “He drives like a grandpa.”

  Noah gave me a mock glare, then leaned closer to whisper, “Keep going and see where it gets you.”

  I shivered and fought a smile.

  “I can’t remember the last time I played tourist,” Mack said as he picked up a beignet. A soft breeze blew through the open-air cafe, blowing a puff of powdered sugar off the beignet and into Noah’s face. I reached up and brushed it off, thinking I’d prefer to kiss it off.

  “So... Jenny has some news.” Mack said, clearing his throat. I straightened back up, but not before I caught the twinkle in Noah’s eye.

  I turned my attention to Jenny. I’d been so focused on Noah, enjoying my time with him that I hadn’t stopped to consider that maybe Jenny needed me for something.

  “What is it, Jenny?”

  Jenny smiled nervously—very unlike Jenny—then shoved an entire beignet into her mouth—very much like Jenny.

  I flattened my hand on the table-top and looked at her expectantly. When she reached for another beignet to keep her mouth occupied, I snatched it out of her reach.

  “Spill or I’ll eat the last one.”

  She looked down at the table and mumbled something.

  I kicked her—gently—under the table. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

  She brushed the powdered sugar into a neat little pile. “Of course. But I know you’ll be mad about this.”

  “I never get mad,” I scoffed. Mack snorted, and Noah coughed.

  She finally met my eyes, and her eyes looked steely. “I’m moving to Oregon.”

  I gasped and inhaled a little powdered sugar from the beignet in my hand. It caused me to go into a coughing fit with Noah gently patting my back.

  “You okay?” He asked.

  I nodded but didn’t take my eyes off Jenny. “What are you talking about?”

  She shrugged as if moving over two thousand miles away wasn’t a big deal. “I’m going to stay with Uncle Presley there.”

  “No! Not the Oregon Boones.”

  “Yup. The Oregon B
oones.”

  “Have you gone insane?”

  “I’m going insane doing the same things over and over again. I need a change.”

  I shook my head. “I’ve never been to Oregon. How are you going to get around when you’re there?”

  She snorted, “Believe it or not, Oregon has paved roads just like Louisiana.”

  “That’s debatable. I’ve heard stories from Mom and Dad about Oregon. None of it was good.”

  Noah glanced back and forth between us.

  Mack picked up his cup of coffee and leaned back in his chair as he explained to Noah, “The Oregon Boones are a special brand of crazy. They’ve basically become a legend. They’re the threat our parents used to use to scare us kids into behaving.”

  “Why is that?” Noah asked as he took a sip from his water bottle.

  “They live in rural Oregon. I don’t know if it’s even really a town. Supposedly they have an ongoing feud with another family. There isn’t even a real bridge that crosses the creek. The Oregon Boones are the kind that drive around with shotguns across their laps. We’ve heard that it’s like taking a step back in time when you go to Boones-Dock.”

  “Boones-Dock?”

  Mack smiled, but I wasn’t finding any of this funny. “That’s the name of their little town.”

  Noah shook his head and looked amused. “Sounds interesting. You sure you want to go there, Jenny?”

  Jenny shrugged. “I guess I’ll find out for myself. It’ll be fun to see firsthand.”

  I slammed back into my chair. Stunned. Mad. Sad. Jealous. “That, wow, that’s great.”

  Jenny nodded as she folded her arms across her chest. “I can tell you’re excited about it.”

  I shook my head. “I want to be excited for you.”

  Jenny’s face softened. “I know. You can always come visit me.”

  If I was honest with myself, I wasn’t excited for her. We were supposed to go together. She didn’t even talk to me about her plans to go. She’d confided in Mack—which was horrible. Everyone confided in Mack. He was always the first to know. “I’ll probably have to bring you basic living supplies—like toilet paper and sanity.”