At the other end of the table, Edward mimed throwing up behind Zane’s back. I stifled my grin. Posey’s fiancé wasn’t exactly the most popular person in the Holder-Powell-Conley clan. Which was only partly to do with the fact that he seemed to always be on call. The guy was never around. And when he was—well, let’s just say that the family would have liked him even less if he'd actually spent some time with them.
“What about you, Jenny?” Posey asked. “Are you seeing anyone nice?”
Jenny blushed bright red, the way she always did when the subject of her dating—or lack thereof—came up. “Oh, no. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“She keeping you company in the spinster department, huh, Riley?” Edward asked, and I flipped him off while he laughed.
“I can’t believe you’re not dating,” Posey said, turning to me. “Riley, you’re so pretty! And fun and great at sports and all of that stuff. How do you not have a boyfriend?”
“Maybe because she spends all her free time obsessing over a TV presenter,” Andrew offered.
“Alright, that’s enough input on my love life from the Powell twins, okay?”
Andrew only shot me that cheeky grin of his. Bastard.
“I know!” Posey cried, loud enough to make David rub at his ear. “We should set you up!”
“I don’t think—” I started to protest.
“Well, I think it’s a fantastic idea!” I turned to see Libby Johnson approaching our table, a pitcher of beer in her hand. “Who needs a refill?”
“You joining us, Libbs?” Iris asked.
Libby looked around at our full table and the distinct lack of chairs. “One sec.” She disappeared into the crowd for a moment before reappearing with a chair in her hand. “Move it,” she instructed me, and I slid down a few inches to make room for her.
“Where’d you get that chair in this throng?” David asked. “You bossed someone into giving it to you, didn’t you?”
“I charmed them,” she corrected, grinning at him. I couldn’t help grinning as well—where Libby Johnson was concerned, charming and bossy went hand in hand.
Libby was the owner of her own little shop in town, the kind of place that sold a little bit of everything. Jewelry, artwork, knick-knacks for the house, the ubiquitous island fudge. In addition to selling things to islanders and tourists alike, Libby’s store hosted a weekly wine tasting—and a bi-monthly meeting of the Libbies club, a pseudo book group that meet weekly to drink and gossip. I had been a member since its inception, as were most of the female population of the island.
“So.” Libby turned to me. “I think we were about to discuss getting you a man.”
“We were not,” I told her.
“Oh, come on, Riley. It’s been ages since you were in a relationship. Who’s the last guy you were with, anyhow?”
Before I could inform her that it was none of her damn business, Jenny spoke up in a thoughtful tone. “I think it was Mike, wasn’t it, Ri?”
“Mike?” Edward cried, leaning around Zane apparently to better gape at me. “He’s half your age.”
“I’m thirty, Eddie,” I snarled. “Mike is not half my age.”
“When did you go out with Mike?” Andrew asked, frowning. I rolled my eyes. Just like him to get annoyed when he found out there might be things about me that he didn’t know. As if he shared all his conquests with me. I gave an involuntary shudder. On second thought, that was definitely a good thing.
“I didn’t go out with Mike,” I told him.
“No, she hooked up with him,” Libby said, grinning. “There wasn’t much going out involved, if I remember correctly. You mostly stayed in.” Of course that got a lot of laughs from the table.
“I’d just like to make it known that I hate all of you,” I told them.
“Oh, come on,” Libby said. “We just want to help. I’m sure between the lot of us we can find you a nice guy.”
“I do not need you to find me a nice guy,” I snapped, feeling more than a little embarrassed. What did they think I was—a charity case? Did I really seem that hopeless when it came to men?
“That’s right,” Andrew said, and I felt a rush of gratitude towards him. It was short lived. “Riley doesn’t need a guy. Dating isn’t her thing.”
Hang on a second. What was that supposed to mean?
“Of course she doesn’t need a guy,” Libby said. “But that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have one. She’s a fun, beautiful, intelligent woman. Any guy would be lucky to have her. She’s a catch.”
“Riley?” Andrew practically howled. “What would Riley do with a guy? She’d chase him away by challenging him to arm wrestle or something.”
I glared at him. “Shut up, Andrew.”
“Hey, I’m just saying—”
“No one is interested in what you’re saying,” Libby said. Then she turned to me. “He’s an idiot.”
“Oh, I’m well aware.”
“I think you’d make a great girlfriend,” Jenny said, before immediately blushing. “Not for me. I mean, for a guy. Of course. I don’t want to date you.”
“Calm down,” I muttered, reaching for my beer. “No one thinks you want to date me.”
“Oh, good,” she said, visibly relaxing. “Because I don’t.”
This was just great. My closest girl friend was falling all over herself to make it clear that she didn’t want to date me, while my best guy friend told everyone that I would make a shitty girlfriend. The rush I had been riding all evening over my performance in the game was quickly fading away.
“Hey,” Libby said, shaking my shoulder. “I mean it. You’re a catch, Riley James. We just need to find you a guy who’s worthy.”
“You think so?” I asked, daring to look up from my beer for long enough to check her expression. She looked completely genuine.
“Of course I do. And I’m going to help you find someone.”
I heard Andrew snort from his end of the table and a flash of anger shot through me. So he thought I wasn’t decent girlfriend material, huh? That was so typical of him, always thinking he knew everything about everything. Maybe I would just have to show him that he didn’t know everything about me.
I turned to Libby, about to tell her that she was welcome to set me up, when Cora appeared at our table. “Hey,” she said. “Sorry, I’m totally swamped. Who here still needs to order?”
“You need some help back there?” Zane asked.
“Yeah, Cora, bring him back,” Edward said. “He’s pretty great at whipping a kitchen staff into shape.”
“We’re just short staffed,” she said. “Jonny is out sick tonight.”
“If by out sick you mean nursing a day-long hangover,” Posey muttered.
“Need a hand?” David asked. “I could sling a couple burgers.” David could do a lot more than sling burgers. He was, hands down, the best chef on the entire island. He currently worked for Edward and Zane over at Rose’s where his food was a must try for anyone stepping foot on the island.
“Don’t be silly,” Cora said, wiping her forehead. “You don’t work here anymore, David. Besides, you’re a guest.”
“Oh, don’t give me that guest crap.” He stood. “Let me help you get some orders out.”
Cora looked to Iris. “You don’t mind?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked, pushing on her boyfriend’s arm a little. “Take him off my hands. We were about to start some juicy girl talk over here, which I can’t possibly do with him sitting next to me.”
“Girl talk, huh?” Cora asked, looking more than a little jealous. David laughed and pushed her down into his empty seat. “Take your break, Cora. I’ll go help out in the kitchen.”
“Thank you!” she called, reaching for an empty glass and filling it with beer from one of the pitchers. She took a long sip. “That’s much better. So.” She looked around the table eagerly. “What was that about girl talk?”
“We’re going to set Riley up with someone,” Libby said.
&nbs
p; Cora looked like Christmas had come early. “Really? Who?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
“Then it sounds like I came over right on time.” She pulled her order pad from her pocket and started to write. “Okay—possibilities…”
“Are you guys seriously doing this?” Andrew asked.
“Let’s see,” Cora said, ignoring him. “There’s Donovan.”
“Ooh, yeah,” Libby agreed, rubbing her hands together. “He’s cute. Total silver fox.”
Posey leaned over the table a little, lowering her voice. “Did you see him at the kayak race last week? He took off his shirt at the end. Boy is easy on the eyes.”
“This is pretty gross, you know,” Andrew said. “Talking about him like he’s a piece of meat. You know there are guys still at this table.”
“What about Caleb?” Edward asked. “He’s not so bad either.”
Andrew looked at his twin in disgust. “You’re as bad as the rest of them.”
“Oh, shut up and drink your beer,” Zane said. “This is fun.”
“You know,” I said, rubbing my chin as I thought about it. “I did always like Caleb.”
“I knew it!” Cora said, writing something on her paper. “So, who else is there?”
We all fell silent. Unfortunately, it was a pretty small island. And when you’ve known everyone for most of your life, their attraction level tended to drop off pretty steeply.
“Why don’t you tell us what you like,” Libby suggested. “You know, what’s your type?”
What was my type? I’d had a few boyfriends in high school, though nothing too serious. Since moving back home the pickings had been kind of slim. Then, of course, there was Carter, my college boyfriend. But had he been my type? Or did I go for him because it was easy? I certainly hadn't been heartbroken when we'd ended things after graduation.
I let my gaze flicker around the crowded dining room as I considered it. Over in the corner, something caught my eye. Or rather, someone. A man, looking right back at me. Smiling. The pitcher from the hotel team! He winked at me, and I felt color rise to my cheeks.
Then Andrew let out a divisive sound, drawing my attention back to the table. “What did I tell you?” he asked, and I realized that my silence had stretched on for several conspicuous moments. “Riley is totally not interested in dating.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “As a matter of fact, I was about to say that I like tall, dark-haired guys.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Really. Dark-haired guys. What dark-haired guys have you ever dated?”
“I’ve dated plenty.” I turned back to the girls. “Dark-haired and…polished. Like, someone who knows how to wear a suit.”
“Ooh, that’s good,” Cora said, scribbling. “There’s nothing better than a man in a good suit.”
“David looks good in a suit,” Iris murmured, a dreamy look on her face. Libby, Cora, and I all groaned. Before Iris came along, David had been the hottest prospect on the island. Everyone wanted to get with him. Even Jenny was looking distinctly jealous as she glared at Iris, and Jenny pretty much never noticed any guys. Or at least never talked about it if she did.
“Sorry,” Iris said quickly, but she was still grinning.
“Okay, so polished brunettes who look good in a suit,” Cora said, reading from her sheet.
“What about job preferences?” Zane asked. “Employment is very important.”
“I didn’t have a fancy job when we met,” Edward pointed out.
“You worked at Fran’s,” Zane said, as if explaining something very obvious to a child. “You came home smelling like chocolate every night. If you think your job had nothing to do with my initial attraction, you’re very mistaken.”
“Helps that his butt is so cute,” Libby offered, and Edward blew her a kiss.
“Okay, that’s my cue,” Andrew said, standing. “When we start talking about my brother’s butt, I’m out.”
“Yours is very nice too!” Libby called after him, making the rest of us cackle as Andrew walked away, a middle finger held up over his shoulder.
“Okay, what about interests?” Cora asked, returning her attention to her list.
“Um, interest in sports would be good, I guess.” I was looking over at the hotel pitcher again. He had turned back to his companions so I could stare at his profile without feeling embarrassed. Definitely good looking. He had one of those long, aristocratic looking noses and an angular jaw. I did like a guy with a well-defined jaw. One of his friends said something and he laughed. It looked like a nice laugh.
“What about Martin, from the furniture store?” Libby asked, once again pulling my attention back to the table.
Posey made a face. “Martin is way too old for her.”
“He’s cute,” Libby argued.
“He’s like fifty-five!” Posey shot back. When Libby merely shrugged Posey crossed her arms. “He’s at least twenty years older than her, Libs.”
“And he owns the only furniture store on the island where they get to fleece us excessively on shipping fees from the mainland.” She waggled her eyebrows at me. “He’s a total sugar daddy.”
Everyone laughed.
“You’re a menace, Libby, you know that, right?” I asked her.
She waved away my objections. “I’m just looking out for your financial interests.”
“Ooh,” Jenny cried, sitting up straight. “I have the best idea!”
“Who?” Libby asked eagerly.
“Andrew!”
Everyone at the table stared at her, silent.
“Andrew?” I finally asked. “As in—Andrew Powell?”
“Yes!” She looked inordinately pleased with herself. “You guys are always hanging out! You have so much in common! You should totally date!”
It was quiet for another moment before everyone burst into laughter.
“That’s a good one, Jenny,” Posey said, shaking her head. “I thought you were serious for a minute.”
Jenny looked bewildered. “But I am serious.”
“Jenny.” I tried to keep my tone gentle, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “Thank you for trying to help, seriously. But that’s just about the worst idea I ever heard.”
“Why?” She looked around the table at seven incredulous expressions. “I don’t understand why that would be such a bad idea.”
“Because they’ve been friends since first grade,” Posey told her. “Like, best friends.”
“So?”
“So—” I suppressed a shudder. “It would be almost—incestuous.”
“Yeah,” Posey agreed. “They’re basically brother and sister at this point.”
“And they fight all the time,” Edward added.
“Just like brothers and sisters,” Zane agreed.
“Plus, Andrew is totally a little man-whore,” Libby said. “Which makes him very nice to look at, but not exactly the person you’d want to start a relationship with.”
My eyes darted across the bar to where Andrew stood, inches away from a blond in skintight jeans and platform heels. I had never seen her before, which meant she was either a tourist or over from the mainland. Regardless, she was clearly well on her way to becoming familiar to Andrew. Her hand was resting on one of his arms and every time he spoke she would lean in just a bit closer, laughing. As I watched he whispered something in her ear and she nodded. They both pushed off from the bar—a moment later they were lost in the crowd, probably on their way to a more private location.
Man-whore indeed.
“He’s a good guy,” Libby told Jenny. “It just wouldn’t work between them. They would only end up screwing up their friendship.”
“And then who would she have to complain about Millie with all day at work?” Posey asked.
“Exactly,” I said. “We’re good friends, Jenny. That’s all.”
Jenny looked around at the table and I waited for her to agree. But instead her expression hardened, her arms coming up to cross
over her chest. Now that was a new look for her. Fierce Jenny Hillman—who would have thought?
“Jenny, they’re so different,” Libby said, when it was obvious she still wasn’t convinced.
“No they aren’t!” Jenny said. “They like all the same things.”
“They both like sports,” Libby admitted. “And they both like winning. But Riley is very driven. About everything, not just the Rec League or catching the most fish out with the guys. And Andrew just… isn’t.”
“I don’t care,” Jenny said firmly. “I still think it’s a good idea. Best friends get together all the time. It’s romantic.”
“Well, it’s not going to happen this time,” I told her, reaching for my beer. “Because I have zero interest in Andrew Powell. Zero. I am not attracted to him. I don’t want to date him. Not in the slightest. Okay?”
“The feeling is quite mutual,” a voice behind me said.
I spun in my chair to see Andrew standing behind me. Apparently he and the blonde hadn’t headed off for a private place after all. He was looking down at me, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Andrew—”
But then he grinned that familiar cocky grin of his. For some reason it made me feel much better. “Who’s trying to set us up this time?”
“This time?” Jenny asked.
“Oh, it happens all the time,” he assured her. “Our parents. Co-workers. Most of the people at this table, at some point over the years.”
“We all learned our lesson,” Posey explained.
“They’ve been very clear,” Libby told her.
“We’ve never had those kind of feelings for each other,” I said.
“Which is why I’m about to leave with that hot blonde from the bar.” He grinned around the table. “I was just stopping by to say goodnight.”
There was a chorus of goodbyes from around the table, except for Jenny, who continued to sit with her arms crossed, looking annoyed—and very determined.
“Oh, I know!” Cora cried. “What about Liam?”
And just like that, the suggestion of anything between Andrew and I was forgotten. I was relieved—there had been something in his face when I turned to see him standing there that I hadn’t liked. Something that looked almost like—hurt. But that was silly. Andrew wouldn’t have hurt feelings about anything that I said. He’d said the same things himself, dozens of times.
Always You: A Lilac Bay Novel (Friends with Benefits) Page 5