“What? With who? I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
“It’s just a date. Ray. He comes in to the restaurant for lunch. Used to be in the military. He orders a turkey club and an iced coffee.”
Didn’t ring a bell. “I don’t know which one he is.”
“I’ll introduce him to you next time he comes in. He’s hot. I didn’t tell you yet because it just happened today. Calm down.”
“What are you guys doing?”
“We’re meeting up with Taryn and Matthew and heading to Commercial Street, then who knows?”
Of course Taryn was going. I’d been replaced. I hugged a pillow to my chest and tried desperately not to feel left out.
“With Matthew from the restaurant?” That was an odd couple. Matthew was here for the summer from somewhere down south. If my mom could fire someone for being her complete opposite, he wouldn’t have a job. They regularly had it out over politics and religion. I was pretty sure he was old enough to drink, making him a few years older than Taryn.
“Yeah, him. I know, I don’t get it, either. We were going to invite you before you got yourself placed on house arrest.” Keisha laughed as she sent a skirt skidding towards the closet. “Anyways, it sounds like you already had a date today.”
“It wasn’t a date. He was bored, we both had the day off, so he brought me surfing.”
“Um, I had the same day off as Tristan earlier this week and his fine ass didn’t take me anywhere.”
“Maybe he didn’t know.”
“Maybe he didn’t care. He likes you, Callie.”
My heart caught in my chest. “I don’t know about that. He’s always giving me a hard time, and —”
Keisha cut me off. “And he doesn’t pay attention to anyone else at the restaurant. Just you. He doesn’t come see me on his day off. Just you. Believe me when I tell you, he likes you.”
I thought back over the last couple of weeks as Keisha put on jewelry to finish her outfit.
“Don’t overthink it.” She came over to where I was sitting on my bed and kissed my forehead on the way out. I looked up at her, puzzled, because that wasn’t like her at all. “Sweet dreams, dollface. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Chapter Six
My mother was positively giddy as she gathered us all for a morning meeting. I couldn’t ever remember seeing her like this.
“Everyone, I have an announcement to make.” She mashed her hands together in excitement as she added a dramatic pause. Whatever it was, she’d even managed to keep it a secret from me. “The Magnolia Café has been hired to cater the fundraising event for President Obama next month!”
Applause erupted in the circle. As it died back down to quiet and we waited for her to continue, you could tell certain people had questions.
“We’ll be doing hors d’oveurs, similar to what we do for an upscale wedding. The menu has yet to be finalized. There will be extra hours available, and I will put a signup sheet for volunteers. But you can all expect extra work that week. Anyone have any questions?”
Taryn raised her hand before my mother even finished talking. “Are we going to be expected to, like, serve at this party? Because it’s at my aunt’s house so we, I mean Tristan and I, are technically hosting.”
“No, Taryn, you aren’t expected to be waitstaff at your aunt’s party. I’ll be hiring the wedding crew for this event.” My mother clarified, looking a little annoyed. “Anyone else?”
“Are we expected to have to support this socialist?” Matt asked without raising his hand. “You know, you can’t force your political beliefs down our throats, Cheryl.”
A few gasps escaped from the staff as my mother’s face turned red. “Matthew, that was uncalled for. We would be enthusiastic about any large scale party that we were hired for, no matter what the affiliation was. But if you’re going to voice your opinion about politics, you should really be better informed.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do, share information.”
It was getting uncomfortable, quickly. “Matt. Cheryl. Seriously, this isn’t the time. This is about stuffed mushrooms and shrimp cocktail. No need for arguing.” Tristan interjected. Matt glared at him, my mother looked slightly triumphant. I wasn’t sure why. No one ever wound up looking good in her political debates. She embarrassed me every time she launched into one.
“If anyone has any other questions, you can address me one on one. We’ve got a busy day again. Everyone has their assignments?” We nodded as we scattered.
I got the breakfast station. Tristan had ousted me from the barista station. He had almost all the women on the island under his spell, many of which were coming in for second and third cups. It didn’t matter if they were old enough to be his mother, they still batted their eyelashes and giggled as they chatted with him. If it wasn’t so good for business, it would have been pathetic. He played right in to it, remembering their names and orders, teasing them, giving them just a little extra, always smiling.
That morning, two blonde girls lingered in the café. They were bursting out of bikini tops and their butts were hanging out of their cut off shorts. They’d developed quite a coffee addiction this summer. I had tried to wait on them one day, but they assured me no one made coffee like Tristan did. It took everything I had not to throw the hot liquid in their over made up faces.
“So Tristan, me and Becky are having a big party tonight.” One of them announced, chewing on a fingernail.
“Oh yeah?” He looked up at them as he drizzled syrup in their to go cups.
“Yeah. We have the beach house to ourselves for a couple of days. We’re having some people over. There’s going to be a band, and a keg. You should totally come.”
“Sounds cool.”
I sliced tomatoes as I listened to this exchange, my knife strokes reflecting my thoughts on what I heard. The knife broke through the tomato with aggression, and I almost took my finger off with it.
“See you tonight, Tristan!” The girls called from the door as they left.
Placing the knife down on the cutting board, I closed my eyes to catch my breath. My skin tingled with jealousy.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Shannon as I headed back to the kitchen to gather my thoughts.
Leaning up against the tile wall, I looked up at the ceiling and tried to get my brain to think of anything else but Tristan going to that awful party at with those horrible girls. It sounded like a recipe for disaster.
“You really shouldn’t let him get under your skin,” Matt stopped frosting cupcakes to put in his two cents.
“What are you talking about?” I glared at him, embarrassed to be caught sulking.
“Tristan. You get mad every time some girl comes in and flirts with him, which is all the time.”
“I do not.”
“You do.” Matt was back to finishing the cupcakes. “He’s not worth it, Callie. He’s an ass.”
Being back here wasn’t making anything better. “You don’t seem to think that about his sister.”
“Just because they’re twins doesn’t make them the same person. He’s an ass. She’s got a nice one. Simple as that.”
I rolled my eyes. There was no use arguing with him.
“Mom, I’m going on a fifteen.” I called into the office as I grabbed a cupcake off of Matt’s workstation and headed to the picnic table outside. He might be a jerk, but he made a mean cupcake.
The sugar and fresh air made me feel better. I wiped any crumbs off the front of my shirt and took a deep breath as I headed back to the sandwich station to relieve Shannon. Things had quieted down a bit as breakfast ended and lunch hadn’t quite began. Tristan cleaned around the espresso machine. I continued slicing vegetables for the lunch rush without saying a word to anyone.
Someone tugged on my braid. I looked behind me and saw Tristan smiling at me.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” I returned with slightly less enthusiasm.
“We hanging out later
?”
My heart leapt in my chest, but I was confused. “I thought you were going to that party.”
Now he looked confused. “No.”
“Didn’t you tell those girls you were going? They’re expecting you.”
“I said it sounded cool. I never said I was going.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“What do you want to do?”
I shrugged. I still had conflicting emotions bouncing around in my head, I couldn’t possibly come up with awesome plans right off the cuff at that moment.
“We can see what the girls are up to. Nothing big, since we all have to be up bright and early, as usual.”
“Sounds good.” At first I wasn’t thrilled about having other people coming along, but then I realized that including Keisha was probably the only way I was going to get past my mother tonight. She still wasn’t happy about my surfing lesson. I didn’t know what they’d come up with, I didn’t really care. I was just over the moon that somehow me, of all people, had a one up on the party bimbos.
Chapter Seven
Tristan and the girls decided to go see my dad’s band that night. I couldn’t have been more thrilled. There was no way my mom could disapprove of these plans, since there would be family everywhere. And I loved going to see my dad play.
Keisha suggested we sneak in quick naps before dinner. As we restarted our day, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Tonight was different. This was like an actual date. Keisha had invited Ray along, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Taryn brought Matt.
“What are you wearing?” I asked Keisha as she approached our overflowing closet. Since she was only here in the summer, we shared the space.
“Not sure yet, but probably my teal sundress,” she said as she flipped through her options. “What about you?”
“I don’t know, what do you think?” I needed her help, desperately. All Tristan had ever seen me in was my work uniform and bathing suit. That was all I wore in the summer. Neither would do tonight. I had no idea what to wear on a night out with the son of a movie star. I’d never felt so intimidated trying to get dressed.
“Hmmm.” She flipped through my side of the closet like she expected to see something that just wasn’t there. “I don’t know, Cal, do you want to borrow something of mine?”
“That won’t work. You’re like eight inches taller than me. And you actually have a butt.”
Keisha was back to her side of the closet. “What about this one? It’s only fitted at the top, and it’s short, so it should work.” She held up a white sundress with a yellow and orange flower pattern on it for my approval.
I took the hanger from her and pulled the dress up over my hips. Abandoning my pajama top, I shimmied the dress all the way up. I evaluated the situation in the mirror while I held my hair up so Keisha could fasten the tie behind my neck.
It was cute, and no one would guess it wasn’t my dress. I didn’t think it made me look like I was trying too hard. I slid my feet into my flip flops and turned back to the mirror.
“What about my hair?” I pulled on it, still looking in the mirror.
“You’re whining.”
“I am not.”
“You are. Are you nervous?”
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
“You shouldn’t be. Come sit down, I’ll fix your hair.” Keisha patted the bed and I sat down in front of her. She started some elaborate twisting at my hairline. “Why are you nervous? You’ve been out with us all before.”
“Because tonight seems different. It’s like a real--”
“Date.” I could hear the satisfaction in her voice.
“Yeah. Plus, Dad hasn’t met Tristan yet. I’m sure he’s heard an earful from Mom, which can’t be good.”
“Just introduce him like any other friend.” Keisha seemed to have this all figured out.
“But is he? You said the other day it was a date. I just don’t know.”
“Have you kissed him?”
“No.” I said sheepishly, tracing the flower pattern in my dress. I guess I was making too much out of this.
Keisha pulled my head back into the position she needed it to be in to work properly. “Not yet. Listen, Callie, just be yourself. It’s working for you so far. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.”
“Let me know what you think of your hair.”
Keisha had twisted the front of my hair back, collecting at the crown, and left the rest free. It complimented the dress well and again didn’t look like I was trying too hard.
“I love it.” I went back to the bed and hugged her. “Thank you.”
Thankfully, my mother was staying home that evening. I wasn’t sure if she knew exactly who was going tonight, and I wasn’t about to bring her up to speed on the details. She seemed satisfied that Keisha and I were going to see Dad, and it wasn’t my style to upset her on purpose. I did enough of it by accident.
We met up with the twins in their aunt’s driveway. The girls’ dates were meeting us at the tavern, so it was just the four of us.
“You look great,” Tristan greeted, taking my hands in his and accessing my outfit. I blushed but tried to take the compliment gracefully. He was wearing khaki cargo shorts and a black and white plaid button down shirt. Taryn wore a bright pink one strapped tank top, jeans, and impossibly high heels.
“I love your hair.” He added.
“Thanks. Keisha did it for me.”
The girls had already climbed in the backseat, so I had no choice but to ride shotgun.
Keisha commandeered the lively conversation on the short trip into town. She told us all about Ray and their night out earlier in the week. He sounded like a really funny guy who had traveled a lot for work.
I didn’t understand why it was acceptable for Keisha to date someone who was so much older than her. I wasn’t sure how old he was, but to have done that much military work, he sounded like he was well into his twenties. Maybe she was just better at not getting caught than I was.
Tristan took my hand as we walked across the gravel parking lot. My arm absorbed the electricity I felt from the warmth of his hand in mine. I smiled at him and headed to the tavern. Taryn wobbled on her heels and dramatically clung to Keisha as the two of them dissolved into a fit of giggles.
“I don’t know why she insists on wearing shoes like that around here.” Tristan mumbled under his breath so only I could hear him as we passed them.
As we rounded the corner to enter the restaurant, I pulled away from Tristan. I didn’t look back at him to give him any explanation. I didn’t know how my dad would react to me walking in hand in hand with some guy he hadn’t met. My gut feeling was he wouldn’t like it very much.
Dad reserved a big round table for us near the stage with a circular booth. The band sound checked as we entered. I stopped at the door for a moment to let Keisha and Taryn catch up with us before I approached him. When the band was done with the song, I headed over to the stage area. It was really just a part of the dining room floor sectioned off with amplifiers, microphone stands, and instruments. The other three trailed behind me.
“Hey, Daddy.” I hardly had the words out before he wrapped me in a hug.
“Hey, Sweetheart,” he responded, giving me a kiss on the forehead.
“Have you met the twins yet?”
“Just Taryn,” he nodded to her.
“This is Tristan,” I stepped out of the way so they could get acquainted. My dad took Tristan’s hand, pumped it once to shake it, but didn’t let go right away. The tension thickened the air. I held my breath.
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Tristan took it in stride. I’m sure my overprotective dad wasn’t the first one he’d ever come in contact with.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Dad responded, looking Tristan straight in the eye. Knowing the source, I cringed. This needed to stop.
“We’re all going to sit down, Daddy. Have a good show.” I ushered everyone over to our table.
Tr
istan and I scooted into the middle and the girls flanked us on either side. Ray arrived first. He was Keisha’s perfect man: tall and muscular, military short hair, and his body accentuated by his tight black T shirt and black dress pants. He ordered a drink and starting talking right away, needing no time to settle. He was just as funny in person as he was in Keisha’s stories.
Matthew slid into the booth next to Taryn shortly afterwards with much less fanfare. He looked even more shabby than usual now that Taryn was all dolled up for the night. He didn’t say much to anyone but to her. I don’t know if he bothered me because he was such a thorn in my mother’s side or if it was something else, but I just didn’t like him.
“Your dad seems cool,” Tristan turned to me in a lull in the conversation. I guess he wasn’t fazed by my dad’s stare down. Ray had just finished telling us a story about some of the outrageous prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
“Thanks. He is really cool.”
“What kind of stuff does the band play?
“What do you mean?”
“Originals? Covers?”
“Oh. Covers. They do Stevie Ray Vaughn, Allman Brothers, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Black Crowes.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah. They’re good.”
“You know, I play a little guitar.” Tristan looked down at his drink.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, I’m not very good though.”
“I’m sure you are.” I found it hard to believe there was something Tristan wasn’t good at.
“Eh. Maybe I’ll play for you sometime.”
“I’d like that.” I was still looking at Tristan as I picked up my soda and took a sip. I almost spit it out all over the table. Tristan laughed at my alarmed expression as I swallowed the burning liquid. I probably just ingested poison and he thought it was funny.
“There’s something wrong with my drink!”
“No there isn’t.” Tristan was still grinning.
“Yes there is. Taste it.” I pushed it towards him. It couldn’t have been a tempting offer, but it was better than him thinking I was crazy.
“I know what it tastes like, Callie. I thought your soda could use a little spicing up.”
Seasons in the Sun Page 3