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Chapter 56
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Seasmoke Friends Chapter 57
MattI took in her flushed cheeks and wanted to haul her against me, make her flush for entirely different reasons. Christ, she was gorgeous. And seriously. What was wrong with me? Damn it. Get a grip. "What was that all about? The numbers?"She shrugged. "How many songs they'll sing. Friday night is open mic night. The customers love it. We have quite a few talents among us. Blows off steam, too.""Jen-Jen. He's set." Rock kicked a chair over to her and cut the sound system.Which reminded me. "Jen-Jen?""Grampy's nickname for me. No one calls me Jenny but the Seasmoke crew." She glanced at Rock, then the stage. Using the chair as a step, she climbed on the bar top with the grace of a cougar and walked the length as catcalls rang out. "Y'all ready?" She laughed at the cheers. "Give it up for Deiter!"Deiter strung a couple notes on a guitar and smiled as the crowd chanted his name. After a moment, the room quieted and the guy on stage began playing.Jenny hopped down and moved the cha
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 58
JennyApril - Four Years AgoHe'd come. Again, when I'd needed him the most, Matt had come. What had started as a frustrated Skype chat about Grampy's fading memory and how he'd been wandering out of the apartment, resulted in Matt instilling a three-day weekend to drive down.After two hours in town, he'd taken charge, calling our attorney and getting papers in order while Grampy still had links to sanity. Winter's Den was now officially mine, the bills transferred to my name, and a power of attorney was in place for healthcare and financial. I had a sinking feeling we'd need to invoke that last bit soon, and my stomach knotted.When we'd first been given the diagnosis, I'd tried to have Grampy to get this stuff under wraps. But days turned into weeks, then months, and three years passed in a blink. Every tick of the clock had brought him further and further from reality. Matt had fixed the legal end of my concerns. He'd had a private chat with Grampy during a lucid chunk of time and
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 59
JennyApril - Four Years AgoHe'd come. Again, when I'd needed him the most, Matt had come. What had started as a frustrated Skype chat about Grampy's fading memory and how he'd been wandering out of the apartment, resulted in Matt instilling a three-day weekend to drive down.After two hours in town, he'd taken charge, calling our attorney and getting papers in order while Grampy still had links to sanity. Winter's Den was now officially mine, the bills transferred to my name, and a power of attorney was in place for healthcare and financial. I had a sinking feeling we'd need to invoke that last bit soon, and my stomach knotted.When we'd first been given the diagnosis, I'd tried to have Grampy to get this stuff under wraps. But days turned into weeks, then months, and three years passed in a blink. Every tick of the clock had brought him further and further from reality. Matt had fixed the legal end of my concerns. He'd had a private chat with Grampy during a lucid chunk of time and
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 60
JennyOn Friday, when Matt was busy in a meeting, I carried the items I'd bought into his office, hoping to be in and out before he came back. I was still raw from our dinner on Wednesday night and couldn't bear the thought of seeing him right now. He'd be at the bar tonight, but I'd have Rock and a hundred customers as a shield. Taking down the degree certificates he'd hung on the wall, I put up the lighthouse print frame I found instead and moved his diplomas to the shelving unit behind his desk to display. The other shelves I decorated with a piece of driftwood, a clock, a lighthouse knickknack, some Atlanta Braves gear, and Carolina Panthers stuff. A picture of him with his parents and another with the Seasmoke gang finished it off. On the table in front of the window I set out a small potted cactus-if he forgot to water it routinely, it would be fine-and a crystal bowl with mixed seashells and pinecones.Before I left, I put the invitation to my Alzheimers benefit on his desk.
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 61
MattJuly-Two Years AgoCara paced the beach under the pier in pouty strides, pure pissed off vibes shooting into the night.I watched her, determined not to give into her this time. Tomorrow, I'd be heading back home to Greensboro, and I wasn't leaving things like this between us. She was beginning to come down off her high, her hands shaking, and I braced myself for the sharp lash of her tongue.Slowly, I drew in salt-tinged air and struggled for patience. We'd been at this an hour already. "I'm willing to try if you meet me halfway."She rounded on me. "You're insane. This was a fucking hookup, nothing more.""Then why are you still here arguing with me?" My gaze wove over her too-thin frame, her short knotted black strands. "I'll tell you why. Because you want to try, too.""Bullshit," she muttered, but it was weak."Go to rehab. Get clean. Work this shit out of your body and I'll come back down to Myrtle. Or you can come up to Greensboro." I ran a hand down my face, not
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 62
MattPresentMy head was a riot of chaos. With my elbow on the table, I rubbed my fingers over my lips, pretending to listen to Amber. We were at a delightful little French bistro having dinner, and I couldn't recite back one word she'd said after hello. She wore a pair of black slacks and a pink sweater, makeup lightly applied, golden hair around her shoulders, and...nothing. She was perfect, exactly what I needed, but I felt nothing.Jenny's voice from last night drifted into my head again. Her sultry tone and the powerful punch of emotion as she'd sung. Just what, precisely, did that song mean? I'd been teetering back and forth for going on twenty-four hours, dissecting the lyrics. I could've sworn she'd meant it for Ian. It made sense, with the seven days focus and whatnot. Except...Hell. Except that one line kept tripping me up. I only exist in your eyes. Thing was, she'd never state that about Ian. From day one twelve years ago, she knew-everyone knew-that Ian belonged with
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 63
MattMy folks were with Ian's parents in Charlestown and would be driving straight home to Greensboro afterward, since there was some ugly weather headed our way starting tomorrow. For the moment, the news reports just had it listed as a storm system coming in from the Gulf, yet that could change quickly on the coast. We were out of hurricane season, but that didn't mean the risk wasn't there. Alas, my house would be my own again this weekend. My plan was to have this day with Amber, kiss her at the end, and if there was nothing, I'd call things off. Jenny had been right on that account. I was doing the same thing with Amber that I'd done with Summer. There had to be some medium between falling batshit in lust over a woman and feeling nothing at all. Attraction deep enough to satisfy and shoot toward a future without losing myself in the process. Somehow, I'd find that place and grow roots.But Jenny and I were going to clear the air. Battle it out. I couldn't keep going on like
Seasmoke Friends Chapter 64
JennyI stared at the text Matt had sent last night, and then the one from an hour ago.It didn't work out with Amber.Come over here and ride out the storm with me tonight.Sighing, I dropped my head to the back of the couch in my apartment. I hadn't answered either text yet, just like he hadn't responded to mine about the song not being about Ian. I still didn't know what to say. They'd bumped the weather forecast up to a tropical storm, and though it wasn't predicted to be serious, I'd called my employees to let them know we'd be closed. There was no sense in risking it with being this close to the beach. Storms could mutate pretty quickly. It was set to hit early this afternoon. I'd already pulled the storm shutters closed downstairs and up in my apartment. Living in Myrtle all my life had meant I was usually prepared for weather. I had two battery-powered lanterns, flashlights, candles, and bottled water. The bar had a backup generator.I wondered if Matt's place was ready.
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