“Then you know how good the food is.” I should have said more than that. But I didn’t. It was best for the both of us that I keep it this way.

She nodded, but said nothing more.

I had to get out of this truck. Put some distance between our bodies. Preferably where I couldn’t smell her. Or reach over and touch her. I loved Octavia in a way of speaking. Loved the idea of “us.” We fit. The sex was hot. She wasn’t needy. It was and had been the easiest relationship I’d ever had. I’d be stupid to destroy it.

Opening my door, I got out. Inhaling the sea breeze deeply cleared my nose of Bliss’s sweet scent. I listened as she opened her door. My mother would be ashamed of me for not running around to do that. Octavia demanded that kind of thing, though Octavia didn’t really deserve it. On the other hand, well, Bliss did. Octavia would’ve waited until I came for her door, then emerged like she owned the place.

Bliss was waiting for me to stop staring at the water. I had to get my head together. Whether grandpop would agree to play along wasn’t easy to predict or know. Before he saw her, I would intervene. Debrief him, shit like that.

“Let’s go eat.” I shot her a friendly smile and started for the door of the restaurant. She fell into step beside me.

“Does your grandpop work here?” she asked. I glanced. She was looking at his truck. He’d had that truck since he moved here. Bliss had seen it before. She knew it was his and was wondering if he’d remember her.

“Yep. Never missed a day.”

She gave me a tight, nervous smile. I opened the door then stood back and let Bliss go inside first. At least my momma would be happy about that. Even if she wouldn’t approve of everything else I’d done concerning Bliss and all my secrecy. Along with not opening the truck door.

When I stepped in I saw grandpop animatedly speaking to the bartender. He’d always been happy here. That made my mother happy. Once he was dark and depressed. Grandpop made some bad mistakes but my mom forgave him. Because his mistakes had led her to my dad. That was a mushy, fairytale story I’d heard too many times. They took being in love way too far for the reality of the world around them. I’d never go in like that. Too deep. Too fucking deep. People didn’t stay together anymore. I wasn’t going to get myself burned. Octavia couldn’t burn me. She was safe. The effort was minimal.

“Pick a table. I’ll be right there.” I then beelined for my grandpop. He noticed me headed his way, a smile spreading across his face.

“Look who can’t stay away from his grandpop’s cooking.”

“Nothing beats you,” I assured him. He liked being told that even if it wasn’t the actual truth of the matter. This place was more of a bar, though the food was above average for the bar cuisine and takeout. His poboys really were good.

He stepped from behind the bar. Opened his arms to hug me. “Haven’t seen you in a couple of days. How’ve you been eating?”

“I grab something here and there. Been working on Octavia’s shit.”

He frowned at her name. Grandpop didn’t approve. Then his eyes fell on Bliss and he paused. I gave him the moment he needed.

“I’ll be damned, that one made a beauty. Glad you looked her up. Remind yourself what a good woman is.”

“I didn’t. She works for Octavia. I haven’t told her I remember her. She thinks I’ve forgotten that summer and her and I’d like to keep it that way. She’s a good employee and Octavia needs someone, so please don’t make it complicated.”

Grandpop didn’t respond. His expression told me enough. He’d thought I’d lost my marbles. “Are you shitting me right now?”

I shook my head.

“Well, hell.”

“It’s just easier if our past stays there.”

“Easier than what? Truth?” He sighed. “I’ll keep my mouth shut, but not for you, and your fancy ass fiancé. I’ll do it for that girl over there. She was sweet. Doesn’t need to get hurt. They raised money for her back when she was sick. I donated poboys to the community event. Even with insurance, which will tend to fuck you over, her hospital bills were steep. I have no idea how her parents got the hell out from under them. It’s all a goddamned roll of the dice.”

Sick? What? What bills? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The girl beat cancer. Fought and won the war. Strong girl. Town really loves her.”

“Cancer?” What the fuck did he mean she had cancer?

He nodded. “Yeah. She’s got a lot of friends in Sea Breeze. Worried the whole bunch to death.”

I looked back at Bliss. Letting his words sink in. Never had I imagined she’d lived through something like that. She was more mature, older, less naïve but I thought that all came with age. Not a brush with death. She didn’t look our way. She was intensely studying a menu.

“When did she get sick? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Happened after that summer. The one you spent with her. I figured you knew. Didn’t want to upset you by talking about the inevitable. I was going to let you bring it up if you wanted to further discuss it. You were just a kid then. I hated for you to see the ugly this world has so soon.”

Bliss looked up from her menu. She smiled and I saw a flash of sorrow in her eyes and across her brow. I’d missed it before, but there it was, hope, sorrow and something else. It was joy. Bliss was happy. Not because she hadn’t known struggle or fear, but because she’d faced them head on, and won. Shit, I was sinking in deep.

Bliss York

I READ THE menu through three times before Nate came back to the table. By then it was memorized. I could feel him looking at me. It made me nervous in a way that was both good and bad and then it all ran together. I wondered if his grandfather was reminding him about me. If he did would it change in an instant? Would my employment with Octavia end?

When Nate sat down beside me my nerves were shot from the stress and the pressure of what would come from their talk at the bar. I couldn’t look up from my memorized menu until Nate put me at ease.

“Find anything you want?” he casually asked. There was nothing in his voice to warn me that he knew or didn’t know. He seemed the same. Maybe his grandfather had forgotten who I was and what had happened. Had they simply been discussing that Octavia had hired me and the lunch was a professional courtesy?

“I think I’m going to trust you and go with the shrimp poboy.” When I told him I smiled then brought the grin up to look into his eyes with confidence.

He nodded. “Good choice. Smart move.”

I felt my smile wobble and took a quick peek at his grandfather who was watching intently. Was he seeing how I reacted to his stare? Did he know that I knew he knew that I knew . . . ugh, I was losing my mind. In my head, I recited the list of appetizers without looking at the menu. Then I checked to make sure I got them right. Not a miss. Was I going insane?

“I can’t believe you don’t come here regularly. The place is pretty popular.” Was he testing me now? Fishing for clues? Jesus, the pressure of this lunch.

“I don’t eat out much.” I wasn’t going to lie.

He didn’t appear surprised or confused by my response. He appeared his normal relaxed self. “So when was the last time you were here?”

I gave a small shrug with my shoulders. “It’s been years. It looks the same.” Just saying the words was tough. Knowing he didn’t hold those memories as close to his heart as me. Or at all.