By The Sea (2 page)

“Hi, I’m Megan. I’ll be your server tonight.” I handed over the leather-bound menu and gave her a big smile. Not like it mattered, with Mason standing behind me. Of course, her gaze was focused on him.

“Well, if you’d like a second to look over the menu, I’ll start you off with a drink?” I asked, trying to get her attention.

“Water, please,” she said, still not bothering to look my way. Lovely. It was going to be one of those days. I kept my temper down and gave her a sugary smile as I turned on my heel and returned to the kitchen to grab her drink.

“Are they always rude like that?” Mason whispered the second we entered the back of house.

A grin tugged on my lips and the nervousness I felt around him lessened. “Depends on the day.”

***

The shift ended faster than anticipated. Working with Mason had made the time fly by. He’d switch between tailing me or Gina as he picked up the ropes, and by the end he was helping his own customers. Once I’d banished all the weirdness about how similar he looked to my made-up friend, I was finally able to enjoy his company.

I handed him an envelope. “Your tips, monsieur.”

He scratched the back of his head, making no move to take the money. “But I was just following you guys most of the night. I didn’t earn this.”

“You did. So take your pay and stop complaining.” I reached over and slipped the envelope into his pocket.

Gina stepped between us, directly in front of me. Her or Terry, I wasn’t sure who was worse. “If you’d like, I’ll give you some extra pointers on working here. You can come over my place.”

“Where’s my invite?” I asked, batting my lashes. Gina shot me daggers. If I hadn’t seen this song and dance before with every new guy, I might have been intimidated.

“I appreciate it,” he said, grabbing his kelly-green hoodie from the hook. “But I’ve got to head home. I have stuff to take care of.”

“Your loss.” Gina winked at him. “I provide very good company.” Well, that was direct. I grabbed my purse out of the cubby and snuck a glance his way, curious to his response.

“I’m sure.” He grinned and never lost his air of flippancy, but the firm note in his voice implied he wasn’t going to jump into bed with her. I raised an eyebrow. Respect.

Gina slid her purse over her shoulder as he walked out the door.

“You’ll get him next time, girlie.” I patted her shoulder.

“Not the only fish in the sea.” She shrugged.

I laughed and stepped outside, eager to drink in the scent of the midnight tide rolling to shore and the crisp wind it carried.

Up ahead, Mason strolled along the boardwalk. With his height and broad shoulders, he wasn’t the best at blending into the background. I shivered, goose bumps rolling up my arms with the fresh gust of wind. Was he heading the same way as me? I considered calling to him, but after watching the way he’d brushed Gina off and with how much I’d already embarrassed myself around him—I thought better of it.

He stopped and made a sudden turn. Not left, to head toward the shops and streets, but right, where the wooden planks led to the docks. I jammed my hands in my pockets, trying to stay warm. He’d said he had to get something done, but what was he doing down there at this time of night? Mason continued out to the docks while I kept walking past his turnoff.

I shook my head and made my way toward the Dusty Rose. Not my business what he did on his time off, even if his features did haunt me like a ghost from my past.

I loved the days when I only had one job. Today I’d had off from Bobby’s, so I only had to worry about my short night shift at the Safe House. The morning passed too fast in the company of the sci-fi classic
Ender’s Game
and a cup of chai tea. Once afternoon hit, I started getting ready for work.

My heart skipped a beat as I pulled my hair into a ponytail, considering whether I should do my makeup or not. I decided to go for it, applying a light layer of lavender eye shadow and some subtle kohl eyeliner. Not that it had anything to do with the gorgeous new guy. Who knew whether Mason would be working tonight anyway? After all, he’d appeared out of nowhere. I had to be sensible. After pulling on a red miniskirt and tight tee, I bustled around, picking up the crumpled papers on my floor and lining up the bills due tomorrow.

My fingers touched my conch shell. He’d noticed it. God, I was going nuts. Whenever I got those weird ideas about my old waterside friend or anything abnormal, it reminded me of my time with the therapist in high school. I wouldn’t head down that path again.

Grabbing my purse, I paused with my hand on the doorknob. Loneliness washed over me like it sometimes did in an overwhelming rush. I didn’t let it bog me down or anything, but sometimes I wished I had someone to bid good-bye when I left for work. Someone to return home to—even a cat or dog. I heaved a sigh and locked up. At least I had my jobs to keep me plenty busy.

By the time I got to the Safe House, day was lapsing into night. The dull lights were on, illuminating the chipped lettering of our sign. I swung around to the employee entrance.

Jenna leaned against the wall, puffing away at her cigarette. I waved, the slight jitters seeping away until I rounded the corner and realized someone else stood there, too. A tall, well-muscled someone who made me flush like a teenager. Mason.

He looked up and, once those ash blue eyes fixed on me, he burst into a radiant smile that lit his whole face. Yep, wasn’t getting out of this one sans-blush. I tucked a couple strands of hair behind my ear and looked down at my feet.

“Hey guys, how’s it going?” I grabbed for the door.

“You’re always so early,” Jenna complained. “It makes the rest of us look bad.”

“Sorry, sorry. Next time I’ll make sure to show up late.” I tried to slip in without having to babble at Mason more. Even though I’d gotten used to him the other night, every time I saw him fresh, I could only see Niall.

“Wait.” His hand brushed against mine as he grabbed the door. “I’m heading in, too.”

Lovely. So I’d have to push through this awkward embarrassment. “You feel up to handling your own tables tonight?” I asked, trying to distract myself from his scent, intoxicating like the sea.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up with you and Jenna.” He shrugged and strode past her. I shook my head. This guy was not Niall. The boy I’d played with was a figment of my imagination. As Doctor Harrison had called it: a delusion of a lonely child.

“Flirt with the old ladies and you’ll be fine,” I muttered, shoving my stuff into the cubby.

He hung his green hoodie on the hooks right beside me. “Is that how you get by?”

“Doesn’t work on the old ladies for me, but the old men on the other hand?” I paused and glanced at my nails. “Yeah, doesn’t work on them either.”

That elicited a laugh from him, a rich sound that brought a blush to my cheeks. Time to stop acting like a moron and do my job. I wandered over to the host stand to scope out our diners before the early rush.

Jerome and his wife were already seated at a booth even though our open hours hadn’t begun yet. The slick layers of gel in Jerome’s hair distracted me from the extra wide smile he was throwing my way. His wife, disinterested in their excursion, stared down at the menu, her lips pinched into a frown. Without another glance to Mason, I headed over to get their drinks and appetizer orders.

After a couple rounds to check on my customers, our place had managed a sizeable crowd for a weeknight, about twelve or so tables full. Jenna rushed through, cigarette smoke clinging to her like a cloud of gloom. Not that the girl didn’t have her good side, but the reason she got crap tips was because, on top of her perpetual sour frown, the lack of a filter when she talked to customers tended to offend.

Mason, on the other hand, stepped up to a booth with Geneva Rhodes and her four children, charming the pants off them in a matter of seconds. In fact, I caught Geneva staring after him multiple times when he made his passes and by the way she licked her lips, her thoughts weren’t parading through innocent territory. After he waited on a couple of other groups where the women stared him down with the same predatory gaze, I began to worry he’d taken my advice too well.

I swung by the bar to get another Guinness for old man Casey, who’d brought his pipe and paper for company.

Mason sidled up beside me. “So, working here you pretty much see most of the people in this town, right?”

“Since we’re a small-fry coastal town, yeah. Why do you ask?” I thanked Janice as she passed me the beer. “You looking for someone?”

“Kind of like that.” He slipped away as fast as he’d approached. And the mysteries continued. Why was he here and who was he looking for?

I brought the Guinness over to Mr. Casey and hopped back to Jerome and his wife. Mason appeared at the next table over, helping Geneva and the kids.

“How long have you lived here?” Mason asked her. I tuned in out of curiosity, only half paying attention to Jerome’s attempts at flirting while he ignored his wife. “Any good antique shops? I’m looking to furnish my new place.”

Geneva began babbling about Crystal Antiques around the corner and I checked out of their conversation. “Let me go put in that order, Jerome.” I gave him a polite smile and darted to the kitchen. Mason seemed to be in competition because, seconds later, he was right by my side.

“Does that guy always flirt with you in front of his wife like that?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I guess so. Comes with the territory of waitressing. I’m sure you’ve already noticed the women batting their eyes at you here. Not like you can tell off every person who makes you uncomfortable. We’d be ripe out of customers.”

He grabbed the plate of fried flounder for his table, but glanced my way. “Doesn’t seem right.”

I pursed my lips and ignored him, trying not to let the accusation in his voice bother me. Who was he to judge? He’d see in a matter of days that if he wanted to stay working here, he’d have to be polite as anything. If he threw a hissy fit anytime someone acted morally ambiguous, he’d be out of a job in no time. Or was he accusing me of flirting back? Maybe he was another of those moronic guys who interpreted politeness as interest?

By the end of my shift, one thing was clear. Mason had gotten under my skin. Even though I normally left most people’s business to themselves, his presence ticked in my mind, adding new questions every couple minutes. If I didn’t get some answers soon, I was heading close to the old dangerous territory of reading too much into things that didn’t exist.

Again, another woman asked for his company after work—this time our regular, Linda, with the perfect blonde curls and flawless tan. Again, he gave her the same dismissal. Was he repeating his trip to the docks tonight? Jenna smoked her cigarette out behind the building while Mason and I retrieved our things. I leaned against the brick wall in the back next to Jenna, waiting for Mason to leave first. This time I’d find out where he was going.

“Why’re you acting so weird around him?” Jenna asked, right as I was about to head out. “You’re usually comfortable around everyone and, unlike Gina and Terry, you don’t get wrapped up in guys.”

Of course, Jenna would drill me with hard-hitting questions and all. “He reminds me of someone I used to know. It weirds me out.”

“Mm.” Jenna let out an exhale of smoke that poured through the alley. “Well don’t act stupid about it. He’ll just notice more.”

She was trying to help in her own way. I saluted. “Message loud and received. I’ll see you around, Jenna.” Not waiting another second, I hurried off, hoping Mason hadn’t gotten too far.

I stalked down the boardwalk but even under the full moon that illuminated everything with a pearly light, I couldn’t spot a tall man with broad shoulders. This time of night in a small town like this, no one roamed the roads. I tugged on the strap of my purse and let out a sigh. My curiosity would have to wait for yet another time. Frustration welled inside me, like getting to the end of the chapter to find out you didn’t have the time to start the next one. I paused when I reached the turn he made to the docks yesterday. Maybe he’d left some hint of what he’d been up to.

The boards were old but, salt-soaked as they were, didn’t creak much. Still, I took to the docks with careful steps, not wanting to draw attention. The ocean was a black beast, but crests of waves glistened like shards of quartz and beckoned to me. I hadn’t gone night swimming in some time now. Once in a while, I’d dip in for a small swim by myself, but not with the regularity I’d done when I was young and had someone by my side.

I sat at the edge and stared out at the wide expanse. The small lighthouse cast its rays out, reaching like a pale imitation of the moon, with no boats approaching in the distance. What was I doing trailing this poor guy? A surge of guilt flooded me. My therapist had been right—I had delusions and let them get the best of me. Hence why, even if the loneliness made my chest ache at night, I’d be alone the rest of my life. Someone with a messed up mind like mine couldn’t handle a relationship.

Undulating waves beckoned to me the same way they always did, an irresistible lure I fell for every time. I kicked off my flats and dropped my bag onto the dock; my tight tee and my crimson miniskirt wouldn’t weigh me down much. A small swim couldn’t hurt. I eyed the brine below before jumping in.

The water rushed around me like a protective cocoon, ice cold like I’d expected. I kicked out, reveling in the swirl of bubbles and spray of the monstrous, all-encompassing ocean. All the questions adding up in my mind disappeared as I fell into the blissful rhythm of the sea. I kicked forward, throwing my arm overhead and swimming around the dock. Kelp flowed past my ankle, every sensation familiar.

The water shifted near me, a strong sweep of current. My heart tightened as I felt the difference in the pressure. Something or someone swam beside me.

I aimed for the dock. Sudden thrashing wouldn’t help me and might only draw predators in faster. I kept my movements as steady as possible even though my heart pounded a thousand beats per minute. If it were a striped bass or anything regular, it would’ve left my side by now. Based on the size, it was large, larger than me. Which left minimal options. A dolphin might get aggressive, but would be nowhere near as bad as if a shark had caught my scent.