“The worst part about inventory is doing the inventory,” I say to lighten the mood. Brent smiles, but worry lingers in his eyes. When I first started working at the surf shop, it took me a few weeks to open up to him. He’s a friendly guy, and he tried to reach out multiple times, to try to get me to let him in on why I was so moody. Having just broken up with Sandy, I was in no mood to share my romantic woes. But he asked enough times that I finally gave in. We walked along the boardwalk eating ice cream and talking about breakups, not that he had much experience with them. By the end of the evening we’d become friends. He has the same worried look in his eyes now that he did back then. Like he’s going to get me to talk whether I like it or not.
Brent pulls me to my feet. “Thanks for your help. I know you weren’t in the mood to do inventory for twelve hours.”
“I didn’t really mind.”
We walk up front and go through the normal closing routine of straightening up the shop, sweeping, closing out the register. As I go through the motions, I wonder what Delilah’s doing in group. Is she sitting next to Janessa, telling her what happened between us?
“How did you do with Drake?” Brent asked.
I shrug. “He’s a good instructor, but I think I need about a dozen more lessons before I’m any good. He said he’d help me as long as I want.” But I’d rather get help from Delilah.
“Any fun plans for the weekend?” Brent asks as he locks up behind us.
“No. Delilah’s going out of town, so…”
He smiles down at me. “So, it’s true, then, the rumor about you and Delilah?”
“There’s a rumor about us?” Delilah will hate that.
“Well, not like a Harborside rumor or anything. Jesse mentioned it to me. I’ve known Delilah for a long time. She’s a sweet gal.”
“Yeah. She is.” And I want my sweet girl back.
“Where you headed? Wanna grab a soda?” Brent asks.
“A soda? Wow, you’re a real party animal tonight.” I smile with the tease.
“Yeah, well, when Delilah and Wyatt’s parents were killed, it was a wakeup call.” We walk a few feet toward the pier. “You game? We can grab a drink at Brooke’s.”
Going to Brooke’s will make me think of Delilah, which will make me sad. “How about we just grab a can from the machine and sit on the beach? We’ve been in the shop all day.”
He furrows his brow. “Okay. Is today’s mood caused by trouble in paradise or just a bad mood in general?”
I shrug, but I’ve worked for Brent since I first came to Harborside, and he knows my moods too well to let me off that easily.
“Okay, so we have girlfriend problems.” He slips money into the soda machine and steps aside for me to make a selection. I press a button for Mello Yello, and he gets a Coke. We take our drinks across the boardwalk and sink down into the sand near a night volleyball game. It should probably feel weird sitting with my boss, talking about this kind of stuff, but Brent doesn’t feel like a boss. He feels like a big brother, like Wyatt, Jesse, Tristan, and Brandon. I have a lot of brothers around here, but I’d trade them all to have Delilah back by my side.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure you and Delilah will figure it out, but it’s a good reminder why I don’t do the whole girlfriend thing.” He chugs his Coke.
“I hope so, but I don’t think this is that easy.”
He nods, looking out over the water. “Want to talk about it?”
I shrug again. “Yes. No. I have no idea. How’s that for indecisive?”
“About as good as it gets, I suppose. If you weren’t into her, you wouldn’t care, right? So at least you have that part figured out.”
“Oh, I’m into her. I’m so into her I don’t want to find my way out.” I sip my soda and close my eyes as the cold liquid slips down my throat. Liquid. That’s what I feel like right now. Like I’m slipping through each minute without any idea of how to become solid again.
“Wow, that’s pretty into her. So, have you called her, tried to talk?”
“Mm-hm. She needs space.”
“Ouch.” He finishes his soda and crushes the can, then sets it beside him. “Space. That’s not a good sign. You must have done something pretty harsh.”
“Why do you assume I did something?”
The side of his mouth quirks up. “Because she’s the one asking for space.”
“Oh. Right.” We sit in silence for a while. “So, you don’t do the whole girlfriend thing because it’s too hard? That seems lonely.” Relationships are hard, but Delilah’s worth whatever it takes.