With A Twist(69)

“Oh yeah?” I ask skeptically, because the real reason I’m here is because Hunter actually has some experience with this concept. “You chose to give up your surfing career so you could stay here with Gabby.”

“That’s true enough. But I didn’t give up my career to stay here with Gabby because I was afraid the long-distance thing wouldn’t work. I know it would have worked, because when you love someone, you simply find a way to make it work.”

“So then why give up the career? If you’re so sure it would have worked,” I ask, and this is a really important question, so I listen raptly for his answer.

“Because I just didn’t want to deal with the hurt of being away from her. And besides… I was ready to give up my career. I had already retired if you’ll remember and came back home to open up Last Call. I had already walked away from surfing before I fell in love with Gabby. I just chose not to go back after.”

Well, shit… that doesn’t really help me at all. I’m unfortunately very tied to an active and satisfying career. I’m also very tied to this community. While Andrea isn’t tied to Pittsburgh, she’s tied to the FBI, and that includes a very sought-after position in Quantico, Virginia. Even if she doesn’t get into the BRIU, the closest she could ever be reassigned—if she did want to be reassigned—is the Raleigh field office. That’s still three hours away, which would still make this a long-distance relationship.

And shit… for all I know, feelings here are one sided. Here I am, thinking of potential ways to keep this relationship alive, and Andrea may not feel that way at all.

Sighing with more frustration, because Hunter didn’t really provide me with anything helpful, I stand up from the chair. It seems to me that what I really need is a frank conversation with Andrea. I just have to figure out how to broach it with her.

“Where are you going? Want to help me do inventory and stocking?” Hunter asks as he stands up from behind his desk.

“Um… that would be a big fat, fuck no,” I tell him with a grin. “Besides… I’m hungry. Going to go get some breakfast.”

“You are not going to The Sand Shark?” he asks with a mock gasp and his hand over his heart. “You’ll get shanked by those girls if you show up. Men are not allowed.”

“Brody ate with them one time,” I counter confidently as I walk out of his office and head for the front door.

“Yeah… but I heard a rumor they put poison in his food or something. Maybe it was a laxative, I’m not sure. Just be careful, dude… those girls are dangerous when you encroach on their territory,” he says in all seriousness.

“Want to come?” I ask as I step out into the parking lot.

“No fucking way,” Hunter says as he prepares to close the door and lock it behind me. “I like my balls intact.”





I step into The Sand Shark, do a quick sweep of my eyes, see about ten different people I know, and then pin my gaze at the far back of the restaurant.

Gabby and her kidnapping posse are sitting at a round table that seats five. Her back is to me with Alyssa to her left and Casey to her right. Andrea and Savannah round out the table and are facing my way. As if she can sense me standing there, Andrea’s eyes cut over Gabby’s shoulder to meet mine.

Her eyes light up in happiness—over seeing me—and it’s like a homing beacon. I start walking toward her, nodding distractedly as a few people call out “Good Morning” to me.

It’s inevitable, really, that Gabby notices Andrea’s attention has gone elsewhere because she’s turning in her chair to look my way. Then she’s out of her chair and by the time I reach them, her hands are out in front of her and she’s saying, “No, Wyatt. Absolutely not. You are not invited, so go away.”

I ignore her, step to the right, and start rounding the table, never taking my eyes off Andrea. Her smile lights up and then turns into a big grin.

“Petey,” Gabby yells to the short-order cook behind the counter. “Get me your rolling pin. I need to bash this guy on the head.”

I hear Babs, the senior waitress and person you do not want to piss off, hiss back at Gabby. “Pipe down, Gabby Ward, or I’m going to tan your hide.”

Glancing across the table, I see Gabby sit down in a huff but she still tries to hold me off. “You can’t stay, Wyatt. Say hello, give her a kiss, whatever… but then get gone.”

I give her a lazy smile and then turn to the table beside theirs. “Hey Mac… Carl,” I say to the two men sitting at a four-seater table. “Mind if I borrow a chair?”