Page 12 of Another Last Call
Talented enough that I couldn’t quite believe she was still in town. I don’t know if she ever had any rock star fantasies or aspirations, but I would’ve thought she’d leave Marble Beach. Though, I thought as I drank more of my beer, it made sense. She’d worked part time at The Sea Glass when we were teenagers, seating people or bussing tables or running food. It only made sense that she’d eventually take over the business from her mom.
Speaking of which, Josie’s conversation with me and her loud laughter had done nothing for the stares I was getting. If anything, people were even more curious.
And I just… I didn’t enjoy being stared at.
I’d had enough of it. When Dad died, it felt like that’s all people had done. Every time I looked up, there was someone looking away, trying and failing to stop me from seeing their pitying gazes. And even though I knew that wasn’t why people were looking at me at The Sea Glass, it still forced the memory of discomfort.
I tried to ignore it so I could wait around and say hi to Maggie once she was done. But once I’d finished my beer and caught a woman whispering something to the man sitting with her as they both looked at me, I’d had enough. I could come back and say hi to Maggie another day.
Tucking my napkin under the empty beer glass, I got up and left the bar to go back to my truck.
Apparently, someone had not been a fan of my parking job.
A car sat just behind my bumper, boxing me into the spot I’d taken. I swore under my breath and looked to see if anyone was around, then headed back towards The Sea Glass. Just before I could open the door, someone bolted out carrying a paper bag of takeout food. Narrowly avoiding a collision, I held the door for him.
“Thanks, man,” the guy said.
“That doesn’t happen to be you blocking me in, does it?” I asked.
“Sorry. There was no other parking and I was just picking this up.”
“All good. Saves me from asking around.”
He got into his car and waved apologetically as he pulled away. Just as I had opened the door of my truck and had one leg in the cab, I was interrupted again.
“Leaving already?”
I turned, and there she was.
The Maggie I remembered had just been on the cusp of the one standing in front of me. I remembered her skinny arms and eyes that seemed to fill half her face, bright in the moonlight as she asked if I’d be her first. I remembered her freckled cheeks burning red as she waited for my answer, and how kissing her had made me feel both so mature and impossibly immature.
And I could still see that Maggie in the woman standing before me, but so much had changed.
She still had big eyes and beautiful freckles and that adorable turned-up nose, but her cheekbones seemed higher and pouty lips complimented the warm brown of her eyes. The tomboy style had morphed into something that was still casual, but more feminine. Rings adorned two fingers on each hand, as well as her thumb. Scrawling black tattoos wrapped around her wrist and forearm, and another peeked out on her shoulder underneath the sleeveless top she wore despite the chill of the night. Her thick hair fell against her shoulders, and a necklace with two pendants rested against her chest.
She was as beautiful as I remembered, and more beautiful than I could imagine.
“Should I?” I finally replied.
Her face split into a wide grin and she laughed, a sound as musical as her singing had been.
“Shit, Caleb, I can’t believe it’s you!”
I got back out of the truck and shut the door just in time to catch her as she hugged me. “I can’t believe it’syou.”
“Mom told me you were back in town as soon as I was done. I almost died when I realized you’d already left.”
“I was going to come back when you weren’t busy. It’s so good to see you, Mags.”
I let go of her and she stepped back, looking me up and down. “What are you doing here? It’s been years. Why are you back now?”
“Renovating the cabin.”
She looked bewildered. “Why?”
“To, uh, sell it.”
“Oh.” She sounded almost sad. “Are your folks buying one somewhere else, or…?”
