About Last Night (About Last Night #1)(54)

Me: As long as you’re okay, I’m good. Listen, I’m heading out right now, but can I call you later? After 6?

She responded immediately.

Maya: Sure. x

Grinning, I picked up my keys as I passed the kitchen counter, threw them in the air, catching them quickly, and then walked out to my car.

My chest puffed out proudly. It was all good. Maya still wanted me as a friend. As far as I was concerned, that would do.




I stepped out of my car and hit the central locking, listening for the chirp, then, whistling, walked down to the pier.

The pier was an area by the beach filled with cafés, lunch spots, boutiques, and street vendors, and the best thing was they were open all year-round, regardless of national holidays.

There was one particular café Harry and I liked best: The Black Strawberry. They had an all-day breakfast menu that would have you drooling, and their coffee was strong and their burgers were incredible. This was our go-to place.

As I approached, I stalled.

Shit.

The Black Strawberry had a line out the door and all the tables were filled. Now what was I supposed to do? Hang around like a loser? Where the hell was Harry?

I pulled out my cell and saw a message from Harry.

Harry: The place is going bananas. I’m lining up, but I’m gonna be a while. Tell me what you want and I’ll order it.

I huffed a laugh. Good, dependable Harry.

Me: I want the biggest coffee they have and a blueberry muffin. You’re a champ.

As I stood at the side of the café with my back against the wall, my eyes glanced to the side, catching a spot of green.

It was a woman…woman in a green sundress with white polka dots. Her back was turned to me, and she had her face raised up into the sunlight as she rubbed her arms, delighting in the crisp warmth.

I smiled. It was nice to see a young lady enjoying herself.

The sundress was fitted around the top, but flowed out at the bottom, and she wore it with white flip-flops, her long brownish-red hair flowing down her back in shiny waves. Her ass was definitely something I’d like to hold onto.

I imagined walking behind her, flattening my chest to her back, taking her ass in my hands, and kneading it.

Blinking, I shook my head. God, I was a horny bastard.

But then the woman turned. And I gawked.

“Maya?” I called out.

No response.

Smiling, I walked over to her until I was a foot away. “Maya.”

Her head snapped to me. Eyes wide, cheeks flushed, she choked out, “Quinn!” Swallowing hard, she stuttered, “W-w-what are you doing here?”

Oh, man. I was as surprised as she was. Chuckling, I pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her and rocking her from side-to-side. “What are the chances?” I could’ve sworn I heard her whimper, but I must’ve imagined it. “I’m meeting a friend for lunch. What are you doing here?”

Breathing heavily, she muttered to herself, “M-meeting a friend?” She gasped, wide-eyed, and lifted her fingers to cover her mouth, whispering, “Oh, shit.” Not a stitch of makeup on her face, but still, she looked gorgeous. She pulled away from me, stepping back, looking around anxiously. “I have to go.”

My brows furrowed. “Maya, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Her mouth opened to respond, but she shut it when she spotted something behind me. Her cheeks flushed and she looked on the verge of fainting. “Quinn, I have to tell you something,” she whispered urgently. “I have to explain—”

I looked down at her nervous demeanor. It was clear she didn’t want to be seen with me. Talk about a kick in the gut. Then a thought occurred to me. Did she have a boyfriend?

A voice behind me startled her. Harry handed me my coffee and a brown paper bag. “Here’s your shit, man.” I scowled as he handed Maya an ice-cream cone. Fuck me. Was she dating my best friend? Harry went on, “No way we’re getting a table, so why don’t we just find a bench on the beach.” He jerked his chin toward Maya. “You remember Mia, right?”

Mia? Who the f*ck was Mia?

She cleared her throat and tried to smile, uttering a weak, “Hi, Matt.”

Matt.

My gut sank. I stared at her in shock. She called me Matt. Confusion rolled through me. She knows me.

I turned to Harry. “I don’t—” I couldn’t even speak. I was starting to freak out. I shrugged, because no words would come.

Harry laughed. “Sorry. I thought ‘cause you were standing here that you reintroduced yourselves.”

Reintroduced? I’d met Maya before? My brain had officially gone offline. Something was going on here. Something bad. I could feel it in my bones.

He pointed to Maya. “Mia.” He turned to Maya. “Mia, I see you remember Quinn.” He rolled his eyes. “Most women do.” Harry tilted his head. “You probably wouldn’t remember her, Quinn. I told you she’d changed.”

I was beyond confused. “Who?”

Harry snorted. “My sister. Dude, seriously, keep up.”

“Sister? I—” Fuck. No. Fuck no!

It hit me like a ton of bricks to the chest. My heart started to palpitate and my palms became moist. I stared pointedly at Mia. “Mia’s your sister…but you call her Minnie.”

Harry smirked, slapping me on the back. “Now he’s got it.” He placed his fingers under my coffee cup, lifting it to my mouth. “You sure you’re awake yet? Get some coffee into you, stat. Come on, let’s find a bench.”