Like a Memory (Sea Breeze Meets Rosemary Beach #1)(47)

That wasn’t happening now and I needed to decide on what I was going to do. Leaving didn’t sound appealing anymore. But I couldn’t get a permanent job here. I needed something for the now. This was all new and I wanted to be near Bliss. To find out where we were going. Give this a chance.

I reached for my phone. Grandpop would probably have an idea of where I could work. Until I knew where I was going to go. Or hell, if I was going to put down roots here.

My father’s father set me up a trust fund after I was born as he did my sisters. It was there to get me started in life. I wanted to build something. Create something. I just wasn’t sure what yet. I had a business degree. I had ideas but I wasn’t sure what I wanted that money to go towards.

“You still at my place” was my grandpop’s greeting.

“Yeah. Listen, I’m thinking of staying here at least for the summer. I need to get a job though and a place of my own. You know anyone looking for some summer help?”

He chuckled. “Hell yeah, me. Hours ain’t great. You’ll work a lot of late nights. But I pay good.”

I didn’t really want to work for my grandpop but he continued to talk and the enthusiasm in his voice at the idea of me working there was going to make it impossible to turn him down.

“You sure you aren’t making up a job for me?” I asked him.

“Nope. I’ll be hiring several new people this month.”

I was going to have to do this. “Okay. Thank you. I need to go home next week and get some things. But I’ll be back then and ready to start.”

“As for a place to stay just stay at my place.”

I thought of Bliss sticking her ass up on the sofa and knew there was no way I was giving that up every Sunday when Grandpop was home. “I better get my own place. I’ll rent something.”

Grandpop let out a holler then he laughed. “Guess this is about that girl then.”

“Yeah it is.”

“Good. Smartest thing you’ve done in awhile.”

Figured he’d be happy about it. So would my mother. She’d be thrilled when she met Bliss.

Just as I hung up with my grandpop my phone buzzed in my hand and I looked down to see a text from Octavia. I hadn’t expected that. Nor had I wanted it.

“We need to talk.”

No we didn’t. What was said and done was over. “Don’t think so.”

I waited a moment and she replied.

“Please. I’m sorry. I was indifferent and hard to deal with. Let’s talk.”

If I had loved her this would be different. But what we had was empty and we were wasting both our time. It was easy and I no longer wanted easy. Not at that price. Being with Bliss was a different kind of easy. The kind that made me feel something inside.

“We didn’t work. You know that as well as I do. I don’t want what we had.”

It was hard but you could talk to Octavia that way. She was blunt and harsh. No need to sugar coat things with her.

I waited for a response. When I didn’t get one I dropped the phone and went to get dressed. I’d call my mom and tell her about my visit next week and my summer plans. She wasn’t the kind to call and bother you all the time. She let me call her and because she was so easy to deal with I tried to keep her updated. Besides if I let her get too worried my dad would kick my ass.

Tonight I’d go to Live Bay. Get to know Bliss’s friends and fit into her world. I wanted her to want this as much as I did. Because there was no turning back now. One of them may even know a place I could rent.

My phone buzzed and I ignored it. Octavia was saying something more. I didn’t want to be mean but that was over. She needed to get that. I wasn’t the guy for her. I never was.

I could tell her about Bliss and that would make her stop. Her pride wouldn’t let her keep trying if she knew I had moved on.

Stepping into the bedroom I smiled at the messy bed. It was also wet from our soaked bodies getting out of the shower. Tonight I’d take her there. Sweet and slow. Not that she didn’t seem to enjoy the rough stuff but she needed to be treated special too. If I could keep my dirty mouth from shooting off was the only thing.

Taking the wet sheets off I made plans for our evening.





Bliss York

I DIDN’T HAVE to see him walk in to know he was there. Although I’d been looking for him all night. It was well after ten. The place had been busy tonight. Larissa had me working the side of the room that had our bunch sitting in it. No one else wanted to deal with them when they were being rowdy like this.

Micah was arguing with Jude while Damon was flirting with Saffron. He knew better. But he was drunk. Holland had thankfully come tonight with Saffron. She was the only one quietly observing the wild mess going on at that table.

I had a tray full of drinks to deliver to them when I turned to see Nate headed my way. The smile was immediate. I couldn’t help it. Seeing him made me all giddy and happy inside. It was like there was that summer and there was now. All that happened in-between was gone. No longer mattered.

“Hey,” I said feeling shy allof the sudden.

He walked up to me slipped his hand around my back and kissed me. Right there. It wasn’t a hot sexy kiss but a casual “hello this is my woman” kiss and I liked it.

“Hey,” he said when he pulled back slightly then grinned. “Sorry I’m late. Had to go to Grandpop’s and workout some details of my new job with him.”