That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1)(27)

“I could see that.” I make a right-hand turn. “There’s no secret lever, but Oliver, the guy who owns the store, he makes the ice cream, and there’s a secret stash in the back that he only sells to locals. New concoctions that he’s trying out. It’s a gold mine if you get there early enough. Every Thursday night he offers his exclusive flavors, first come, first served. To have access, you have to give him the code word.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“Well, what’s the code word?”

I shake my head, a smile playing at my lips. “Oh no, I’m not about to tell you that just yet. I don’t think you’ve earned the right to try Oliver’s special creations.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. You’re not ready.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, and from the corner of my eye, I can see her breasts lift higher, just begging for me to take in an eyeful, but I reluctantly keep my eyes forward.

“How on earth am I not ready? I have a Port Snow residency, don’t I?”

“You have to prove yourself first.”

“How on earth do I do that?”

I shake my head. “Hell if I know. I just know the elders are very specific about who knows, and if I went and gave you the code too early, I could get into some real trouble. And I’m not in the mood to deal with their antics. Sorry, Ren, but my lips are sealed.”

She huffs. “Then why the hell would you tell me that secret?”

I shrug and smile. “Couldn’t think of anything else.”

“That’s just cruel, Griffin, very, very cruel.”

“Hey, maybe if you’re nice to me, I’ll score you some ice cream this Thursday.”

“Oh, now you’re bribing me? I see how it is. Tsk, tsk, Griffin. I thought you were better than that.”

God, I really like how playful she is.

I press my lips together to keep from smiling way too damn much. “Never said I was above bribery. Sorry, neighbor.”





CHAPTER EIGHT





REN


Oh my God, he’s so freaking cute.

Socks, toothpaste, a laundry basket, and a pack of beef jerky.

And here I am with half of his truck bed full of things: towels, pots and pans, dishes, some bedding, and so much more. I had two carts full. It was slightly embarrassing, but like the gentleman he is, he helped me load everything into the truck.

My stomach grumbles as I hop up into the cab. It’s past seven, and I’m feeling really guilty that I’ve kept him so long. He was done shopping in five minutes, while I was going down aisle after aisle, loading up. He must be so over this entire trip.

I bite my bottom lip and look over at him as he slides into the truck as well, letting out a puff of air before clipping himself in with his seat belt. The truck roars to life, and when he takes a look over his shoulder to pull out, he catches me looking at him.

“Everything okay? Did you get everything you needed?”

I nod, feeling incredibly nervous all of a sudden. I want to see if he’s hungry, but I’m also afraid he might think I’m being too presumptuous, “asking” him to dinner.

But with my stomach aching, I decide to jump in and ask. “I got everything. I was just wondering if you were hungry. I’m kind of starving over here for dinner.”

He starts to back out of the parking spot. “Yeah, I planned on stopping at a little place on the way home; it’s about seven minutes away. Sells wraps and sandwiches, has some of the best lobster rolls in the area. Is that okay with you?”

“That would be absolutely perfect. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I was feeling the hunger start to take over about ten minutes ago.”

Guilt consumes me. “I’m sorry I took so long.”

“Don’t. You’re good.” He straightens out the truck and takes off down the freshly paved road flanked by little mom-and-pop shops, the rumble and power of the vehicle shaking my seat beneath me. When he’s back on the main road heading toward Port Snow, he asks, “So you drove out here without anything?”

“I actually flew—bought my car at a used dealership and was driving it for the first time when I almost ran into the moose.”

“What? Really?” He shakes his head. “Shit, that’s a bad first drive.”

“Tell me about it, but hey, gives me more of a chance to walk around and get to know the area better.”

“I hope you weren’t planning on walking to Pottsmouth.”

“No, never, but strolling around town is nice. I feel like I see something new every day.”

“Good, just stick to town. There are some insane tourists around here, so be careful.”

My heart warms at his concern. I like that he’s warning me, protecting me, like we’re becoming good friends. At least that’s what’s happening in my overactive imagination. And hey, if one of my first friends in town just so happens to be the hottest guy I’ve ever met, then so be it.

“I will. Thanks. And I do have some things on the way from LA. My parents are driving out with my stuff a little later. I have some summer meetings at school and thought it would be nice to get to know the town a bit before I had to report in. And it’s nice to get some new things. The plates and pots I had were hand-me-downs from college. It was about time I upgraded, you know?” And it’s time I made a house of my own, rather than relying and waiting on my parents to help.