“Of course not. That’s why I love it. In a world full of bad news and sadness, I can’t even tell you how much joy I get from writing these kinds of things.”
The ocean came into view and Hailey’s breath caught in her lungs. It was gorgeous. Just this wide expanse of blue that settled something inside of her.
“It’s so important to do what you love,” Hailey murmured.
“Try telling that to any of the guys I’ve dated, my parents, or even some of my colleagues.”
She turned to look at Fiona’s profile. Even from the side, she was lovely, with a delicate jawbone and perfect lips. She could easily be a model for one of the magazines she wrote for, but she was so down-to-earth, Hailey felt perfectly at ease. At one point, she’d felt that way in her food services truck at whatever set she happened to be on. She knew people were just people and she’d chatted with the stars as she would have anyone else.
Until Dorian. He’d explained to her the necessity of not interrupting their day, their thoughts or musings. Who even said that kind of thing? But in truth, it was one of the many things he’d said that poked holes in her self-confidence.
He’d deflated it one prickly, under-his-breath comment at a time. He’d told her that a movie star, a famous actor or actress, didn’t want to get chummy with the person who knew what they really liked to eat when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Of course, maybe the truth was he’d been getting a little too friendly with many of those women he didn’t want her chatting with. The sad part was, she hadn’t been overly surprised when she found out he was cheating. Instead, she’d been disappointed with herself for not realizing sooner.
“They aren’t supportive?” Her own parents hadn’t exactly thrown a party when she said she was opening a salad shop. They’d wished her luck, though, and said they’d pop in. Eventually.
“They’re not not supportive. It’s like when people are dating and everyone says, ‘When are you getting married?’”
Hailey smiled. Boy had Dorian not liked that question. “Or people who are married getting asked when they’re having kids.”
Fiona slapped the steering wheel. “Yes! If a couple has one baby, when’s the next one coming. That’s how it is. They can’t believe I’m enjoying exactly this place in my life. People assume I’m just working my way up to hard-hitting journalism, maybe a piece in Time magazine. But this is what I wanted. To be honest, if I could write full-time for an entertainment outlet, I would.”
“I love that. We need that in the world. You’re absolutely right, and when did it stop being okay to chase what you really want instead of what everyone thinks you should?”
Fiona tapped the signal and took the exit labeled Harlow Beach. Like most people, Hailey hadn’t really explored too far in her own state. She should take a road trip. That would be fun. Maybe after I get some more revenue.
“I think when social media exploded and the world decided they could share or weigh in on everyone’s decisions.”
Lush palm trees dotted the stretch of road, the ocean in the background. Now that they were off the highway, she could see the actual beach. People sunbathed and sat, played in the water. Today was fun already. She needed this. She’d hold on to the light feeling for the next several weeks as things hopefully got busier at the shop.
“I try to avoid social media. I need to get more active for the shop but on a personal level, I’ve always tried to avoid it.” Dating an actor and social media was a very bad mix.
“It’s probably healthier. I’m on it way too much. Have you googled Wes yet?”
Hailey shook her head even though Fiona was looking out the window. “No. I don’t want to blemish an otherwise beautiful friendship.”
Fiona burst out laughing the same moment Hailey did. “Then don’t look me up either.”
* * *
Hailey had no idea why she’d pictured a quaint seaside shanty, but that wasn’t what they saw.
“Holy shit,” Fiona said, arching so she could look through the windshield at the gorgeous … could you call a house like that a house, or was it automatically a mansion?
“Wow.” Hailey’s chest tightened. This was not at all what she’d expected. Wes’s brother must be well off. She’d gotten the impression they all were, but there was I-can-eat-out-every-day-of-the-week wealthy and then there was I-live-in-a-mansion money.
Directly beside the beach, it had a spacious lawn, expertly manicured. There was a one-story bungalow, more like what she’d pictured, to the right. The other houses in the neighborhood seemed to range in between the two drastically different ends of the spectrum.
“Why does this seem familiar?” Fiona asked after they’d grabbed their things from the back of her Smart car.
The only thing that felt familiar to Hailey was the sinking feeling in her stomach. It was the same one she’d get right before walking into a party with Dorian. He always stopped her, like a willful child, to tell her how important this event was to his career. It was one of the many things she’d pushed down, let go, and not made a fuss about. One of the many things that made her lose herself.
“Not sure. I hear people out back.” Wes’s text had said to go through the gate but she hoped they’d get a tour of the house later.
They took the cutely paved path down the right side and found a yard full of people spread out. There were conversation sets on the deck and in the yard. Part of the green space, closest to the fence separating it from the neighbors, was cordoned off with posts and yellow tape.
“Hey,” Noah called out from the porch. Chris was sitting on a love seat next to Everly while Stacey and what had to be her boyfriend, if her position on his lap was any clue, shared an Adirondack chair.
A very pretty woman came to Noah’s side. He turned when she approached, looked down at her, and pressed a kiss on her lips.
“They’re familiar, too,” Fiona muttered.
“Not to me.”
Wes came out of the house as Noah and presumably Grace came down to the yard.
“Glad you could make it, Hailey. This is my girlfriend, Grace,” he said, offering a happy-go-lucky smile. He shared many physical traits with Wes but she’d seen hints of that smile last night at the grocery store. Wes’s was much harder to draw out than Noah’s. But totally worth the effort.
Grace leaned forward, her hand out. “Hi. We’re so happy you came.”
“I’m Fiona.” They shook hands as well but before they let go, Fiona’s other hand came up and she pointed back and forth between them. “The magazine! You guys were in Home and Heart.”
Hailey had no idea what Fiona was talking about but she felt her lungs relax when Wes came to their side, a beer in his hand.
“Hey,” he said.
Fiona dropped Grace’s hand and offered her own to Wes but her gaze stayed on the couple. “One sec.” She looked at Wes. “You must be Wes. I’m Fiona. I could spell it if that helps?”
Hailey wasn’t sure if her cheeks went as red as Wes’s but they felt like they were on fire. She bumped Fiona with her hip.
The group laughter suggested that the others already knew this story so she felt better about it. Had he told them?
Noah looked at Wes. “You do like to leave an impression.”
Grace rubbed her hand over Wes’s arm. “Leave him alone.”
Wes gave Noah a smug grin.
Grace smiled up at Noah. “Let’s introduce everyone and then we can tease him some more.”
Wes stepped to the side, gestured to the porch. “Nice to meet you, Fiona. I see my reputation precedes me.”
“Like Taylor Swift,” Fiona said with a teasing smile. Hailey could only laugh. When Wes looked back at her, she mouthed “sorry.”
The porch was wide and inviting, with a gorgeous view of the water. Chris and Everly said hello and Stacey gave her a big hug before introducing her to her boyfriend, Rob.
As Hailey took a seat next to Fiona on one of the love seats, an older man shuffled out of the house. His stark white hair looked like he’d stuck a knife in a socket. He was mumbling to himself before he reached the porch.
“Damn kids can’t buy any regular beer. What the hell happened to Budweiser?” He looked at Noah with a deep frown marring his weathered face.
Noah smiled. “Live a little, man. It tastes good.”
“Tastes like piss,” he said, dropping into a chair. He did a slight double take when he saw Fiona and Hailey. “Where’d these two come from? None of you are good-looking enough to be surrounded by all these beautiful women.”
Grace walked over to the man, put a hand on his shoulder. “This is Morty. He’s like a great-great-grandfather to me.” Her lips twitched.
“Brat. I’m barely old enough to be a father figure to you. You’re getting up there yourself.”