Had To Be You Page 9

  “I suppose we should,” Amanda agreed before glancing over to explain—even though Rory was really perfectly happy not knowing. “We’re shopping for bridesmaids’ gifts. I love all these little shops here in town because you can find such unique handmade things. Like these sea-glass necklaces.” She motioned towards the display table on the sidewalk behind her. “But I was hoping to get something they could wear with their dresses and don’t know if these are quite right for a formal occasion.” She turned towards Matt, tilting her head. “What do you think, hon?”

  Rory lifted her iced coffee to take another sip as she focused on him as well, waiting expectantly with one eyebrow arched.

  Matt chuckled uneasily, scratching at his temple. “Me? Um, well…” His voice changed as abruptly as the direction of his words. “Hey, did I mention Rory’s house is right on the same street as my parents’ house?”

  “Oh, really?” Amanda gave her a precise, overly polite smile. “You were neighbors, then?”

  “That’s one word for it.”

  “And, look at the time!” Matt glanced at his cell phone and back to Amanda. “Don’t you have to be at that thing?”

  “Yes, but I really wanted to get this done today.” Amanda folded her arms across her chest, the glints from sun bouncing off her ring with the movement. Rory was determined not to look directly at it, as if it might turn her to stone. “It’s one of the last things on my list.” She once again offered information that wasn’t asked for. “My parents are throwing a party to sort of kick off the wedding festivities, give the families a chance to get better acquainted. I was hoping to give the gifts then.”

  “Your parents live here in town?” Rory figured she had to at least pretend she was interested.

  “They have a summer house off Rock Harbor Road. I’ve spent vacations here in the past, and obviously spend a lot of time here now.” Amanda reached out to slide her arm around his waist in a brief hug before she continued. “Now that my father is semi-retired, almost the whole family was able to be here together for this month before the wedding. My brother will be here soon. He just finished finals.”

  “Oh, so, you’re summer people.” Rory drew out the words with purpose. “I did not realize that.”

  She almost felt Matt’s sharp, quick gaze prick her skin, but just smiled innocently.

  “Yes, and I have so many people on my side coming in from out of state, I think we’ve booked all the local bed and breakfasts and motels.”

  “Hey, I couldn’t even get a room at my own mother’s house this weekend,” she joked.

  “And so where are you staying?” Amanda asked.

  “Well, I’m staying with Kevin and Danny,” she replied tentatively, her glance darting between them.

  Amanda’s expression went blank, though her face seemed to cloud over. “Is that right?” She shot him a mildly accusatory look. “You would think you’d remember to tell me your brothers had guests, Matt.”

  “I didn’t mention that?” He rubbed a hand over his hair in a display of forgetfulness so faked that Rory had to catch herself from laughing.

  “Now I feel bad.” Amanda’s voice lowered. “Of course, you should come to the party with them.”

  Matt dove in, laughing it off somewhat nervously. “Oh, Rory hasn’t been home in a long time and she’s only in town another day or so. I’m sure she wants to spend time with her own family and—”

  “Actually, I’ve decided to stay on a while,” she cut in, raising her voice to speak over him, “to take some much needed vacation time. And I do love parties.”

  He tilted his head towards her with a fixed, forced smile, almost muttering through clenched teeth. “Don’t you think that’s a bit of an overstatement?”

  “Nope,” she assured him with bright confidence. “Live for them.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Amanda decided. “You’ll have to come.” She glanced at the time on her wristwatch. “And I, unfortunately, have to run now. I’ll see you later, hon?”

  Matt rested his hand on her shoulder as she leaned up to kiss him goodbye.

  Rory swiftly turned her head to look away, pretending there was something of significant interest in the window of the post office across the street, and tried her best to ignore the sharp, sickening stab to her gut.

  “It was nice meeting you.” Amanda stepped away off the curb, waving over her shoulder as she crossed the street to a small white convertible parked under a shady tree.

  “Oh, you, too,” Rory called out.

  Giving Matt a pointed look, she abruptly turned to head in the other direction. He waited until Amanda had safely driven off down the street before he quickly jogged after her, like she knew he would.

  “Rory, wait up—you didn’t mention anything last night about staying longer.”

  “It was sort of a last minute decision. But, don’t worry. I’m not going to wear out my welcome at Danny and Kevin’s, or infringe in any way upon your special time. I can go back and stay at my mom’s house.”

  “Well, I didn’t mean it like that.” Matt seemed taken aback, his tone slightly more conciliatory. “They love having you there. Danny is very big on entertaining. I mean, have you seen the embroidered hand towels in the guest bathroom? It’s not like Eileen, or even Kevin, helped pick those out,” he joked. “Don’t deny the man his small pleasures in life.”

  “Well, it would seem that you’re getting in touch with your feminine side as well.”

  He dropped his head with a wry chuckle of laughter, murmuring almost to himself. “Yeah…I was waiting for that. Let’s hear it. Come on, get it all out.”

  “I just never knew you to be one for shopping, that’s all,” she continued too casually. Even if she forfeited any right to feel hurt or jealous, she was bothered by the information Amanda just revealed. She knew that they started dating sometime last summer after she left town, but still—Rory didn’t realize her spot in his bed wasn’t even cold yet. “Especially on a day like today, when practically everyone in town is out there on their boats. I’m just surprised.”

  “Perhaps I’ve matured.” He glanced over to watch her face. “Did you ever think of that?”

  “Matured, huh?” She narrowed her eyes, appearing to consider this. “Funny how, in your twenty-four or so odd years—and I do mean odd—you seemed to cram all that maturing into the last six months or so.”

  “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.” Rory glanced off into the distance. Being aware of the fact she gave up her right to feel this way didn’t stop her from owning it. “It’s just my understanding that you decided you’re too mature for a bachelor party, as well.”

  Matt almost skidded to a stop on the sidewalk, letting out an incredulous laugh.

  “And you’re giving me a hard time about not wanting a bachelor party? You, Rory Finn—Fearless Leader of the Angry Feminists? That is hilarious. Really.”

  “All I’m saying,” she continued, “is that while little girls were fantasizing about long white gowns and flowers and four-tiered cakes, you were busy dreaming of that time-honored tradition of male-bonding and bacchanalia, beer and bad snacks. It’s something you’ve probably been looking forward to since you were just out of diapers. Knowing you? Maybe even while you were still in diapers,” she added with some sarcasm. “And now, suddenly, you don’t want that?”

  “Well, gee,” he said carefully, although not so innocently, “some might refer to that concept as changing one’s mind. Ever heard of it?”

  She bristled, instantly on the defensive. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head. “Maybe I just decided that I, for one, don’t require a bachelor party. Maybe I decided that I already had plenty of time to sow those wild oats, as it were, and one more night is not going to make them any more sowed!” He frowned, hesitating as he amended his word choice uncertainly. “Or sown.”

  “Yeah, and that sounds like you talking,” she d
rawled sardonically, tossing her empty coffee cup into a nearby trash receptacle. “Seems to me like your fiancée doesn’t really need to be shopping for necklaces and baubles, when it’s obvious she’s already wearing your family jewels on a string.”

  Matt stopped short again, scowling at her as he raised his voice.

  “Excuse me?”

  “No, excuse me.” Rory stopped as well, pointing past his shoulder as if he stood right in her way. “Because I’m going this way.”

  “Well, I’m going that way!” Matt mimicked the move by pointing in the opposite direction.

  “Be my guest!” She brushed past him, sending one last parting shot over her shoulder. “After all, you don’t need my permission, hon.”

  “I don’t need anyone’s permission, okay?”

  ***

  Receiving a few strange looks from those passing by on the street, Matt turned to stomp off towards the bar, glancing back once to glower at her retreating form on the distant sidewalk.

  He couldn’t say he’d exactly been looking forward to the moment Amanda and Rory met, but he’d certainly hoped it wouldn’t go down quite like that. He wanted fair warning, to be better prepared.

  They were different, but not drastically so. They shared certain vague physical similarities as well as a few personality traits. Rory, however, always had something else going on right below the surface, an intriguing, enticing shimmer in her incredible aquamarine eyes, and a spark of fire hidden beneath her calm exterior.

  Sure, it made it unpredictable—exciting, even. But when you play with fire, you eventually get burned. He always got burned.

  Matt had been on edge all day, ever since he’d woken up. He finally had to acknowledge that it was their conversation at the bar last night. For a moment, it felt like she was still, after all these years, trying to let him down gently. And that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

  The public boat slips were filled, crowds of tourists lined up, taking a break from the hot sun with a cool drink. Casey was behind the bar mixing rum cocktails.

  “Hey, did that refrigeration guy call me back about the problems with the temperature controls on the cooler?” he asked with a lingering scowl.

  “I don’t think so. Not yet.”

  He muttered under his breath.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be in my office.”

  He dropped down into his seat with a weary sigh, tapping out a rhythm on his desktop as he stared blankly at the phone. He didn’t know how much time passed before he glanced up to see his brother Danny appear through the door in full uniform.

  “Hey. You’ve got a good early crowd out there, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Matt agreed without much conviction. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Must be pretty important for you to abandon your post at Dunkin Donuts.”

  “I just wanted to stop in to ask about this party at the Benson’s.”

  Matt almost laughed, swiping his hand down his face. This was going to be great, just great.

  “What’s the matter with you?” Danny tilted his head curiously.

  “Nothing,” he said curtly. “What did you want to ask?”

  “Mom just wants to know if she should be bringing anything and what time we should be there.”

  “Um, it starts around five, I guess,” he replied, frowning. “They’re hiring caterers, though, so she doesn’t need to bring anything. I’ll call her to let her know.”

  “All right.” Danny moved to go.

  “Hey, you know what?” Matt suddenly called after him. “I’ve decided I do want a bachelor party after all.”

  His brother stopped, glancing back in mild surprise.

  “You do, huh?”

  “Yeah, and not only that, but I want a bachelor party with ridiculous amounts of booze.” He got out of his chair, lifting a finger into the air to emphasize his point as he began to pace the room. “Booze and gambling and…” He hesitated, furrowing his brow before he burst out. “Cigars!”

  “Cigars?” Danny echoed with a dubious frown.

  He continued undeterred, gathering momentum. “I want a bachelor party with booze and gambling and cigars—and strippers!” He clapped his hands together. “Lots of strippers.”

  “Do they come in lots?”

  Matt ignored him, adjusting the waistband of his pants with bravado before he dropped back down to sit behind his desk.

  Danny regarded him a moment through narrowed eyes.

  “You sure everything is okay?”

  “Everything is great. Could not be better.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll get right on that. See you later.”

  And that’s when Matt realized things could not be worse.

  SEVEN

  “So, this is fun.”

  Rory glanced at Jill over the rim of her red plastic cup. She wasn’t really dressed for the beach, as always in her sky-high heels, wearing a tiny shorts and a sheer top, her hair a gorgeous mass of long blonde spiral waves. Then again, this wasn’t really the beach—rather just a city version of it created in the courtyard of Kevin’s apartment by his roommates to celebrate the end of the college year.

  She only pressed her lips into a thin smile in response, still eyeing Matt as he talked to another scantily-clad blonde across the way. They were standing close together in the glow of the outdoor fire pit.

  “What do you think of Trevor?”

  Rory’s first impression of Jill’s new college beau was that he was a conceited prep school pretty boy, but she certainly wasn’t going to tell her that.

  “He seems nice.”

  “Which means you don’t like him.”

  “I didn’t say that,” she assured her friend with a soft sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little distracted, I guess.” Her gaze slipped away, drawn back to Matt. “How long has he been seeing this one? Did he bring her with him for the night, or did he just meet her here?”

  Jill shook her head. “You talk to him more often than I do.”

  “Yeah, but we don’t talk about that stuff.”

  “So, Ethan seems like a great guy.”

  “He is.” Rory shook off her obsession with Matt’s apparent date for the evening long enough to remember she brought one of her own. “He’s a double major, political science and economics.”

  “Impressive.”

  She narrowed her eyes, her focus unwillingly drawn back. She couldn’t help but notice the ample amount of cleavage on display. There seemed to be a distinct pattern in his very recent dating history and as far as Rory could tell that pattern was to date girls as drastically different from her as possible.

  Or maybe that’s really what he wanted all along.

  “Do you think those are real?”

  Jill tilted her head, studying them as well.

  “Hard to tell from here.”

  Suddenly, she let out a little shriek, lifted right up off the fake beach sand as Trevor snuck up from behind to hook an arm around her tiny waist. He swung her around, right into an open-mouthed kiss.

  “I’m going for a refill,” Rory said, abruptly turning to head for the keg.

  She certainly didn’t begrudge Jill a little fun and romance, but was feeling a bit sour tonight when it came to love.

  It appeared that she and Matt were both still negotiating and navigating their way through this unfamiliar territory in the wake of their breakup. They had their share of slip-ups and some backsliding. Yet now he seemed to being moving full steam ahead.

  Waiting for a loud group to move out of the way, Rory came to a sudden halt as she approached.

  Of course, he would have to be right there.

  Matt met her gaze rather warily, but reached out with the keg nozzle in his hand to refill her cup.

  “So, this Evan guy,” he said, topping off her beer. “He’s got a lot to say.”

  “It’s Ethan,” she corrected him, instantly and irrationally aggravated. Anyone would seem quiet in comparison, with his inabilit
y to ever shut up. “And sometimes it’s about quality and not quantity. He’s actually a very skilled conversationalist.”

  “That must be nice.” Matt filled his own cup to the brim. “For you, I mean.”

  “Yes,” she took a small sip, “it is a refreshing change not to have to limit my vocabulary to small words.”

  He paused to cock his head and smirk.

  “And are you implying that was for my benefit? Because I really could’ve done without any at all.”

  “Right,” she scoffed and turned to walk away. “Finding a girl you can engage in an actual, mature conversation with? That’s just a little too much work for you, right?”

  “No,” he replied, following, “it’s just that some girls insist upon making everything as difficult as humanly possible.”

  “Sorry,” she shot back. “Despite the relatively high number you’ve managed to date in the last six months or so, we can’t all be that easy.”

  “And despite the relatively low number you’ve managed to date, we can’t all be that dull.”

  Rory gasped in mild indignation. “The guys I’ve dated are not dull!”

  “If you say so,” he chuckled in that sardonic, skeptical way—the way that made her want to throttle him. “And if you really want to know? She’s the one who asked me out.”

  “Yes,” Rory replied dryly, “I believe I heard mention of her charity work.”

  Matt lowered his beer from his mouth, his eyes an unnervingly intense blue in the partial glow of the fire.

  “You might be surprised to know how many girls I date are actually the initiators in the relationship.”

  “And you would be shocked to know how little I care.”

  “All I’m saying is that you should get your facts straight,” he continued. “You suddenly want to try to label me as some kind of womanizer, Rory? Fine. Whatever. Just be aware that, more often than not, they’re the ones pursuing me. Not the other way around.” He let out a somewhat self-congratulatory sigh. “So, put that in your pipe and smoke it.”