Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Thankfully, the line moved rather quickly. When it was almost her turn to go in, she pulled her ID out of her wallet.
“Fifteen,” the big burly man at the door said.
“I'm a resident,” she told him.
He shook his head, which only confused her.
“Since when do you charge residents?”
“For as long as I've been working here. You going in?”
It wasn't that Eloise didn't want to pay—she didn't want to pay if she wasn't going to stay. If Kiel wasn't inside, there wasn't a reason for her to hang out when she could go look for her friends.
“Um . . . Is it okay if I go in and look for someone quickly? If he's here, I'll come right back and pay.”
The bouncer apprised her for a long moment, and then he finally nodded. “You have five minutes, and then I'm coming in after you.”
Eloise stepped inside and scanned the area. She stood on her toes, ducked under people, and went to the corner to see the entire crowd. If Kiel was in there, she didn't see him. As the clock ticked down, she accepted she didn't see anyone she knew, let alone the one she sought.
With what she thought to be a minute to spare, she made her way to the entrance. “Thanks for letting me look around.”
“No luck?”
Eloise shook her head and frowned.
“Who are you looking for?”
“Oh, just some friends,” she told him. “Tidal Carter.”
The man laughed. “Tidal would never come in here. Try Diego's.”
“Diego's. Right.” Eloise thanked the bouncer and darted across the cobblestone road to cross the street and waited with a small group of people. She eyed the wharf and saw how busy it was. The wharf had always been a key spot for visitors, with shops, restaurants, and outside bars as attractions. Outside bars were a huge hit in any seaside town. There was nothing like taking your Aperol Spritz to the end of the wharf to watch the sunset and get the perfect photo for Instagram.
Eloise made her way to Diego's, and once again found herself on her tiptoes looking through the crowd for someone she knew. It was times like this when she hated being short. Unable to spot anyone, she went up to the bar and stood in the first open spot she could find. Unlucky for her, she didn't know the bartender and felt uncomfortable asking if they knew Tidal Carter.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, without making eye contact with Eloise. She was busy and Eloise understood.
“This is my first time here. What do you recommend?” She would normally order an Aperol Spritz, but also loved finding new drinks as long as they weren’t beer.
“The Rock Lobster,” the bartender said as she put a freshly drafted pint on the bar in front of a patron.
“What’s that?”
“Do you like fruity drinks?”
Eloise nodded.
“You’ll love this. I promise.”
Eloise nodded again, and the bartender went to work on her drink. When she finished, she set the frozen pink concoction with its paper umbrella, cherry, and slice of pineapple on top of the bar, in front of Eloise. “It’s coconut rum, banana liqueur, and grenadine, to name but a few. It’s my fave and perfect for the summer.”
Eloise took it and handed a twenty over to pay. Her eyes widened as she sipped her drink. She pulled the straw away and covered her mouth. “Oh my, this is delicious.”
The bartender set Eloise’s change on the counter. “Enjoy.” With that, she went to the next customer. Eloise left some cash for a tip and then turned toward the growing crowd. She stood there for a few minutes, sipping on her drink while looking at the people, feeling almost dejected and out of place. Although she liked the idea of hanging by the bar because it had an easier escape and she could bolt at any given moment, she was there to reconnect with friends. And to find Kiel, who had a starring role in her mind since their first encounter.
Would Kiel be at Diego’s, though?
“No, probably not,” she said aloud. Not that anyone could hear her or paid attention to her.
As if someone knew what she needed, the crowd parted, and it was like a beacon of light shined on Tidal and his table of friends. He stood when they made eye contact and smiled. One by one, former classmates all glanced at her, smiles bright.
“Well, look who the cat dragged in,” Tidal said as he came over to give her a hug. “Glad to see you left your hidey hole.”
“I don’t hide,” she said to him. He reintroduced her to everyone at the table, and she was relieved she remembered everyone.
Jordan, one of their classmates, offered his seat and ran off to get another. Eloise sat down next to Tidal and set her drink down. “So, what have you all been up to?”