the booth by the fire. I glanced at Creed and he didn’t notice the extra effort Lulu was making. I felt a little bad for her but not completely. Creed was looking toward the stage then his eyes came back to me.
“Nice place, isn’t it?” he asked.
I nodded. It was a nice place. I liked the cozy feel. It was very New England.
“Creed!” a female voice called out from across the restaurant.
We both turned to see a grown-up Fleur walking toward us. Her boobs were bigger and at sixteen, I didn’t think that was possible. Her fiery long locks were a deeper auburn than they had once been. Her large round stomach sticking out like a basketball had been the most significant difference. Fleur Clark was pregnant. Creed had left that out.
She saw me and paused mid-step, and for a moment, I wondered if sixteen-year-old Fleur was about to take over but then she beamed at me and put her hands on her hips. “Oh my God! Sailor Copeland!” she said then continued her path toward us. “Creed Sullivan, you did not tell me you were bringing Sailor,” she said as she reached us.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” he said smiling smugly at me. I felt stupid for my attitude about Fleur in the car earlier. We were grown-ups now for goodness sake. I had been silly to think otherwise.
“Lulu get this woman whatever she wants. Don’t let her cup get empty,” she said to the blonde waitress then looked back at me. “I am thrilled you’re here. It’s been a lifetime ago it seems. When did you get back into town?”
It was as if there had never been issues between Fleur and me. She acted like any grown adult would with a childhood acquaintance. “Two weeks,” I told her. “I moved into my Gran’s house.”
She swung her eyes to Creed then back to me. “Neighbors again,” she laughed then. “The talk in Portsmouth has already started I bet. I’m surprised Derek hasn’t called me and told me. He should be here tonight too. Have you seen him?”
I shook my head. I hadn’t run into Derek in town and I didn’t realize he still lived there. I wondered if he too had a spouse and offspring. She laughed then and cut her eyes back to Creed. “Competition is good for you. God knows you need some.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but Creed smirked. “Sailor’s boyfriend is a med student in Boston. He’s my cousin’s roommate.”
Fleur’s eyes went wider then she laughed out loud. “I need some entertainment in my life. Other than swollen ankles and not being able to see my feet anymore. God, I wish I stilled lived in Portsmouth.”
Creed took my arm and motioned his head toward the booth. “Ignore her,” he said with a roll of his eyes.
I moved into the booth so that when it was time, I could see the stage clearly. Creed moved into the bench across from me. “If you’re done making up drama that doesn’t exist, we’d like lobster rolls and I want and Impy Stout.” He glanced at me. “What do you want to drink?”
I hadn’t seen a drink menu and I wasn’t one to know my order. I liked to see the specialty cocktails. However, if they didn’t have one, I was afraid it would be rude to ask.
As if she had read my mind, a menu was placed in front of me by Fleur. “These are our specialties. I suggest the Hampton Falls. It’s incredible if you like tart and sweet. If you prefer a smoother slightly sweet then the Snowy Sunrise is a great one.”
I decided I’d try both. “I’ll start with the Hampton Falls,” I told her. Fleur appeared pleased.
“Keep the menu. You can try more,” she told me then winked before turning and walking away rather impressively for someone that far along in her pregnancy. Wasn’t she supposed to be waddling around by now?
“She’s a real witch, isn’t she?” Creed asked casually after she was far enough away she couldn’t hear me.
I shot him a sheepish look. I already felt bad enough assuming she would still be mad at me for taking Creed away from her eight years ago. “She’s great,” I said honestly.
He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest grinning. “You’ll like Josh too. They’re good people.”
I was sure I would. “Did all our friends get married and start procreating?” I asked him.
He gave me a wry look. “Apparently most did.