or romantic feelings for Carson at first, just a sense of camaraderie, and then, as they ordered a second bottle of champagne and a burger to share with double fries, a sense of conspiracy. Carson Quinboro and Zach Bridgeman were hanging out, wasting an afternoon getting drunk in a fancy hotel bar!
Zach was easy to talk to. Carson heard about how he’d graduated from MIT with a degree in aeronautical engineering, then came to Nantucket to work for the summer before doing a master’s at Rensselaer. During that summer, he worked at the Yacht Club and was “targeted” by Pamela Bonham. He was then fast-tracked into the Bonham family and a life on Nantucket.
“By ‘fast-tracked,’ you mean…”
“I got Pamela pregnant.”
“Ah,” Carson said. “You were so young.”
“Yes, my friend, yes, I was. It wasn’t the life I’d planned but I’ve made it work. I enjoy ATC. I like flying myself when I can. I love Nantucket. I’d be a jerk to complain.”
Their server appeared and asked if he could bring them anything else. By that point, Carson was well on her way to being drunk and although she knew the proper thing was for her to thank Zach, collect her bag, and summon an Uber, she noticed something in Zach’s expression, a crack in the friendly, confident facade. Maybe he wanted to be a jerk. Maybe he wanted to complain—and if so, Carson wanted to hear it.
She said, “I think I’m going to switch to a cocktail.”
She fully expected Zach to tactfully say that they’d had enough and that he had places to be—but he didn’t even hesitate. “I’ll join you. A Maker’s Mark on the rocks for me and…”
“Belvedere, tonic, lemon, please.”
When did she realize she wanted to sleep with him? Maybe a couple of sips into her Belvedere and tonic when she excused herself to go to the ladies’ room and Zach stood up (her father always did this as well, and Carson loved a man with old-fashioned manners; every boy she’d ever dated reached for his phone before she’d even left the table). Maybe it was a moment later when, sitting on the toilet, Carson considered texting Willa to say, You are never going to believe who I’m getting drunk with right now! Carson knew not to say anything to Willa because Willa would tell Rip and Rip would tell Pamela and what was electric about the afternoon was that Carson and Zach were forging a bond without anyone in their respective families knowing about it.
One cocktail became two. Before they ordered a third, Zach said, “I think I should send you on your way before something indiscreet happens.”
Carson, emboldened by the mere suggestion that something indiscreet might happen, slid over on the banquette until she was close enough to feel the warmth coming off Zach’s body. He was old, yes, in his forties, but he was kind of hot and he was so nice and smart (he had an engineering degree from MIT!) and he’d been such a hero to her on the plane, and this was the first day of Carson’s new, independent adult life, and the best plot twists, as her mother would say, occurred when you least expected them. That was what made them twists! “I suppose you’ve heard I’m the black sheep of the family.”
“I’ve always thought you were the most intriguing Quinboro. And today proved me right.”
“Did it?” Carson let her hand fall lightly on Zach’s thigh, which was very bad and very bold. He picked her hand up, kissed it, and said, “You’re extremely beautiful, Carson. But I’m married and a father and you’re half my age.”
“But we nearly died,” Carson said. “We should be celebrating life. I feel like something should happen now.”
Zach signaled for the check. “What happens now is you go to Savannah’s, and I’ll see you back on Nantucket. At…Thanksgiving. Willa is hosting, right?”
“Right.”
“We probably shouldn’t tell anyone about today.”
“Except we’re not doing anything wrong,” Carson said. “You’re rejecting my advances.”
Zach squeezed her hand. “Someday you’ll thank me for rejecting your advances. Nothing good could come of this—not for me and not for you either.”
Zach paid the bill, then escorted Carson to the lobby and waited while the bellman retrieved her bag. He took care of tipping the bellman, which was such a kind and generous thing to do that Carson fell even deeper into her infatuation.
“Shall I wait with you while your Uber comes?” he asked outside the hotel.