Nantucket Weddings - Pamela M. Kelley Page 0,52
is like a ghost town.”
Mia shook her head. “I’m used to it now. I get back to the city now and then to visit my parents. That’s enough for me.”
“Mia and I were talking about having a co-open house soon. Now that we’re both back in our condos. How does next Saturday work, Mia?”
Mia had nothing planned. “That works for me.”
“Good.” He looked at Alexis and Bethany. “You’ll both come?”
Alexis pouted. “I won’t be here then. I’m heading home on Friday.”
“I’ll be there.”
“You guys live next to each other?” Alexis looked as though she was wondering if there was something more going on. “That must be nice.”
Ben smiled. “It is. I got lucky having Mia as a neighbor.”
They finished their drinks, said goodbye to Bethany and Alexis, and drove home.
“Do you have any plans for dinner? I thought maybe we could grab a pizza and eat on the deck. Have another drink and celebrate being home.”
“Sure. I’ll call it in. What do you like on your pizza?”
“I’ll eat just about anything. Pepperoni is always good.”
Mia called an order in for a large pepperoni pizza from the place around the corner from their condos. By the time they got back there, it was just coming out of the oven. Mia insisted on buying the pizza since Ben had treated to the drinks and the golf game.
Mia handed the pizza to Ben and went home for a minute to change into a pair of jeans and took Penny outside so she could do her business. She put a plate of food down for Penny and walked next door to Ben’s condo. His door was ajar, so she knocked and pushed it open. She had a bottle of chardonnay with her and saw that Ben was getting out some paper plates and napkins.
“Wine glasses are in the cupboard by the sink.”
“Do you want me to pour you a glass?”
“No, thanks. I’m going to grab a beer.” He took a bottle of Sam Adams out of the refrigerator, and they went out onto his deck with their drinks and the pizza. His unit was a mirror image of hers, but his decorating was much darker, more masculine. He had brown leather sofas and a huge, flat-screen television that took up most of the wall.
She followed him onto his deck and sat in one of two padded chairs at a table just big enough for the pizza box and their plates. Ben put a slice of pizza on two plates and handed one to her.
It was a gorgeous night. The slight breeze from earlier had stilled, and the harbor was as smooth as glass, with the boats reflected on the surface. They bobbed gently in the water, and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore was music to Mia’s ears. It was her favorite sound.
“I never get sick of the sound of the waves.”
“I don’t either. Though the first night I slept here, I had the window open and had to close it after a while. It was almost too loud.”
Mia smiled and took a sip of her wine. “It was like that for me at first, too. You’ll get used to it fast.”
“So, you’re sure Saturday night works for you, to have some people over? I was thinking around six or so, keep it casual. I can pick up some Bubba burgers and hot dogs.”
“That works. I can make some pasta salad, and of course guacamole and chips. And I’ll pick up some wine and mixers.”
“I’ll get beer and vodka and maybe more cups and paper plates.”
“I’m sure people will bring stuff too. Kristen usually brings either brownies or her peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and Kate and her mom love to cook and always make good appetizers.”
They were quiet for a moment, and then Ben asked, “What made you decide to move here? To leave the city for good?”
It was a more serious question, and Mia took a moment to think about how best to answer.
“It was impulsive and yet it wasn’t. Izzy and I shared a house here one summer when she’d just graduated and I was on break. I was an elementary school teacher then, and it was my second year teaching. Having summers off was the best part of that job.”
“You didn’t like teaching? I could see you doing that. You have a calming way about you—especially with my sister. I know she’s not the easiest at times.”
“I didn’t love teaching. Not like I thought that I would.