A Day in a Life

Chapter Nineteen

Elijah

I LET TWO days go by before I enter Sydni’s life again. Going to the restaurant every day would look suspicious.

Walking from the library to the Bayside Eatery with a stack of books balanced on one arm makes me feel like I’ve been walking for twenty miles.

Oh well, I needed a good workout anyway.

Dropping this precariously piled stack of books will be easy, maybe not even an accident. I hope I can hold out until I’m close to Sydni.

While everyone else is walking around with snorkeling gear and beach supplies, or holding paddleboards, I’m carrying a stack of books. I couldn’t feel more ridiculous if I tried. If Sydni and I become friends after this, it will be because she pities me. It won’t have anything to do with attraction.

Emersyn is right. I’ve never had problems getting the girl. Sydni’s making me work for it.

When I finally arrive at Bayside Eatery, my arm feels numb. I take a few steps on the deck and notice Sydni taking an order. I wait until she’s done. When she leaves the table to turn in the order, I just so happen to be in her path. I know it’s time. I let those babies tumble all over the place, and it feels good too.

“Oh, can I help you with all those books?” Sydni sounds overly concerned.

She recognizes me from our not-meet-cute the other night. She’s probably worried I dropped the books because of an injury caused from my fall. I carefully drop to my knees to clean up my mess.

Next thing I know, she’s kneeling next to me, gathering up all of the books and stacking them neatly.

“Are you okay? Do you have any injuries after the other day?”

“Good as new. No worries.”

“We have to stop meeting like this,” she jokes with no smile whatsoever. “What are all these books for?”

“I thought I’d learn everything I could about Key West. Then make my vacation plans. For obvious reasons, water sports aren’t actually my thing.”

“But you can find all of this information on Google.”

I stare at her blankly. Why didn’t I think of that? I don’t even deserve to be jokingly called Magnum anymore. I’m so sidetracked by Sydni Greer, I can’t think straight.

“Google never has as much information as a good old-fashioned book. I’ll learn more this way.” After this, I’m having IDIOT tattooed on my forehead.

Sydni nods in a noncommittal fashion. Then she balances the books in her arms and gets to her feet.

“What made you choose Key West for your vacation?”

I know why she’s asking. I walk with a cane, which she didn’t know when she told me not to bother with a car. I’m on a walking island popular for water sports and its nightlife, shops, and galleries. She probably thinks I belong in a lakeside cabin where I can sit in a rocker on the front porch and watch time pass. The grass grow. Clouds moving in the sky.

“It’s beautiful here. It’s the southernmost tip of the United States. I’ve always wanted to see it.”

“Those are good reasons.” Without notice, the pile of books teeters, and they all drop to the deck a second time.

“I’m so sorry,” Sydni says as we both kneel again to pick up the books. “You don’t have to kneel. I can get the books.”

“It’s all good. I can kneel.” With pain, but I can do it. “Why don’t we divide the stack. You carry half, and I’ll carry half. We got this.” I hold out my hand for a fist bump. To my surprise, she responds.

With half the stack in her hands, Sydni gets to her feet with no effort at all. “Hold on, stay right where you are. I can grab your stack.” While I’m still kneeling, Sydni takes the half stack of books from my arms, attempting to balance both stacks in her arms.

It doesn’t work. As she juggles the two stacks, they all fall to the ground again for the third time.

She kneels down next to me again. Our eyes meet, and she starts to laugh, surprising me. I can’t help but join her.

Her smile, it does things to me. I feel like I’ve just been gut punched. In a good way.

“What are we? A comedy team?” she says in between her sweet laughter. “I give up.”

No, Sydni Greer. There’s nothing comedic about us, and there’s no giving up.

“I’m no help at all. Hang on, let me go grab a bag for the books.” She sprints inside the restaurant.

I made her smile again. I had to behave like a blundering idiot, but it was so worth it. Anything to see that glowing smile. It lights up her face.

When she returns, she has a sturdy paper bag meant for large to-go orders. I watch her stack the books inside the bag. “Thanks so much for your help.”

“Was I helpful? I’m not so sure.” She stands, then holds out her hand to help me up.

I accept her help, even though I can do it myself. Time in the gym has been well worth it. Too bad strong muscles can’t take away pain.

Sydni carries the bag of books for me and says, “Where would you like to sit?”

The lunch crowd has dwindled. I look out at the expanse of umbrella-covered tables, each one exactly alike, and wonder if it matters, as long as I can see her.

I choose a spot with a good view. Sydni pulls out my chair for me. Then she takes all of the books out of the bag and stacks them neatly next to me, ensuring they’re within my reach.

I know she’s doing her job right now, but I find her thoughtful. She didn’t have to go above and beyond to help me.

“What can I get for you?” she asks, pulling out her pen and pad of paper.

I feel like our meet-cute should involve more conversation. Is it already over?

“A lunch companion?” I pause. “Have you had your lunch break?”

A wary look flashes across her face. “Uh, no. It’s in fifteen.”

Bam. She didn’t have to tell me that. “Would you like to join me?”

Five seconds, ten seconds, fifteen seconds, twenty seconds pass. “Um, okay,” she says with no enthusiasm whatsoever. I think I just turned her into a meek little mouse cornered by a predator.

“What can I get for you?” she asks again, a slight tremble in her voice.

Am I scaring her? That’s the last thing I want to do. “I think I’ll just go with a burger and fries today. Also, I’d like about a gallon of water. I’m parched. Oh, and get whatever you’d like. Lunch is on me.”

“I brought a sack lunch today. I’ll just have that.”

“Are you sure? I’d love to treat you after all the kindness you’ve shown me,” I offer.

“Thank you, but no. My sack lunch will be fine.” She whirls away before I can say anything more.

I remember Sydni’s best friend, Penny, saying Sydni was quiet and reserved, but she had a backbone.

I see those qualities in her. She could easily come across as a pushover. Yet she’s politely held firm with me.

Her quiet and soft voice reminds me of Nicole Kidman’s whisper-voice. I wasn’t expecting it, and I love it. It sends a chill down my spine every time I hear it.

I’m looking forward to spending time with her, even if it’s just a lunch break. It’s progress.

It’s not long before Sydni brings me my order. Her cute little sack lunch in a brown paper bag sits atop the tray as well.

“Thank you for joining me. You’re much better company than a pile of books.”

“Thank you for inviting me.” With that, she pulls out her humble lunch. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a rosy apple, and a granola bar. She doesn’t have the fancy water I do, a large bottle of Acqua Panna with a glass filled with ice and limes on the side. She has an ice-filled glass of tap water.

“The restaurant doesn’t offer you a free meal when you’re working?”

“They do. I save it for my dinner break. If I purchased lunch every day, pretty soon I’d be paying them to let me work here.” She studies my expression. “Don’t feel sorry for me. This is my favorite lunch. I’m a frugal person by nature. Make no mistake, though, the restaurant pays me well.”

Interesting. Sydni doesn’t exhibit the personality traits that go along with greed. Otherwise, she’d be sitting here picking the most expensive thing on the menu and letting me foot the bill.

“All right then, but next time I get to treat you. I would love to pamper you for a change, in the same way you pamper your customers. I can’t thank you enough for coming to my aid, twice now.”

“I did what anyone would’ve done. It’s no big deal.” Her cheeks pinken.

“It was a big deal to me.”

“I see what you mean.”

“So Saige Riley with the beautiful name, where are you from?”

“California.” No hesitation. Whatsoever.

I’m glad when she doesn’t ask where I’m from because I would’ve hesitated. Can I even be called a PI? “Did you like it there?”

“I did. My family lives there. But I like it so much better here. This is my home now.” Her brown eyes roam the beach.

“Lucky girl.”

“Every day I wake up and say ‘Just another day in paradise.’ I guess you could say it’s my mantra.”

“Huh. I wish that was my mantra. Mine’s ‘Walk with a cane, so I don’t have pain.’”

She pales. “I’m sorry. That must be tough. For the record, that cane looks good on you.”

“It does?” My ex didn’t think so.

“Oh yeah.” She bites her lip like she wants to say more.

“Enough about me. So you enjoy living in paradise?”

“Yep. I think life is too short. I say, if you’re unhappy, make the necessary changes to make yourself happy.” Sydni bites into her apple.

“Were you unhappy in your former life?”

“I was. So I changed my circumstances.”

“Are you happy now?” I think she’s already answered that question.

“I am. I miss my family, but living here, this is as good as it gets.”

“What else do you want in life?” I know what she wants. I’m heartbroken that it was brutally taken from her.

Sydni shrugs. “I have everything I need and want.”

“Really? Few people can say that.”

“My tastes are simple. I don’t need a lot of material things to make me happy.”

Two things could be happening right now. She’s a true-blue sweet girl, or she’s made me and she’s feeding me lines to make herself appear innocent. I’m not sure, but I want it to be the first scenario so much there’s an ache in my chest.

“What about you? Are you happy with your life?” she asks.

“I probably need to move to Key West.” I’m uncomfortable talking about myself. Keeping as close to the truth as possible is always best, without giving myself away.

“If you need a do-over, it’s the best place to lose yourself.”

Huh. Interesting wording.

She goes on. “By the way, I’m sorry I sent Brook to your table the other day. She’s flirty, and I thought maybe that’s what you were looking for. I was wrong. I apologize.”

“No problem. I’m skilled at warding off unwanted attention as well.” I realize my mistake as soon as it leaves my lips. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that quite the way it sounded. You didn’t know me. I understand your refusal. You must receive unwanted attention often working here.”

“It’s part of the job. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. I’m glad you’re one of the good guys.”

I hide the shock from my face. “What makes you say that? You hardly know me.”

“After a few encounters, it becomes readily apparent.”

“I think I’ve just received the best compliment of my life.”

Sydni polishes off her lunch and glances at her cell phone. “I have to get back to work.” She stands. “Don’t prove me wrong.”

There’s that backbone I’ve heard about.

As she walks off, I remember that I still haven’t even told her my name.

It’s official. IDIOT will be tattooed on my forehead as soon as I can arrange it.

I’m behaving like a man who’s smitten.

With a suspect. Who could be guilty. Who could be a criminal.

Or she could be as innocent as I’m sure she is. That’s the law. Innocent until proven guilty.

I love that law. It’s my new favorite law.

After watching Sydni for far too long, I delve into my books. I need to keep up appearances. I can’t concentrate on what I’m reading though. I’m far too distracted. I learn absolutely nothing about Key West.

All at once, crowds of people descend upon the restaurant. They seem to be everywhere. On the beach and on the streets, meandering through shops.

When Sydni checks on me, I say, “Did a cruise ship just dock?”

“Sure did. It’s always our busiest time. Do you need anything?”

“Nah, I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”

She takes me at my word.