Page 20 of Goldilocks

“Nice to meet you,” Eric said.

Laurence’s attention darted back to Sam. “Did Connor tell you about tonight yet?”

“I haven’t seen him. What’s tonight?” Had he texted? Sam hadn’t checked his phone in a few hours. Connor didn’t usually text. Typically, he just showed up on his boat and either invited Sam to hang out or jumped into the water and swam over to Sam’s boat.

“We’re having drinks on the boat since he’s back. Can you come?”

Sam had planned to pull the pots and get them into a better spot later. And his stomach wasn’t fit for drinks, nor was he too sure if his head was fit for company. “I might be busy.”

Laurence blinked. Blinked. “So you’ll meet us out there?” His voice was total innocence, but Sam had seen him pull this with Connor dozens of times over the past few months. The innocent ‘So you won’t go surfing with me?’combined with a sad look always had Connor crumbling in seconds, usually to Adonis’s vocal dismay and Trevor’s laughter.

Sam raised an eyebrow, and Laurence’s sad look was cracked by a grin. “Are you going to be on the water later?” he asked.

In all likelihood, if Connor went drinking on the boat with everyone and Sam was on the water, he’d come driving by just to annoy him. Adonis had an uncanny ability to find Sam no matter where he was out at sea. Which Laurence knew.

“I’ll be out.”

Laurence’s grin became a smile. “See you out there then.” Laurence bounced away, leaving behind two menus in front of Ivan and Eric that Sam hadn’t noticed him carrying.

“Very friendly staff here,” Ivan said in an amused tone.

“That’s just Laurence,” Sam said. Laurence wasn’t always a maximum output extrovert, and Sam had noticed he even tended toward shyness in front of people he didn’t know, but ever since Sam had spoken up on Connor’s behalf, Laurence had treated Sam as if they were best friends.

“What do you study in college?” Eric asked. “I never got the chance to ask the other day. Mary mentioned general education?”

“Sam,” a deep voice spoke before he could, the pleasant timbre friendly and soothing. “How are classes going?” Trevor placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder, squeezing fondly. His smile was warm. Trevor’s eyes were a dark chocolate-brown, but even with that, they were still several shades lighter than Laurence’s, whose eyes looked black when the lighting wasn’t good.

“Good,” Sam answered. “Working on my midterms at the moment.”

“Nick is the same. Laurence pestered him all week to come home for tonight. Will you be able to join us?” Trevor asked.

“Maybe later.”

“You’ll meet us out there?” Trevor nodded.

Apparently, Sam’s attendance wasn’t up to him.

“I’ll talk to you in a minute. I think Laurence is telling off those tourists. Just a second.” Trevor squeezed Sam’s shoulder – the man had this uncanny ability to always know exactly how much pressure to use for it to be comforting – and then strode out the back door. Sam twisted his head to see Laurence did seem to be getting into it with a pair of tourists. They were gesturing to the boat coming in to park against the wharf, and Laurence was squaring off like he was going to fight them. Trevor approached, hands raised in a supplicating manner.

“So,” Ivan prompted, “college?”

Sam watched the scene out the window. “Yeah. College. I—”

“Sam,” a voice interrupted.

Sam heard Ivan’s muttered, “Jesus.”

“Nick, hey.” Sam turned to him as he stopped at their table. Nick’s gaze was fixed out the window. “What’s that about?”

“I think Laurence started fighting with them because they complained about the boat.”

“Figures. You joining us later?”

“Maybe,” Sam said.

“You’d better. I need someone sane out there with me.”

“You’ll have Trevor.”