Page 75 of The Havenport Collection

Christian sighed like an annoyed big brother. “Astrid, what are you drinking?” he asked politely.

“Whiskey neat, please.”

He nodded at Nora. “I like this one.”

“Christian and Dante are investors in the bar, so he can just jump back there and get us drinks whenever we want.” Nora gestured to the massive crowd at the bar. The two bartenders looked fairly overwhelmed.

“That’s cool,” I added, finally sneaking into the open seat next to Cece, praying that my inspection was over.

Dante drained his glass. “Yup. When Christian and I moved back here from New York we decided we needed to spruce up this sad little town. So we’ve been investing in local businesses like this.”

“Oh, so you’re in finance?” Finally, something I could actually talk about.

Dante made a disgusted face while Nora snorted. “Oh no, honey. My handsome hubby over there is the Wall Street guy. I am a hair stylist. I own the Chelsea Salon. It’s on Water Street right before the shipyard?” He asked like I should know exactly what he was talking about.

Cece piped in. “Dante has completely changed my life. My hair used to be a disaster.” Dante visibly shuddered. “But then he taught me how to care for my curls, and it’s been life changing. He is a genius.”

Dante bowed in gratitude.

“Sorry, I’ve only been here a few weeks and haven’t explored,” I explained.

Dante looked disappointed in me, and I made a mental note to step things up in the beauty department. I did have a lot of extra time on my hands. “I am going to give you my card and you will come see me. You are the perfect raw material. Like a slab of Carrara marble.”

Christian arrived with a small tray of drinks that he began handing out.

“Is my husband trying to make you over, Astrid? I’m so sorry. He does this a lot.”

I smiled and accepted my drink.

Dante rolled his eyes at Christian. “My husband is the brilliant businessman. I am the style in this relationship.” That was abundantly clear.

“What brought you guys to Havenport?” I asked while taking a big swig of spicy whiskey.

“He was a big deal on Wall Street, but he missed his mama. Typical Italian boy. So we moved back here.” He smiled at Christian.

Christian rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him.

He also missed his mama and wanted to come home.

Typical Puerto Rican boy.” They exchanged a look, and Dante snuggled up to his husband in the booth.

They were adorable, and fun, and seemed to have impeccable style.

Nora was damn lucky to have such a cool family.

I can’t imagine ever discussing my eyebrows with my mother.

She probably wouldn’t notice if I shaved them off.

The drinks and conversation flowed freely.

Emily arrived late, as usual, and Nora made her take a tequila shot as penance.

I discreetly texted Derek so he could be on alert in case things got out of hand.

I was well into my third drink—Nora had switched everyone to Moscow Mules—when Lucas Kim appeared at our table.

There was a collective intake of breath. He certainly had a presence.

“Dante,” he exclaimed, giving him a bro hug, “just the man I need to see. I have a business trip next week and desperately need a trim.”

I couldn’t help but get a little bit excited. I would love to pick his brain. He was an MIT-educated genius who sold his first company at twenty years old. And I couldn’t help but notice in the well-lit bar just how handsome he was.

But as much as I could appreciate what a fine specimen of man he was, he didn’t excite me like Declan did. He didn’t make my belly flip-flop and my heart race. I was a bit starstruck, but that’s really it.

Dante gave Lucas a megawatt smile. “You know I will always make room in my schedule for you, Lucas. Text me tomorrow and I’ll fit you in.”

“Thanks. I won’t let anyone else touch my hair.”

“Good boy,” Dante replied.

The minute Lucas was out of earshot Nora was spitting venom.

“I can’t believe you,” she hissed at Dante. “Traitor. We are blood now. I let you marry my favorite brother.”

Dante rolled his eyes, and I got the sense this was not the first time they’d had this particular argument.

“Nora, he is a wonderful customer who tips incredibly well. All the girls at the salon are in love with him, and he recommended a software update for our billing system that has completely changed the business. I love that guy.”

Nora crossed her arms in a huff.

“You can hate him, but literally everyone else on planet earth loves him,” Dante added.

Nora sat stonily in silence. I wished I knew the backstory here. It must be a doozy for her to hate him that much. But as impressive as Lucas Kim was, I felt solidarity with my friend. She had offered to kick Max Shapiro’s ass for me, so I put my arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

We chatted and drank, and I was finally feeling myself relax. My new friends were loyal and hilarious. I was feeling better than ever. Then, I felt a vibration in my pocket. I pulled out my phone and glanced at the screen.

It was a text from an “unknown” number that read, Sign the fucking form, Astrid.

My stomach dropped. Who was texting me? And how did this person know I hadn’t signed the waiver? I felt cold and clammy and wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible.

Maggie, who seemed like the type of person who noticed everything, looked at me with concern. “Is everything alright?”

I nodded silently. “I’ll get you a glass of water,” she said kindly.

I sat and sipped my water while everyone chatted around me. What was I doing? Did I really think I could take on Max and the firm? Clearly he knew what I was up to.

“So,” Christian said, tactfully changing the subject, “what should we nickname Astrid?”

I popped my head up. I was definitely feeling the cocktails. “Huh?”

“Christian and Dante give everyone nicknames,” Emily explained. “It’s what they do.”

Nora perked up. “Christian started it as a kid. He used to call me Veruca Salt because I’m a spoiled daddy’s girl who gets whatever she wants. It stuck, despite the fact that it’s no longer applicable.”

Christian coughed into his hand. “Not true.”

Nora continued, “Cece is Tangled, because of her hair.”

I nodded. Yet another movie I hadn’t seen.

“And I’m Von Trapp,” Emily added, smiling.

Christian must have sensed that I didn’t get it. “From The Sound of Music ? Emily is a hippie-dippie preschool teacher who loves to sing.” That was the truth. I guess it did fit her well.

“And you…” Dante said, pointing at me with his glass, “You are definitely Elsa.”

“Oh, hell no,” Nora protested, “she is Furiosa.”

“Oh yes. I love me some Charlize with one arm.” Dante giggled. “Can I shave your head? You would look great with a buzz cut.”

I could not even follow this conversation right now. “Um, no thank you?” I replied.

He nodded sagely. “You’re right. Something slightly softer. I’ll work on it.”

“I’m feeling Elsa, guys,” Emily added. Christian offered her a high five.

“You have a real Elsa vibe,” he said. “Oh yes. Tortured ice queen with a rage problem? Yup, that’s it. Are you Swedish?”

I shook my head. “Norwegian, actually.”

“Close enough,” he said. “I knew it. You have a real Viking princess look. I stand by Elsa.”

“But Anna is really the hero of the story,” Emily added.

“No way,” Maggie protested. “Anna is just the the plucky little sister. Elsa has the powers.”

I zoned out slightly during the Disney debate, which was actually getting heated.

This was fun, but I started to feel a bit down.

I loved my new friends, but I was jealous.

They all knew who they were and what they wanted.

I had no clue. I felt confused, frustrated, and really, really horny.

I wanted Declan, but I also wanted to go back to Burns & Glenn.

I knew I couldn’t have both, and it sucked.

Nora sensed my unease. “What’s up, Elsa? You can share. You’re among friends here.”

I shrugged. “I’m just confused. Confused about Declan, confused about my career, totally confused about my life.”

“We’ve all been there,” Cece assured me. “When I came back to Havenport last year I was a total mess. These guys helped me figure my shit out.”

Emily held up her glass. “I propose a toast. To figuring your shit out and making awesome friends in the process.” I smiled.

“Hell, yeah!” everyone echoed.

After we toasted, Nora looked at me. “You know what you need?”

I stared at her. A cab home? A new job? A personality transplant so I won’t be in my own head all the time? Another vibrator because I was afraid I was going to wear the one she gave me out with all the sexual frustration Declan had caused me?

“Lizzo,” she declared.

Everyone started nodding immediately. I had no clue what she was talking about, and my mind was still spinning from the text.

“We all need Lizzo,” Emily said. “But Astrid really needs her.”

“What is Lizzo?” I asked.

Everyone looked at me in horror. You would think I had just pulled out an AK-47 or told everyone that I saved all my fingernail clippings.

“Sorry, guys, I don’t have a lot of cultural references for the past ten years. I worked so much there wasn’t a lot of time to keep up with pop culture. I need you guys to help me catch up.”

“Oh, no problem there, Elsa. We will change your life by introducing you to the amazingness of Lizzo,” Nora said over the loud music.

“Christian, sweetie, can I have your phone, please?” Nora asked, batting her eyelashes at her brother.

Christian sighed and handed it to Nora, who turned to me and explained, “Christian can control the juke box from an app on his phone. Watch out, bitches, I’m programming a playlist.”

Before I knew what was happening, Nora and Emily were dragging me to the back of the bar where there was a small dance floor. Cecelia begrudgingly joined us after Nora chastised her for texting Liam during girls’ night.

The music was pumping and everyone was dancing. The lyrics were speaking to me and I found myself feeling strangely empowered.

All my friends screamed in unison, “Feeling good as hell.”

The beat was catchy, and I was on my fourth drink so I was able to temporarily ignore my hatred of dancing. My new friends were having fun, and I didn’t want to offend anyone.

Pretty soon I was cutting loose, grinding with Nora, and shaking my hair to the lyrics. Lizzo’s advice about taking control of my life resonated, even through the bar noise and slight buzz of alcohol.

The girls were singing, and Dante joined us, twirling Cece around the dance floor.

I was having so much fun, and I was overcome with emotion.

These people were awesome. And they liked me.

And I liked them. When was the last time that happened?

I liked who I was around them. I was still me, but I was a relaxed, fun, and adventurous version of me.

I would never admit it, but it seemed like Havenport was changing me.