Adam

By the time Adam arrived on The Point it was almost midnight. He avoided traffic by working late. Once or twice on his drive up he thought of Amanda but reminded himself she was a free agent and so was he, according to her. Did he want to hook up over the weekend? The last time he was with Amanda she had been amazing and bold. He was used to clingy women, which she wasn't at all.

How'd I get so lucky?

She was like every guy's wet dream, but it was also her downside. He suspected she'd been with a lot of guys and he felt uncomfortable with how easy she was.

Ryan waited up and greeted him by ribbing him. "You didn't bring your child?"

"She's legal, but no, she's off with friends. We're casual."

He wouldn't admit she was probably hooking up with some other lucky guy.

"So guys weekend?"

"Guys and baby." Adam teased. Looking around, the cottage was comfortable and exactly like he expected given Cam's professional success.

"Oh right! Let's add my parents to make it really fun." Ryan handed Adam a beer. "How was the traffic?"

"Not bad. So what's on tap besides the baby?"

"There's a big party on Sunday. The rest is open."

Adam followed Ryan and sat down on a nautical print sofa. It was comfortable, although not as much as his leather one. The two-hour replay of the ballgame was on. After watching the team leave two on base, he drained his beer. "I should get some shut eye. Jack will probably call me early."

"Yeah, me too."

His phone woke him as it vibrated on the wooden nightstand. It was only eight.

"What?" He barked, knowing it was Jack.

Jack sounded very awake and chipper. "I'm stopping by to take you to breakfast."

"Now?"

"Yes now, I already ran and showered."

"Okay, but I need at least fifteen."

"I'll give you thirty. Shower. I don't need to smell you."

Ryan was not around when he emerged fully showered and dressed. Jack walking toward the door and Adam opened it before he could knock.

They greeted each other. "Hey."

"Ready for the best coffee ever?"

"Yeah, I remember it. Where's your brood?"

"At home with Maddie, you can see her after. I'm hoping her mother has left by then."

"You're hiding from your mother-in-law?" Adam laughed.

"Kinda, she just never stops talking, it drives me crazy. She likes me since I gave her a grandson. You have to see him. He's perfect!"

"I will, but I might not hold him."

The line for coffee was long, but Jack said he expected it. They were almost to the front when he heard a sweet voice.

"Jack, can you get me a large black. I'm too busy to wait, here..."

She handed Jack some crumpled bills, before looking up. She had amazing green eyes which looked almost cat-like. After they had their coffee, she walked away.

"Who was that?"

Jack looked distracted. "Who? Oh, Lana. Nice girl."

"Nice!" Adam smirked.

"What happened to the child you took to the game?"

"That was just..." He didn't say the three letter word, but Jack wasn't stupid.

Jack shook his head.

Adam looked around, the place was full of customers.

Jack sighed. "No seats, let's check outside. I get spoiled all winter."

"Sure winters around here must be exciting!"

"Don't knock it, my bed is always warm."

"I bet green eyes could warm up a bed."

Jack shook his head again. "I said she's a nice girl. She doesn't need the likes of you."

At Jack's house, Adam watched in amusement two grandmothers' power struggle to babysit so Jack and Maddie could take him out for a drink. Finally, Kelly gave in. "John and I will have Ryan over for dinner instead."

Jack said, "He'd probably rather come out with us."

"He can meet you after he sees his mother." Kelly replied as if Jack were still ten.

Sure enough, Ryan wasn't home when Adam went back to change. It was on the cooler side and didn't feel like summer at all. Since the bar was right on the beach, he needed warmer clothing.

There was a crowd on the deck and Jack and Maddie knew more than a few of the other drinkers. Maddie wasn't drinking, but Jack waited in line for their beers.

"So this is the place to go?" He yelled at Maddie so she could hear him.

"Yeah, this is our nightlife."

She waved as people continued to walk up the steps onto the deck from the beach. The sun was setting and there was a cool breeze coming off the water. He was glad he put on jeans and his favorite MIT sweatshirt. Jack had teased him, but he was wearing one that had The Point, Maine written on it so Adam had teased him back saying he looked like a tourist. Arriving at their table with the drinks, he handed Adam a bottle.

Maddie explained they were lucky to have a table to sit at. "It will be standing room only soon."

Jack explained Rory's boyfriend's parents were across the way. Adam nodded. "So she's still with the same boy?" Jack nodded but looked a little uneasy. "I thought you liked him?"

"I did when they were fifteen and sixteen, but now at sixteen and seventeen."

Maddie leaned in to Adam. "Poor Jack is afraid because he knows what I was doing on the beach at sixteen."

Adam laughed. "I think it's weird you know each other's past." What he was thinking was he was glad he didn't know the details of Amanda's past. His gut told him it would be a novel and not a short story. His was in between and there he was with the double standard again.

He lifted the bottle to his lips. As he was taking a pull, he saw the girl with the cat eyes walking up the stairs. He watched as she looked around and waved to people. When she saw them, she walked over.

She hollered above the din. "Hey Jack, thanks for helping me out this morning."

"No problem. I know Saturday is your busy day."

When Jack leaned into Maddie, Adam assumed he was telling her about the coffee line.

"Hi. I'm Jack's friend and business partner, Adam."

"Lana. Are you enjoying your visit?" She smiled, and it made her eyes sparkle which he felt in his gut. "I was looking for a friend, but she isn't here."

"I'm going up for a second round, do you want something?"

"Sure, just a Shipyard. Thanks."

He nodded and gave his best smile. He remembered Amanda and thought of her at some bar. He could buy Lana a drink. When he came back with three beers, Maddie said, "Let's go walk on the beach."

"With these?"

Lana said, "Technically we aren't supposed to, but no one cares. We've all been drinking on the beach since we were in high school."

Adam watched Jack's face stiffen. The poor man was struggling to accept Rory was growing up. "Do you want to walk with us?"

She took one more look around. "Sure. It's too loud anyway."

Lana

Jack's friend was handsome and when she followed them down the stairs, his jeans looked amazing from behind. She wished she was one of those girls who thought nothing of hooking up with a guy, but she had only been with Erik and her next one wouldn't be a stranger, she told herself. Besides, it was too cold for the beach and her parents and little brother were up for the weekend.

Once away from the noise, Maddie said, "I'm walking down the beach and then heading home to feed the baby."

Jack said, "Lana, Adam is going your way. He can walk you home."

Lana asked, "What do you mean?"

"He's staying with my brother. Apparently, he has a problem with being woken in the middle of the night at our house."

Lana remembered the mess she just cleaned in that house across the street. Jack's brother stayed out of her way once she convinced him to let her clean. He even thanked her and asked about her bill. She told him he would need to speak to Heidi, and he nodded. As she looked at Jack, there was no mistaking them as brothers. Ryan looked much younger than Jack. His life had given Jack more frown lines than laugh lines. Lana, like all of the Point family, knew about his first wife's tragic death. Maddie and Jack gave her hope she would eventually find her own happily ever after. Although it hurt, her divorce was not nearly as awful as having a loved one tragically killed by a drunk driver.

Maddie said, "Jack that's because he would. Poor Rory has been complaining she'll move in with your parents or mine."

Adam joked. "Send her to stay with Ryan!"

Jack said, "No! He calls her kid! I'm not sure he knows her name."

Lana thought of the man she met. He didn't seem like someone who cared for children. Then she looked sideways at Adam, who was laughing at Jack's annoyance over his sibling. She smiled at his handsome smiling face and felt something she hadn't felt in a very long time.

Maddie called out goodnight, and Jack followed his wife. It was just past nine, and Adam turned to her. "Do you want another drink?"

"Nah, I'm good. I've been up since six." Lana stifled a yawn.

"Why's Saturday your busy day?" They turned around and started back down the beach.

"I have a company which takes care of properties here on The Point. Renters leave and new ones arrive on Saturdays. I've spent weeks getting all the cottages ready for the season."

"Sounds like hard work. All I do is tap on computer keys all day."

A cold breeze blew and she shivered. She should have worn a sweatshirt or fleece like Adam.

"Are you cold? Here."

Without warning, he pulled off his sweatshirt and gave it to her.

"I couldn't."

"I offered, besides if you're warm I might convince you to sit and talk to me a while." His voice sent a tingle down her spine. She knew nothing about him except he was very attractive and a friend of Jack and Maddie.

"You'll be cold." She stated concerned, figuring with the breeze coming off the cold water it couldn't be more than sixty degrees.

"I'm fine. I can steal some heat from you." He put his arm around her. "So."

Lana hadn't realized how much she missed the feel of strong arms until she was in some again. She felt nervous. "I don't even know you."

"This is just for warmth. I've heard Portland in a foodie city."

"It is and the bistro my friend owns has received some great recognition. Both my friend, the chef, and the pastry chef trained in Paris."

"Perhaps you could go with me some time and you know... tell me what's good."

"I've never dined there. They book up on weekends so you'd have to plan ahead."

Lana was certain he was asking her out and the idea excited her. She felt nervous and fidgeted with her hair. As much as she tried to avert them, her eyes were drawn to his lips. They looked soft and quickly her eyes moved up to meet his mesmerizing eyes, which were just as unnerving.

"So if I arranged to come back say, next weekend or the one following would you be willing to go with me?"

She felt uncertain, but intrigued. "I'd like that. I can see about a reservation and let you know."

He smiled, his teeth were the kind of perfect that came from years of braces. "I'll give you my number then."

"We should go. You must be cold and I'm exhausted."

"Will you be at this party I hear is happening tomorrow?"

She laughed. "Everyone will be there."

She stopped in the street and pointed. "I'm there."

"You are just across the street. Well, goodnight, Lana. I enjoyed our walk."

"Goodnight Adam."

When she turned away, she smiled. Maybe there was still hope for her summer.