Maine Squeeze by Catherine Clark Page A

school,” I reminded him.
    â€œYou’re so romantic.” Ben tilted my face toward his and we kissed.
    Telling Ben about Evan now would be a case of bad Templeton timing. Wouldn’t it? I mean, here we were, enjoying ourselves, feeling really close. If I told him now, it would be a horrible end to a pleasant evening. We only had about ten minutes left before Ben had to go home.
    So, it was settled. I’d tell Ben about Evan tomorrow.

Chapter 6
    When Erica, Samantha, and I walked into Bobb’s for our staff meeting the next day, I expected to see everyone sitting in the dining room, where we usually got together for these occasional meetings.
    Instead, the meeting was in the kitchen. Evan was sitting on top of the stainless freezer once again. Standing beside him was a girl I’d never seen before. I felt my heart start pounding nervously, and my palms got sweaty. Don’t tell me that’s his new girlfriend, I thought. Please don’t tell me it’s bring-your-latest-conquest-to-work day .
    She had long, straight blond hair, and wore khaki capris, white sneakers, and a Bobb’s T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off tan, sculpted arms. She looked like a tennis player. Maybe it was the K-Swiss court shoes that made me think that.
    Trudy started off by saying something about how being in the kitchen brought us closer to the heart of the restaurant, and how that would bring us all closer together. She talked a lot about needing to be close . She was somewhat of a hippie, but she’d also apparently read a lot of business books over the winter and she was just dying to try out their theories.
    â€œSo, crew, there are a few new people I want you all to meet. Well, one is new, and one is a returning favorite.” Trudy winked at Evan.
    I nearly tossed my cookies into the sink I was standing beside. “Returning favorite”? As if this were a game show and Evan was a former champion or something. Or a feature on the menu. Tonight’s returning favorite: Evan the cold-hearted. Served with a side of slaw, also cold.
    Maybe I felt so grumpy because I was sleepy from staying up so late with Ben the night before. I couldn’t imagine how he felt—he’d already been at work for four hours. Poor Ben. He had to be at work at six. Our summer schedules weren’t going to work very well together. He kept trying to get the later shift, but since he was the new guy he got last choice.
    The new person at Bobb’s was the blond-haired girl standing beside Evan. Her name was Blair, and she was taking the place of Kelley, who’d decided at the last minute to work at the Spindrift B&B instead of at Bobb’s. (Why anyone would want to make beds and muffins is beyond me, but to each her own, I guess.)
    â€œBlair came to visit for a weekend but decided to stay on,” Trudy said.
    That still didn’t answer my question: Did she know Evan before now? What did she know and when did she know it? Etc.
    â€œWhere are you from?” I asked her, smiling and trying to be polite about the fact I was prying.
    â€œThe most boring town in the United States,” she said with a sigh. “I am so glad to be here.”
    Everyone laughed, and I thought, Could she be a little less forthcoming? That description didn’t sound like Philadelphia, Evan’s hometown. But you never knew. Anyhow, my invitation to visit that particular city had been rescinded, so what did I know?
    â€œIs this the first time you’ve ever been here?” I asked.
    She nodded. “Yeah.”
    â€œWhat made you want to stay for the whole summer?” I went on.
    â€œIsn’t it obvious?” she asked.
    I just smiled at her. Um, no? That’s why I’m asking? Because if it has anything to do with Freezer Boy there, I need to know. Now .
    â€œThis place is heaven!” she said. “I love the ocean, and I love the feel of it here.”
    â€œYeah, well—see