Nantucket by Nan Rossiter

they’d been with than they were with the state of the world; and even though Liam owned a boat that would be the envy of every boy she knew, he loved it for its beauty, not its value.
    He turned back. “Coming?”
    â€œYup,” she said, stepping out of her shorts and following him.

Chapter 8
    L iam was surprised to find a parking spot on Broad Street on a Saturday night. He backed into it and climbed out, glancing at his watch as he hurried across the street—he hadn’t realized how late it had gotten after he’d towed John Alden’s boat back to the boathouse. He ran his hand through his damp hair and looked up at the beautifully restored New England building. It wasn’t his first time at The Brotherhood of the Thieves. In the off-season, he often stopped by the old whaling bar to have a beer with the old salts, but he avoided going out in the summer months, and he’d never been to the restaurant.
    He stepped inside and was immediately greeted by a friendly hostess who showed him to the patio where the Regan party was already getting started. Tracey stood up as soon as she saw him. “Hey,” she said, giving him a warm hug. Liam smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek; then he shook Jack’s hand and nodded politely to their friends. “This is Chase Travis,” Jack said, motioning to a handsome, blond-haired man wearing round, tortoise shell glasses. “And this is Devon Travis,” he said, motioning to the slender Asian man sitting next to him. Both Chase and Devon stood to shake hands and Liam realized that, although they shared a last name, they couldn’t possibly be brothers—unless one was adopted. He glanced at Jack for a sign, but his face was unrevealing. “Chase and Devon own The Painted Parrot.”
    â€œI’ve heard of it,” Liam said, not missing a beat. He had an open mind— to each his own, he’d always believed. “Over on Old South Wharf. It’s new . . .”
    â€œYes,” Chase said, sipping his martini. “We just opened this summer and it’s been a huge success—bigger than we ever dreamed.” He looked over at his partner for confirmation and Devon nodded. “We’re featuring an up-and-coming new artist in our next show,” Chase continued. “Levi Knox—his work is amazing. In fact, we’ve already sold a piece!”
    â€œThe opening is tomorrow,” Devon added.
    Liam nodded. “I saw an ad in the paper.”
    â€œI told you the newspaper was worth it,” Devon said, smiling victoriously.
    Chase rolled his eyes. “We’re still trying to figure out the best venues for ads—I think magazines, but Devon insists vacationers read the local paper too.”
    â€œWell, I’m not a vacationer, but that’s where I saw it,” Liam confirmed as their waitress came over to take his drink order. He quickly glanced at the list of beers and then eyed Jack’s glass.
    â€œWhale’s Tale,” Jack said.
    â€œI’ll just have what he’s having.”
    The waitress nodded. “Are you ready to order dinner or should I come back?”
    â€œCome back,” they all said, and Liam, who was still trying to catch up, opened his menu. He glanced down, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Tracey looking at him.
    â€œWhat?” he asked with a boyish grin. She laughed and he felt his heart skip. Yep, nothing’s changed, he thought. If there was any other girl on earth, besides Cadie, whom Liam felt he could’ve spent his life with, it was Tracey, and the funny thing was, the two weren’t anything alike. Tracey had dark, wavy hair—which he now noticed had silver strands weaving through it—and jade green eyes, and because she was Greek and had olive oil running through her veins, she was perpetually tan. But the biggest difference between them was that Cadie had come from a wealthy family who vacationed