Lana

Lana Drake felt the gust of warmth when she walked into the kitchen. She called out. "My duck is impatient!"

"It's coming next. I'll talk to them when I make my rounds." Oliver replied confidently from behind the stainless steel industrial cooktop.

Les Bistros Français was busy for a Tuesday night. Returning to the floor, she scanned her tables quickly. Lana entertained herself by speculating about her customers. There was the duck - an impatient and rude couple. Lana was certain they probably hadn't had sex, at least not with each other, in months. Then again, she hadn't either in a lot longer.

There was a sweet couple from Connecticut who required no speculation because they volunteered the highlights of their life. They came north to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary and had three kids and five grandchildren, the youngest was at Bowdoin. They were also excited about expecting their first great-grandchild in July.

She smiled at the first date which wasn't going well. The guy looked bored and unimpressed, although Lana didn't blame him. The woman was a bitch, and she had been rude. Doesn't she know not the piss off the person bringing her food? The guy was apologetic and hot. He looked at Lana a minute too long, and for an instant, she considered slipping him her number. It would be one way to move on with her sad life, but she wasn't that girl.

Adam

I have got to stop working so much, Adam Kaplan said to himself as he nursed a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. He was sitting alone at a bar eating his first real meal of the day. Looking at his watch, he sighed. Ten o'clock and he wanted to be in bed.

I'm starting to feel old. Oh God, I'm gonna die alone.

He thought of his partner and best friend with his wife and new baby. Jack Harris was the only bastard who could come out of a tragedy with just as good of a life, if not better. He hooked two perfect wives and Adam couldn't get a decent date. Money grubbing divorcees didn't count.

His eyes lingered on a table in the corner. There was a group of girls laughing. They were too young for him and the thought alone sent a wave of disappointment through him - when had he become so old that too young was a thing? He recognized one girl from his office building. She could most definitely make him feel young again. She had lips that could make parts of him hum. Too bad he was exhausted and had a client meeting first thing or he would stay and buy her a drink.

Oh shit! Did she just smile?

As he stood to leave, she walked over to him. "I noticed you... watching me. I've seen you around. Call me."

She handed him a piece of paper and went back to her friends giggling. Under a streetlight, he opened it to see her name Amanda and her ten digit number.

Ryan

Unable to hear Ryan Harris leaned in closer to his date. She smiled as if his proximity meant he would tell her something sweet that women liked to hear. Unfortunately for her, Ryan couldn't imagine saying anything sweet to his companion for the evening. A companion Heidi had coerced him into meeting.

The trendy restaurant was one of the hardest reservations in town. The overused warehouse decor was responsible for the lousy acoustics. Why did anyone want to pay sixty dollars for a small piece of fish with a side dish that resembled a garnish, in a room where fellow diner couldn't converse?

Ryan didn't want one of those quiet dining experiences with everyone talking in hushed tones and every half hour the interruption of another marriage proposal.

"I do yoga three days a week." She smiled and raised an eyebrow.

Was that a hint? He wasn't biting literally.

"I run on my treadmill occasionally, when I feel motivated." He attempted to be polite when he wished he were anyplace else.

She reached over and rubbed her hand along his broad shoulder. Cooing in his ear. "You're really fit."

He didn't respond not wanting to encourage her. Heidi needed to learn to stop trying to fix him up. He had run out of ways to tell the wife of his business partner he wasn't interested in any of her friends, ever.

Experience told him any woman a friend fixed him up with was looking for more than he was willing to offer. He had no problem finding his own women, and he liked ones who were not interested in a commitment, because any time Ryan had ever considered a relationship, he regretted it.

Don't think about the humiliation!

"I could show you some yoga. It's a great way to relax." Her lips were at his ear. Her breath was hot, but it felt more annoying than sensual.

"It's not my thing, besides it's a work night. What is it you do?" He tried to change the subject.

"Do? Oh well, I do yoga and shop a lot. My ex supports me. I really screwed the bastard in the divorce."

Red flag, not that he was even interested, but he had recently made a huge mistake with a divorcee - even after he had been warned.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he chastised himself.

He would have to tell Heidi he was finished dating. Why wouldn't she accept he wasn't interested in marriage? He was happy for her and Cam and their disgustingly perfect marriage, just as he was for his brother, but none of it was for him.

Ryan's problem was at thirty-six he was getting too old for casual hookups and condoms by the carton. That was why he took a chance with Isobel. Now if he could just get over his mistake, he'd be happy.

Apparently not, as he recognized a couple at the next table, the wife kept looking at him and shaking her head. She must know about his stupidity. He felt the anger creeping back - anger and humiliation.

He had forgotten he was still on a date until he felt her hand on his thigh and heard her high-pitched voice. "A little work night fun never hurt anyone."

His anger didn't lessen as he felt her hand travel up his thigh. He quickly debated how badly he wanted sex, but she was Heidi's friend and there would probably be events - christening and birthdays, so he'd have to see her again. Maybe if her boobs weren't fake, he really hated fake boobs even though he was a self-proclaimed breast man.

"Not for me... I need a solid eight."

Their server stopped by and thankfully his date pulled her hand away. Ryan noticed the young server had an amused expression. Her tits looked damn near perfect and natural. Instead, he told her he was ready for the check, put his platinum VISA on the table, and picked up his phone while ignoring his date's stare.

Stepping outside into the warm spring night, she touched his arm. "Should we share a cab?"

He had parked his car around the corner. Before he could answer an Uber pulled up, and he opened the door and ushered her in. He quickly instructed the driver to take her home. Then he turned to her. "It was nice meeting you. I'm going to walk my dinner off."

It was an excuse. He was angry the whole town knew his mistake. He was also still damn hungry and could kill for a burger.

Lana

Oliver came out of the kitchen and tried to charm the duck couple. They turned out to be tough nuts, so Oliver whispered to her. "Comp dessert." She didn't think a free dessert would sweeten them up.

Her tables turned, and she had to rush to serve her new customers, luckily with better success than the ducks. Against her better judgment, she went to the bar at the end of the night, instead of heading home.

Oliver came out in his jeans and grabbed a draft. "Busy night. Jay, I'm paying for Lana's drink. We were understaffed and she took the brunt of it."

"Remember I'm cutting down to two shifts a week and no weekends."

Oliver raked his fingers through his hair. "I know, I know. Your busy season."

"Thanks to Lucas. He has boosted my little business."

Lana had made a business for herself by caring for summer rentals. Some received the basic service of cleaning every Saturday morning before the new renters arrived. Other higher-end rentals provided additional services such as laundry and shopping. Lucas was a rental agent who thanks to Oliver, had subcontracted with Lana for some of his properties. The waitressing gig kept her afloat throughout the winter.

Her divorce forced her to find a way to support herself because she had come out of her marriage with nothing, but a broken heart and anger towards her ex, Erik. Out of necessity, she started her little business venture. Initially, she did all the work herself, but last summer she hired Jessie, a college kid to help.

Oliver interrupted her musing. "Lana, are you all right?"

"Yeah, just tired. I think I'll head out. Oliver thanks for the drink. You staying in town tonight?"

"Yup, my bed is five minutes away."

"I know and it isn't empty. Tell Beth hi for me."

Lana drove back to The Point to her family cottage which she'd been living in since she and Erik split. Bethany, Oliver's wife, owned the cottage next door. As kids, she and Beth hung out at the beach together, but her real summer best friend was Heidi.

Thinking of Heidi with her perfect husband and baby on the way was slightly depressing. Lana had thought that would be her life, but her husband turned out to be not perfect at all. Instead, Heidi had everything Lana had always wanted.