Foraged Love in a Berry Grove - Love Tales from Santa Margarita Island Book 1

Chapter 6 - Middle School Feels

Why does she persist on going out? No good comes out of it. Right there, Beth decided to hibernate for at least a month after this stupid, rotten day. She started from her gloomy thoughts when Noel covered one of her hands which were clenched tightly on top of their table.

"Ate? Are you okay?"

Sweet Noel. Thank God her parents got one normal daughter. Looking at her younger sister's heart-shaped face and fascinating non-matching hazel eyes, Beth couldn't help but smile. "Sure thing."

Noel's smile turned broader and sunnier, believing her, but the boys exchanged doubting looks. They didn't say anything though and merely got up to get their food.

If Beth thought that she had been completely spared the interrogation, she had another think coming. Jordan waited until he'd polished off one burger (it took about a minute, maybe a minute and a half, tops) and was unwrapping a bratwurst sandwich before he asked, brutally interrupting Zion's impassioned monologue about the work he and Mang Leo were doing on the GTO convertible that some business tycoon was having restored to gift to his grandson for the kid's 18th birthday, lucky undeserving stiff!

"So who's that dude with Nikki?"

Everybody turned to him. Jordan noted the slight flush that went over his older sister's face. Zion and Noel curiously followed the expectant gaze he directed at Beth, who cleared her throat before replying, "Gage, uh, Sullivan, I think."

Jordan rolled his eyes. This was going to be like pulling teeth. "Okay, that's his name, but who is he?"

Avoiding everybody's eyes, Beth shrugged, "Nikki's boyfriend?"

Jordan hooted. "If that's true, how come he was making cow eyes at you?"

His oldest sister gave him a scandalized look. "He was not. Shut up!" she hissed.

Noel trained her beautiful eyes on Beth. "He was kind of moony." Zion nodded his agreement.

"You guys are wrong. Oh look!" Relieved, Beth held up her phone which bore a message alert from Carmel. It said: "Be there in 10. Save me some grub." Desperate to escape any further questions, she jumped up to buy more food.

Beth had every intention of dodging Nikki and her boyfriend while at the car show, but, of course, fate had other plans. She found Gage enthusiastically chatting with the mechanic and his staff when she and her siblings returned to Mang Leo's tent. Nikki was busy Instagramming her selfies with the cars.

Noel and the two guys gravitated toward Nikki and started mugging for their phones as well. Carmel, despite her ill humor, was brought up with manners and taught to mind her elders, so she walked up to Mang Leo, took the older man's right hand and touched it to her forehead in the classic Filipino greeting for an elder.

Beth stood awkwardly in the middle of it all until Tito Ponchie, a rich islander who was exhibiting a number of cars from his VW collection, started chatting her up.

"So, hija, next Kombi run at your place?"

Her initial reaction was to freeze up and panic at the thought of a social gathering, but she remembered that she liked the Kombi Club folks and that she should really be working to get people over to the farm. "Sure thing," she smiled warmly.

"Now, you show me the good fishing spots. Jordan has been bragging about his massive catches. I'd like to bring home some snapper or trevally for Linda to cook."

"I doubt Tita Linda would be thrilled about that," Beth chuckled.

Gage heard Beth's soft laughter and saw goosebumps rise on his arms. This was insane. He hadn't crushed on a girl like this since he was about twelve.

He tried not to be obvious about observing Beth, but his eyes just kept on being drawn toward her. He had intended to squirrel away from the formerly engaging discussion on automobile suspension to go join Beth, but a middle-aged geezer had beat him to it.

The same guy was now calling over to Leo, "Kombi run on Sat over at Beth's farm. I'm bringing my rods."

"Okay. Post it on Facebook," Leo replied and then turned to him, "You should join the club. Come on Saturday. That girl over there is Carmel's ate, Beth. She has a beautiful farm up Mt. Paz." He had been introduced to Carmel when she popped over to their group to greet Leo with an odd gesture of respect. It was his first time to see it in the months since he'd arrived in the country.

He'd known Carmel was Beth's sister without being told. First, she had come over with her siblings, and second, she resembled Beth, the only one among the siblings who did. Carmel was like a taller, craggier, earthier, more solid version of Beth. She also seemed scarier, less approachable. In any case, she certainly didn't have the same effect that her sister had on him.

Hoping against hope that the warmth he felt creeping up from his neck wasn't actually visible, Gage evenly replied, "I know. I was there this morning. I've met Beth."

Leo gave him a funny look. "You've met? Well, then, stop staring. Just go over and talk to her."

A couple of Leo's workers standing with them heard and laughed. Carmel, who'd been standing a couple of yards away, talking to another mechanic, must have heard because she met Gage's eyes and scowled, a look that clearly said, "Don't even think about it."

He looked away and answered Leo, forcing a laugh, "You're a hoot, Leo. I wasn't staring."

The older man regarded him with a poker face. "I can tell you're good people, kid; otherwise, I'd be giving you the same death glare as Carmel."

Despite himself, Gage felt a pleasant warmth stir in his chest at the compliment. "Thanks, Leo. I'll probably chat her up a little later. We started talking Kombis this morning. I want to know more about hers."

"It's a beauty, for sure, but better not put off that chat. She's about to leave. Hey, Beth!"

Beth, who had started heading out, paused and called back, "Yes?"

"Where you off to?"

"Gonna check out the rest of the exhibit."

"Go with Gage. He's about to do the same," ordered Leo.

Gage's heart sank at the deer in headlights look that came over Beth's face. She didn't want to go with him. "That's okay. She might want to go around by herself."

"Nonsense!" Leo herded him toward Beth. "Here. Take him with you. He's a good guy and crazy about old cars." Gage had the surreal feeling of being transported back to middle school. First, Nikki was badgering him about confessing his undying love for a girl he'd just met that morning, and, now, Leo was "helping" him talk to his crush. Well, middle school was a score ago and even then, modesty aside, he hadn't had any trouble pursuing any female who'd caught his interest.

She tried to hide it, but Gage could tell that Beth was fighting off panic at the idea of going around the car show with him. What was up with that? She looked around and her eyes landed on Nikki and her siblings.

"Nikki! Gage wants to see the cars!" she called out.

Nikki who was watching this scene unfold hollered back, "Have fun!"

"Don't you want to come?"

"No! Too hot! Maybe later!"

Beth's eyes shot to her siblings. "You guys?"

Jordan and Noel both stepped forward, seemingly with the intention to join Beth and Gage, but Nikki quickly tugged them back, whispering furiously at them before yelling out, "They'll come with me later!"

Gage rolled his eyes. Real subtle.

Carmel, who'd been watching the exchange with narrowed eyes and ignoring the mechanic she'd initially been talking to, started toward Beth and Gage, calling out a grim, "I'll go!"

Like quicksilver, Nikki was by her side, yelping, "No!" Taking the other woman's arm, she exclaimed, "I want to talk about a painting of our beach. You know, with the cliffs and La Pequeñita in the distance."

Carmel looked at her suspiciously, but conceded to stay, muttering, "Okay."

Nikki surreptitiously shot Gage a look that managed to convey her message clearly: he owed her big time.