Overtures and Eyelashes

by Lin Morris

“Thanks so much for inviting me down, Sis.” Luke gave Marta’s hand a squeeze as they walked the Beachgrass Motel’s gravel path to the cabins. “Work’s been crazy, a weekend away is just what I need.”

“I’m glad we had a cancellation,” said Marta. “You got literally the last room in town!”

The annual Kite Fest was finally back post-pandemic, and Echo Beach was jam-packed and jumping. Luke wouldn’t have driven over two hours from the city if Marta and his brother-in-law Kevin didn’t own such a cozy old motel.

“Are you sure you won’t let me pay?”

Marta waved away his suggestion like a gnat. “Nonsense. How often do I get to see my baby brother? Plus,” she continued, dropping her voice down to a whisper, “we’re charging everyone else almost double this weekend.” They stopped at the last cabin on the path, closest to the shoreline. “Here we are! Our finest accommodation: king bed, kitchenette, ocean view.”

She fussed with the collar of his polo shirt and smoothed his mustache.

Luke ducked when she came for his cowlick. “Okay, grandma, I know I’m disheveled, but c’mon.”

Before Marta could turn the knob, the door of the cabin swung open and she nearly collided with her big bear of a husband.

“Luke!” shouted Kevin happily, pulling him into a great hug. “What are you doing in town?”

“I told you I was giving Luke the empty cabin.”

“What? No, I told you I was giving it to Theo.” Kevin stepped aside and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Luke saw a tall, kinda cute guy leaning against the kitchenette counter.

“Theo!” said Marta. “Hi!”

As she pulled Theo closer with a hug of her own, Luke got a better look: Theo was not kinda cute, he was gorgeous, with luxuriously thick hair, full lips, eyelashes so long they were practically prehensile.

On the other hand, he was dressed in khakis, a button-down, and loafers, like he was attending a corporate seminar, right down to a crisply-folded newspaper in his hand.

Who still reads newspapers? Luke thought. He self-consciously wiped his hands on his cargo shorts, though, and wished he’d let Marta tackle his messy hair after all.

“Luke,” said Kevin, “this is my cousin Theo.”

“Nice to meet you, Luke,” Theo said. Wow, even his voice was hot. They shook hands.

Was Luke mistaken, or did it last a second longer than necessary?

And those eyelashes, holy moly.

“Well, boys,” said Marta, “looks like we’ve got a little overbooking problem.”

They all looked at each other in silence for exactly 2.5 seconds before everybody started talking at once.

“Obviously,” said Luke, pointing at Theo’s unpacked clothes, “I should be the one to go.”

“No,” said Theo, “you’re a brother, I’m only a cousin. I’ll go.”

“Neither of you needs to go,” said Marta.

“Stay, both of you,” said Kevin. “It’s a huge bed!”

That stopped them all.

“What?!” Luke and Theo said in unison.

Then they stared at each other, both offended by the other’s reaction.

“We’ll get you a rollaway,” said Marta. “There! It’s settled.”

“It is not settled,” said Luke. “Marta, can I see you outside?”

“Anything you have to say, you can say to my face.” Theo’s raised chin issued a definite challenge.

“Fine.” Luke straightened his spine, but avoided looking into Theo’s eyes. “Nothing personal, but I don’t wanna sleep with a stranger.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Marta muttered to Kevin.

“Shut it, Marta.” Luke sneered. “Especially one so…shall we say, overdressed?”

“Oh,” said Theo, “so, you have a problem with people who look like they’re…shall we say, employed?”

Luke placed a hand over the chocolate stain on his shirt and harrumphed.

Those eyelashes though.

“I’m leaving.” Theo began throwing clothes into his suitcase.

“Oh, no, you don’t get to be the martyr in this scenario.” Luke turned to Marta. “I’ll just

stay at your house tonight and drive home in the morning.”

“That’s cool,” said Kevin. “You don’t mind a dozen screaming tweens, though, right?

Because Kelli’s having a big-ass slumber party tonight.”

Luke bit the inside of his cheek, debating. He loved his niece, but there were limits.

“Fine,” he said, his tone indicating it was anything but. “But I get the bed.”

“No, I get the bed.”

“Boys!” Kevin silenced them with a clap of his meaty hands. “I still say, why can’t you share the bed?”

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“How about a friendly game of Rock Paper Scissors?” said Marta.

“Do we look twelve?” said Theo.

“What are you, scared?” Luke laughed. “I’ll do it if Eyelashes will.”

Theo blinked at him. “I’m sorry, did you just call me Eyelashes?”

Dammit.

“Yes. But in my defense, I didn’t mean to say it out loud.”

“Okay, Mustache.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. You’ve got a mustache. I like mustaches.”

“No doubt you assume there’s food in it.”

“You’re impossible.”

Marta plucked Kevin’s phone from his back pocket as she pulled him outside.

“Call your cousin. Now.”

“Huh?”

“Now!”

Kevin sped through his contacts.

The moment Theo’s phone rang, Luke whipped his head around, wide-eyed.

“Shut UP, your ringtone is the Funny Girl overture?”

Marta let the music play for a moment before disconnecting the call.

“Obviously,” said Theo. “It’s only the greatest overture in Broadway history.”

“Actually, the greatest overture is Gypsy, but Funny Girl’s a solid second.”

“Granted, Gypsy is the best score ever written, but Funny Girl has the better overture.”

“Sorry, no,” said Luke. “The best score ever written is clearly West Side Story.”

Marta quietly closed the door to the cabin.

“I told you they were perfect for each other,” she said. “Inviting them both for the weekend was the best idea ever.”

“When you’re right, you’re right.” Kevin kissed her atop the head. “How’d you know the ringtone would seal the deal?”

“Please. Do you remember what we bonded over?”

“If I recall, it was green Converse high-tops.”

“Exactly.” She peered through the window at Luke and Theo arguing and laughing. “It doesn’t take much if the chemistry’s right.”