“Maybe he did,” Tessa said.
“Please.” Kate tapped the counter. “He lived around here, right? He was a local, not a summer kid, as I recall.”
“He’s definitely a local,” Tessa confirmed.
“Well, I’ll tell you something else that changed,” Vivien said, leaning in playfully. “He looked at you like you were made of gold-dipped bacon all day today, Miss Tessa Wylie.”
“Oh, come on.”
“It was adorable,” Vivien added. “And weird. He used to be the only boy in town who wasn’t in love with you.”
“We were always buddies,” Tessa said. “And as I recall, we got into enough trouble being friends.”
“Hmm.” Kate nodded as she sipped. “One word: bonfire.”
Tessa cringed. “It was his fault the fire department had to come.”
“Well, you could call them tonight,” Vivien teased. “He burned you with every look.”
“Will you stop?” Tessa rolled her eyes. “I think he was just grateful I invited him. And with all the reminiscing, no one brought up how frequently he was kind of a wreck.”
“All in the past,” Kate said. “And, for the record, Vivien’s right. Any chance that attraction is reciprocated?”
She was saved by the sound of male voices and footsteps coming across the deck, answering with a noncommittal smile.
“Grates need a soak,” Eli announced, heading toward the sink carrying a big black iron…thing.
“We attempted to do it the old-fashioned manly way,” Dusty said, holding up his filthy hands. “But we’re not old-fashioned or manly.”
Tessa would disagree, but she just smiled. “Make that shine and there’s a strawberry shortcake in your future.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jonah walked in from the front door, his posture tight, jaw set.
“Oh, I thought you were on the beach with Meredith,” Vivien said.
“And Atlas,” Eli noted. “Is he with her?”
“No, Dad. I left my month-old baby on the beach alone,” he retorted, no humor in the snark.
“Whoa,” Tessa muttered. “There’s strawberry shortcake on the deck if you need some sugar to get sweeter.”
His eyes shuttered and he started to respond, then stopped.
“Are you okay?” Eli asked, stepping forward.
Jonah took a breath, then held out his phone to his dad. Tessa couldn’t see the screen, but she had a good idea what the picture might be.
“This came up in my memories,” Jonah said. “I miss her, that’s all. I still can’t believe she’s…gone.”
He looked around, wearing that ravaged and lost expression that made less frequent appearances but still could be evident.
“Sorry,” he murmured, looking at their guest. “Didn’t mean to ruin the party.” He looked at the photo, then shook his head and turned. “I’m going to lie down. God knows that kid won’t let me sleep tonight.”
He walked out and down the stairs, leaving a wake of silence and discomfort.
“I’m going out on a limb and guessing he’s referring to his son’s mother?” Dusty said.
