WALKER: Is this day three? I think I had your meltdown scheduled for two days from now
WALKER: Such an overachiever
SAWYER: I’m serious
WALKER: So am I—and honestly it can’t be that bad
SAWYER: You don’t get it
WALKER: Is it because she’s your ex-girlfriend’s sister?
WALKER: Or is she just really hot and you’re trying to not think about her naked?
WALKER: Honestly, you don’t owe Beth anything and you and Hallie are both adults so…
Beth.
Honestly, she’s been the furthest thing from my mind since Hallie got here. And I know I don’t owe her anything; that’s not the problem. The two may be sisters but that’s honestly where the similarities stop.
Beth had straight, mousy-brown hair, big green eyes, and a wild streak that I’d never quite gotten on board with. Looking back, it made sense why things hadn’t worked out. I’d changed a lot of myself to be with her—to keep her happy.
Walker and I met not long after Beth and I had broken up. He still lived in Chicago working for Andrews International back then but had returned to visit his hometown after his own breakup for the same reason. I was three shots of whiskey into drowning my sorrows when he climbed onto the stool next to me.
He slammed back three and bought us both a fourth, and that’s how we spent the rest of the night until the bartender—his cousin—had to drive us home. We’d kept in touch while he was in Chicago, and I’d helped him move his shit three years ago when he came back to Starlight Bay.
And then built a business.
SAWYER: I’m not worried about Beth
WALKER: You sure?
SAWYER: They’re nothing alike
WALKER: Then what’s the problem?
Whatisthe problem?
SAWYER: I don’t know. Her position here is temporary
WALKER: So? You’re allowed to have sex without marrying her
I knowhe means it as a joke, but his text sends dueling reactions through me. The first makes my stomach bottom out at the thought of marriage—at marrying Hallie and having to get her father’s permissionagainbutfor hisotherdaughter. The second is a flash fire of jealousy at getting to having my hands on Hallie, my dick inside her, and then knowing some other prick would be able to do the same when she leaves.
Both reactions are absurd.
SAWYER: I know that
WALKER: Well then man up or shut up and get used to using your hand for the rest of her stay
SAWYER: You’re a dick
WALKER: I was already nice now I’m being real
SAWYER: I’ll remember this the next time you need advice
WALKER: I’ll definitely need advice but it won’t be because I’m pining over a woman and too afraid to do something about it
SAWYER: (middle finger emoji)
