Tossingmy phone on the counter, I drag my hands down my face. He’s right; Iamafraid. She’s only been here for three days and I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to lose myself in her.
It would be a mistake.
And I don’t make mistakes.
Not anymore.
4
HALLIE
Growing up in Starlight Bay hadn’t felt as wonderful as everyone made it out to be. I’d been trying to get out of here since I was a teenager, but maybe that had less to do with the beach and the tourists and more to do with feelinglost.
I’d always wanted to be my sister growing up. She’s older than me and wasso cool. She always seemed like she knew what she wanted.
But that hadn’t been entirely true.
My hero worship of her had faded in the last couple of years of high school and had dissolved completely after she’d broken up with Sawyer. I was hurt for him and the way she’d acted like he was holding her back, only for her to go out and marry someone she’d just met a few months later.
That had been a disaster, and unsurprisingly, they divorced after only being married a couple of months. Looking out at the ocean and the gentle roll of the waves onto the shore, I can’t even remember his name. She’d called it an act of rebellion.
But I’d been mad—outraged—and hurt even though I had no right to be. Her choices had nearly destroyed our relationship, and standing on this beach, I think I finally know why.
Pulling my phone from the back pocket of my shorts, I dial my sister’s number and wait for the call to connect.
“I’ve been waiting for this call,” she teases, her voice light and happy, and my heart squeezes a little. She worked hard after her divorce to find herself, to be better—happy—and she’d gone out of her way to fix what she’d broken between us.
“It’s weird being back home,” I tell her, my toes digging into the sand as my flip-flops dangle from my other hand.
“I bet. How’s Sawyer?”
“He’s more growly than I remember.” I can feel my face flush and not because I’m upset by his demeanor.
No.
I’m turned on.
She chuckles. “Well, if anyone can handle him it’s you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She laughs harder, and I wait until she’s composed enough to speak. “I’m just saying I think you guys would be great together. He always had a soft spot for you, and you were always starry-eyed over him.”
“I was not. He was justniceto me, that’s all.” The excuse sounds weak to my own ears, and the confirmation that she hears it too is reflected in the way her tone softens.
“I know.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I regret how I handled things,notthat they ended. I was never meant to be with Sawyer. Hell, I was never meant to be with a man.” She sighs but it’s dreamy. “I made a lot of mistakes, Hallie, but they all led me to Piper and I can’t regret that.”
“I’ve never asked you to,” I tell her, my eyebrows slashing down.
“Sorry. All of that to say that if you have a connection with Sawyer, I think that the two of you together would be great.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “He’s letting me stay with him as a favor—nothing else.” Even as I say the words, I know they’re not entirely true.
“Well, whatever happens, I love you, and take some pictures of the beach for me.”
