“I trust you. I even trust you to keep a level head if things got messy between the two of you, which, judging by the tension between you whenever you’re within a couple of feet of each other, is most likely inevitable.”
“Joe—”
He raised his hand to cut me off. “You’ve been in a funk since February over this woman, and,” he sucked in a breath before he continued, “now that you know she’s not engaged anymore, you’re even more fixated on her. Whether you’re admitting it out loud or not—”
“I’m fine. Like I told you.”
I turned to see Caterina’s sad smile as she rocked Ava’s carriage back and forth.
“Let’s get back, we need to look at that report,” I said before I stalked back to the parking lot.
I said nothing on the drive back, because Joe was right. Hell, I worried about me, too. I couldn’t go back in time and undo my biggest mistake, but I also couldn’t pass up the chance to make it right in the present.
10
Thea
“Your job sentyou to the beach for a summer.” My sister, Moira, shook her head as we ambled down the short boardwalk. “There are worse things in life.” She nudged my arm until I shrugged with a reluctant nod.
When she’d driven in this morning, the first thing my sister asked for was an Italian ice. The closest place I knew of was in Ocean Cove along the beach. We spent the afternoon strolling up and down the wooden path, her constant attempts to drag me out of my own head, unsuccessful.
“You invited me here for the July fourth weekend because you claimed you wanted to have a little fun and relax before the construction started at the hotel. I didn’t drive three hours to watch you mope until Sunday afternoon.” She stopped, arching an eyebrow and tapping her foot. “I did that for close to sixteen years before I left for college.”
A laugh escaped me before I could help it. “I’m not moping. I’m just, thinking is all.”
“You could get reassigned if you wanted to, right?” Moira asked as she led us to the wood railing and leaned back. “Make up something about Mom and Dad and stay close to home. You don’t have to deliberately torture yourself every day.”
She was only three years older than me, but I’d always seek her out before anyone else if I was upset, even before our parents. She’d seen me at my worst after Dominic left, and if I did bail out of this project, she’d be the only one to really understand.
“No, I’m fine. I can’t let this beat me.” I rested my elbows on the rail next to her and focused on the crashing of the waves.
“It’s not a matter of letting it beat you, it’s self-preservation. I always liked Dominic, and while he didn’t hurt you on purpose, you’re still not over it.” She looped her arm around my shoulder. “I’d like you to live a little, baby sister. Enjoy your life.”
“I enjoy my life,” I countered, the statement sounding hollow even to my own ears.
Moira said nothing, leveling her blue eyes at me.
“Have you seen enough boardwalk?” I asked her. “If we’re going to argue all afternoon, I’d rather do it with a wine cooler on the beach by the rental.”
“Wine cooler?” She chuckled. “Sorry, I stand corrected. You really are living it up out here.”
She snickered when I elbowed her side.
“Thea!” My eyes clenched shut at the sound of Dominic’s voice.
“Hello to you too, Dom,” my sister teased when we turned around.
“Moira? Hey, how are you?” He came up to us and pulled her into a hello hug and her eyes widened at me over his shoulder.
“Good, visiting my favorite sister for the weekend and dragged her out for an Italian ice.”
“Best part of summer, right?” Dominic beamed at me, and I hated it. I hated his easy smile and how his polo shirt pulled across his chest, my eyes unable to tear away from any of it.
“It is, and this was the closest stand I knew of.” I resented the lick of heat in my belly as his eyes did a quick perusal down my body. The eyelet coverup showed enough of my black bikini underneath to feel exposed under his stare.
“Pentier Beach doesn’t have much—yet.” He laughed, his wide grin more blinding than the July sun. “What are you guys doing later? You should come to the pub. We have a band coming that plays old covers. Like the one we used to go see in Rockland, remember?”
“I remember.” I remembered too much, that was my problem. “We don’t know what we’re doing, yet.”
