Chapter
One
It’sa sunny July day in Oceanside, California, as I lie back on a lounger by my pool, relaxing next to my friend Claudia. The air shimmers with heat above the exposed areas of concrete as we drink and unwind, swimming and sunbathing as we please.
Claudia has been a close friend for twenty years, about as long as I’ve lived in this house, and she comes over often. She lives alone in a small apartment a few blocks away—just close enough to her son and his family that she can choose when to visit. And when to stay away.
“I love your pool, Chelsea. It’s so much more private than the one at my complex,” Claudia says.
“I didn’t think you went to your pool.”
“I don’t. Only when the grandbabies are over. It’s a good way to wear the toddlers out before I ship them back to their parents.”
I laugh, grateful not to have that problem yet. My twin girls are twenty and off at college, and my youngest, Gage, just graduated high school. “The quiet is nice. Most days.”
Two years ago, my whole life turned upside down. Nineteen years of marriage ended in a shattering divorce. Married ateighteen, I’d had the twins shortly after and Gage just two years later. I never thought I’d be staring down the barrel of an empty nest alone.
Claudia cocks her head. “It’ll be an adjustment, won’t it?”
I nod, pushing away the small surge of emotion. “Yeah. Just me here, all by my lonesome. Especially on the days I’m off work.”
It’s a strange, scary prospect, and I spend much of the time dreading it, burying myself in helping Gage with planning and preparing. I encourage him to have friends over often, so I have a happy crew here as much as possible, and I distract myself by entertaining and taking care of them.
Other times I feel… not quite good, but hopeful, I guess. Besides my part-time work as a physical therapist, I have a few plans I’m cooking up. A volunteer gig at an animal shelter, some neglected hobbies I’ve been missing. A giant stack of books to read, of course. And I might even resurrect my love life.
I don’t know if she’s intuitive or clairvoyant, but Claudia gazes at me thoughtfully. “Who says you have to be lonesome? Maybe it’s time you opened yourself up to possibilities, eh?” She waggles her brows.
I flash her a crooked smile. “Yeah, maybe so. Might have to blow the dust out of my lingerie drawer, though.”
She cracks up then gestures around her. “Do it, girl. This is a lot of house for one single lady.”
I nod. This charming, though dated, house is something I am happy to have kept in the divorce. It’s all on one level and wraps around the large outdoor area in the back, complete with grill, fire pit, swimming pool, and tons of space for hanging out. My family has seen many happy times out here, and I love my home.
Car doors slam outside the back gate, and male voices float over to us. My mouth tugs up in a smile as I glance over atClaudia. “Here they come,” I say as the gate yawns open and they pour in.
Six young men. All tall, some more or less muscular and filled out than others. Mostly tan, except for Gage’s friend Chase, who is a freckled ginger and seems genetically incapable of being anything but pale and pasty, even while living in Southern California. Two of them are brothers, Kael and Brian. Brian is a few years older, but Kael was in Gage’s graduating class. Both blond, they have the long, lean lines and cut muscles of those who surf a lot. Most of Gage’s friends do.
My heart squeezes as Gage comes out of the house to greet his friends. They exchange various hand clasps and half hugs and back slaps as they toss their belongings down onto chairs and tables and make themselves at home.
Man, I’m gonna miss this.
“Good morning, Mrs. Owens,” calls Gage’s friend Kyle from across the pool. He stands under an umbrella, rifling through a backpack on the patio table. He has this funny habit of always greeting me very vocally when he comes over, like he’s trying to prompt the others to say hello as well. I can’t say I mind, as a corresponding chorus ofgood morningsrises from various spots around the pool, making me smile.
“Hey, guys! Say hi to Miss Claudia.”
They do, in unison. Claudia grins at me.
One of the new arrivals stops in front of my lounge chair, and I squint up at him, shading my eyes to see who it is. My gaze slides up, from his well-worn sandals to his rumpled swim trunks and faded T-shirt with a picture of an octopus playing guitar, then settles on his face. He’s Hispanic, with black hair, warm dark-brown eyes, and perfect white teeth. My heart flutters just a tiny bit.
Julian.
Julian is a looker, no doubt. In the last year, he’s put on a lot of muscle, and he’s tall, though long past the gangly stage every young man seems to go through. But he’s also very sweet. He always greets me by name, making and holding eye contact. He talks to me like I’m an actual person, not just the hired help or his friend’s mom.
Julian smiles warmly down at me then crouches so our noses are level and I don’t have to squint.
“Morning, ladies,” he says. His voice is deep and smooth.
Claudia and I exchange a glance. Her eyes are wide.
