Tyler wanted to tell her it would be fine. That Fiona would come around. That wanting something this much had to count for something.
But he didn’t know if any of that was true. So, hejust sat beside her, eating his butter pecan, watching the waves.
“We should head back,” Stella said eventually. “Bea’s probably planned my entire course schedule by now.”
“Probably your wedding too.”
“Don’t give her ideas.”
They threw away their cups and napkins and walked back to the truck. The folder went on the dashboard, a reminder of everything still undecided.
“Dad?” Stella said as Tyler started the engine.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. For coming with me. For—” She gestured vaguely at the school, the ice cream shop, the whole afternoon. “All of it.”
“That’s what dads do.”
“Is it?”
“I’m figuring it out as I go.” He pulled out of the parking lot. “But yeah. I think so.”
She didn’t say anything else. But she didn’t put her headphones in, either. Just sat beside him, watching Laguna Beach scroll past the window, the folder between them like a promise neither of them had figured out how to keep yet.
One thing at a time.
Starting with telling Fiona.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Deck was half-full for a weeknight—locals mostly, a few tourists lingering over sunset cocktails. Meg and Luke had claimed their usual table near the railing, where they could watch the light change over the water while they ate.
“So,” Luke said, dipping a chip into guacamole. “How was your day?”
“I measured my desk space with a ruler.”
He paused mid-chip. “You what?”
“Anna’s watercolors keep migrating. Bea can’t decide her class schedule. I needed to establish boundaries.” Meg took a sip of her wine. “I have eighteen inches. I measured.”
“With an actual ruler.”
“With an actual ruler.”
Luke laughed—the one that crinkled the corners ofhis eyes. “That’s either very sad or very relatable. I can’t decide which.”
“Both. Definitely both.”
Their food arrived—grilled fish for him, a salad she’d been craving all day. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, watching a pair of paddleboarders navigate the small cove below.
“They’re leaving soon,” Meg said. “Anna and Bea. Few more weeks, once Anna’s house is ready.”
“You’ll miss them.”
“I’ll miss having someone to blame for the mess.” She speared a piece of avocado. “Mostly I’ll just have more counter space.”
“The dream.”
