Page 90 of After You Returned

The only compromise is I’d have an employer. I’d no longer have control over my time schedule. I’d be on call seven days a week.

Not a big compromise to stay on the island where the man I love lives.

Nope. I’m not doing this. I’m not making life decisions based on Miles. Not when there’s a chance he dumps me again.

Chapter 30

In case anyone’s confused, I’ve never had a poison ivy rash on my ass.

Miles

The door to the apartment building flies open and Hazel rushes out. “Sorry, I’m late.”

I capture her wrist before she runs down the sidewalk. “Hold on. You didn’t say hi.”

“Hi, surfer boy. Now, come on. We can’t be late. I want a good seat.”

I palm her neck and draw her near. “This is how you say hello to me.”

I meld my lips to hers. She sighs and I thrust my tongue into her mouth. Her taste hits me and I groan. I could live on her taste alone. I don’t need anything else.

Honk! Honk!

I startle when the car blares its horn and tear my lips from Hazel’s. I glare at the car. My brother, Rhett, waves. I give him the finger.

I thread my fingers through Hazel's and lead her toward the sidewalk. “My brothers are assholes.”

“You won’t hear me argue with you. Remember the time Kai doused your bed with water?”

I groan. “He thought it’d seem as if I wet the bed when I brought you home.”

“No one has that much urine in their bladder.” She giggles and her nose scrunches. I can’t resist kissing it. She pushes me away. “Knock it off. I don’t want to be late.”

“Do you have a story to tell?”

Tonight is theFoam & Fable Storytelling Nightat theFive Fathoms Brewingrestaurant.Everyone is encouraged to take the mic and tell a story. Once the story is finished, the crowd votes on whether the tale is true or bogus. Or they can merely tell you to ‘walk the plank’, which is a punishment to drink a pint. At the end of the evening, the crowd votes on who told the best story. The winner doesn’t have to pay for their meal or drinks. “I’m not telling.” Hazel mimics zipping her lips.

“You’re afraid I’ll figure out if it’s true or bogus.”

“You’re cute. As if you can tell when I’m lying.”

“Trust me. I can tell when you’re lying.”

She scowls. “If you mention the wrinkle on my forehead again, I’m going to headbutt you.”

I chuckle. “Headbutt me? Someone’s feeling violent tonight.”

“I want to win.”

“Little Miss Competitive strikes again.”

“You’re one to talk,” she mutters but she doesn’t deny her competitive nature. She can’t. I know her too well for her to lie to me and she knows it.

We round the corner and reach the parking lot ofFive Fathoms Brewing.The bar and restaurant is in a restored barn, whereas the brewing facilities are across the parking lot.

“Is it my imagination, or did they double the size of their brewing facilities after the hurricane?”

I snort. “If Eli had his way, the size would have quadrupled.”