Ryleigh and I were out and we ran into friends of hers. She introduced me. Shawna smiled and that was it. But she’s with Harris and I’m with Ryleigh and she probably doesn’t even remember who I am. I need to stop thinking about her, but I can’t.
“Shawna? Dustin had a thing for Shawna? Who knew?”
She flipped the page and read the next entry.
I ran into her at the grocery store. I turned the corner and there she was, trying to reach something on the top shelf. I got it for her and we talked and it was magic. We stood there maybe twenty minutes before she said she had to go. The last thing she said was that the four of us should get dinner sometime. Because she’s with Harris and I’m with Ryleigh. Ryleigh’s great. She’s the one I want. Whatever I’m feeling doesn’t matter. I’m not that guy.
There were a couple more entries singing the praises of the ever-perfect Shawna and then nothing. The rest of the diary was blank.
Ryleigh glanced at the time. It was barely five. She would guess that Dustin was still at the office, but she sent him a quick text to confirm. He replied, saying he would be working until six.
I have something I want to drop off.
“I’ll be back in half an hour,” she told her cat. “Then we’ll spend the whole evening together. I promise.”
She drove to the law office. Alex’s car was gone—no doubt he was on his way to pick up Noah. She parked and went inside. Dustin was at his desk. He looked up when she knocked on the open door.
“Hey,” he said easily. “Your text was cryptic. What could you have of mine? We did the property exchange a few weeks ago.”
She held up the diary. His eyes widened.
“How’d you get that?”
“You didn’t go pick it up, and Cheryl’s been reading unclaimed diaries.”
“I thought they were going to be destroyed.”
“No, just read.”
She walked over and handed it to him. He put it on the desk and looked at her.
“You read it.”
She nodded. “Shawna?”
“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t do anything about it. You mad?”
“No.”
She studied him, taking in the broad shoulders and handsome face. Dustin was a good guy—just not the guy for her.
“You should go see her. She’s spending the summer with her folks in Los Lobos, but I’m sure you could figure out a reason to drop by.”
He slumped back in his chair. “What’s the point? She’s engaged to Harris.”
“She’s not. He wasn’t in love with her and he broke things off. She’s pretty crushed and not sure she can ever trust a man again, so I’m not saying it would be easy.”
He stood again. “They broke up? She’s single?”
Ryleigh smiled. “Good luck, Dustin. I hope it works out.”
“It’s possible I’m an idiot,” Jax said from her chaise on the widow’s walk.
“I agree.”
“Hey!” She glared at her sister. “I haven’t even said what we’re talking about.”
Ryleigh grinned. “Oh, sorry. Tell me what we’re talking about andthenI’ll say you’re an idiot.”
