“Is Mr. Mysterious still haunting your hallways?” She smirks.
“He requested his bed be changed every single morning, along with a breakfast delivery to his room. Starting today. Grandma agreed and charged him, so now I’m obligated to be in his bedroom at seven a.m. for the rest of the summer.”
Fallon snorts, then tucks her lips into her mouth. “I’m sorry, but it’s hilarious. Just don’t know why you’re upset. You get to see him every morning. What a sight.”
“Just because he’s attractive doesn’t mean he’s any less infuriating. I tried to warn him about the Bees, and he basically told me he doesn’t need my help.”
“Just ignore him then. That’s what I do when I’m not interested.” She sets the leash down. “Spoke with Summer an hour ago. She said she saw you gawking at Carter yesterday morning. Apparently, the whole island is talking about the hot guy in the little red shorts. Anyway, she said you stared dreamily.”
Summer Sullivan is one of Josie’s friends, who teaches sunrise yoga on the beach near the B&B a few times per week. She moved back to Coconut Beach from Southern California a few months ago. Our friend group picked right up where we’d left off. She has a kind heart and pays more attention than I give her credit for. She’s been busy remodeling a beach house with her stepbrother, Dayton.
Busted.
“He jogged past me while I was on my morning walk. I might have glanced in his direction.”
“Kinda like how you glanced at him at Cocktails & Chaos the other night?”
“That was different. I had tequila. You know how it makes me brave.” I drop into the beach chair next to the register and take a breath. “Gran asked him if he was single at breakfast yesterday, and he dodged the question. No ring, but no answer.”
Fallon comes around the counter and hops up on the edge. “So, you’re scared he’s taken.”
“What? No.”
“Really? You’ve been in my shop for three minutes, and you haven’t stopped talking about him.”
“You started the conversation. Not me,” I protest, but she’s right.
“Can I say something you won’t like?” Fallon asks.
“Like you need my permission.”
“Great. I don’t think it’s Carter you’re afraid of. You’re scared ofyou.” She says it with love in her tone, even if her words pack a punch. “Adam didn’t break your heart. He broke your trust in yourself. Now, some hot guy you’re actually attracted to shows up, flirts, and you’re afraid of what that could mean because you just wasted five years with someone.”
I pick at a wax bar from the display rack and peel the label with my thumbnail.
“It feels too soon to move on,” I say. “I don’t trust myself.”
“Try taking some risks without expectation. You’ve been back for a month, and you haven’t done anything exciting. Stop punishing yourself for Adam’s bullshit. Live a little. I really miss my fun, happy friend.”
“He broke something inside me, Fallon.”
“He cracked your heart.” She pulls two water bottles from the mini fridge and tosses me one. “You’ll repair it.”
The seashell wind chimes clank outside in the breeze. Through the open walls, I watch tourists stroll the boardwalk with ice cream cones dripping in the heat.
“I’m trying,” I say.
“That’s all it takes. Also, stop with all the rules and stipulations and coloring perfectly between the lines. Scribble some. Make mistakes. Fall in love with your life again.” She hops off the counter and moves to straighten a few pairs of sunglasses on the back wall.
“I really needed that pep talk.” I stand with a smile.
“What are besties for?” She grins over her shoulder. “Keep me updated.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
“Just know I’m invested. Maybe as much as the Bees.”
I groan but laugh. “Don’t wish their wrath upon me. Apparently, they’re trying to help four couples find love this summer.”
