Carter
The boardwalk is packed for a Tuesday afternoon. Tourists in neon swimsuits crowd the storefronts. This kid, probably no older than five, drops his ice cream cone on the sidewalk. A big strawberry scoop splatters, and he cries like the world is ending. As soon as the tears come, the mom lifts him up and promises another one. The tears stop.
I walk with no destination, which is new for me. In New York, every step I took was backed with purpose because of schedules. Yesterday, I finished my last paperback, and this morning, I donated it to a book bin near the B&B.
The Salty Pages van sits at the end of the boardwalk near the beach access. The side door is open, and several shelves are set up in front. I’ve passed it several times, but I wanted to finish what was on my TBR and donate them before buying more.
I’ve seen the woman behind the counter with Josie at the B&B, but we’ve never officially met. She hums along to Ed Sheeran from a speaker on the dash. The silver bangles on her wrists announce her every move as she arranges a stack of bright pink books on a folding table. Based on the thirty seconds I’ve been standing here, she’s the kind of person who has never met a stranger.
“Hey, you! Welcome to Salty Pages. Searching for something specific?” She beams at me.
“Just browsing.”
“Famous last words.” She moves toward me. “I’m Mia. You’re at Seaside, right? I’ve seen you around.”
“Carter. I’m staying at the B&B for the summer.”
“Really? Bet you’ll miss it when you’re gone. What do you like to read?” She moves beside me, scanning the shelves like we’re shopping together.
“Anything that can hold my attention. I typically like thrillers, but I’m not a genre snob.”
“Good to know. How do you like Coconut Beach so far?”
“I’m not bored. The weather is nice. Great food. People are friendly. Five out of five. Highly recommend it.”
“You’re much different than when you first arrived.” She smiles, then pulls a book from the shelf, glances at the back, and shakes her head.
“Valid assessment,” I tell her as I glance over the covers in front of me.
Buying books based on a cover is reader roulette.
“Maybe it’s the B&B. Most who show up grumpy leave with a smile. It’s a haven for heartache.” She says it casually, like she’s talking about the island.
I chuckle, but she doesn’t laugh.
“You’re fucking with me,” I tell her.
“It’s a known thing with the locals. People who stay there usually end up changed in some way. Lots of divorcees show up. Those suffering from grief. Burnout. There’s magic in those walls, and those who need healing get it.”
I glance over at her, remembering what Reese said to me—about how she visited after her divorce. “Sounds very woo-woo.”
“Ask Josie the next time you see her. Ask Gale. Actually, ask Wendy.” She tightens her ponytail. “Why do you thinkshe’s staying there? Could it be because her broken heart needs repairing?”
“Or could it be because she’s running the place and needs to be on-site?” I throw her way with a chuckle. “I’m not falling for this.”
Mia moves to another shelf, pushing books together to make room for others that she’s pulling from boxes. “Wendy is a good person. Growing up, she was a role model to Josie and me. Our friend group always looked up to her. During nesting season, Wendy had us all volunteering with the sea turtle rescue. She organized beach cleanups monthly and got local businesses to donate supplies.” A soft laugh slips out. “The woman has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met, and every guy she’s been with has treated her like she’s temporary.”
She pulls a book out, reads the back, and returns it to its home. The whole thing feels like she’s browsing, but the silence she leaves after that last sentence is purposeful. It’s my warning.
“That’s unfortunate,” I say, keeping the rest of my opinions to myself.
“It really is.” Mia turns to me. “She has seemed happier lately.”
“Has she? I’ve seen no difference since I arrived.”
She holds my gaze a beat longer than necessary. “You wouldn’t. That’s when it changed.”
Mia reaches into the middle shelf and pulls a paperback with a guy standing in front of a house on the cover. “Before you judge it, this book is incredible. It’s the perfect summer read that’ll wreck you in the best way. Savannah Collins is an incredible author. Bases all her books on her real-life experiences. Tons of Easter eggs everywhere.”
