“Lizzy’s been surfing since she found our dad’s old board in the garage when she was six,” Jane said. She turned to her sister. “He taught you for a while, didn’t he?”
Lizzy nodded, her smile now authentic. It left an odd pit in Will’s stomach. He filled it with the last dregs from his mug.
“That’s crazy!” Charlie said. “Will’s dad taught him, too. Didn’t he, Will? Starting when you were about that age, right? You even said that when you were younger, you both—”
“Does anyone want coffee?” Will interrupted. It was abrupt enough that all eyes turned to him, but he didn’t care. He barely shared personal details about his parents with his friends, let alone strangers. The fact that the Bennet sisters didn’t fit neatly into either category left him feeling even more off-balance.
“Oh, sorry, I should have offered that! I’m the worst host,” Charlie said, already moving toward the door. “Who wants coffee? Water?”
“Can you get me some of that water in the fridge?” Annabelle asked, barely moving her body. “The one with the mint, not the cucumber.”
“I want the one with the cucumber,” Vivienne added.
“Right. Got it,” he said with a decisive nod. “Lizzy?”
“No, that’s okay,” she replied. “I can’t stay long. I just wanted to check on Jane before my mom freaked out and called the Coast Guard.”
“Oh God, I forgot to call her last night,” Jane said with a groan. “My phone died and I don’t even think I tried to charge it.”
“That’s okay! You can use my phone. It’s inside. And then Will and Lizzy can catch up!” Charlie said, nodding his head toward the sliding door. Then his gaze darted between Lizzy and Will before returning to Jane, waiting for her to pick up on his not-so-subtle hint.
Jane’s eyes widened in recognition. “Yes. Good idea. I’ll call her. Inside. Lizzy, while I’m gone, you can tell Will about your… surfboard. And… things.”
Then they both disappeared into the kitchen.
A moment passed before Vivienne’s head turned lethargically toward her sister. “Have I seenPoint Break?”
Annabelle hummed as if already bored. “I don’t know, Viv.”
“Who’s in it?”
“Keanu, I think.”
Vivienne seemed to consider. “Is it that one that’s on TV all the time?”
Annabelle stared at her sister blankly.
“The one where he’s the cop…” Vivienne continued.
Nothing.
“On the bus…”
Jesus. This was painful.
“And the guy blows up…”
“That’sSpeed,” Will and Lizzy answered in unison.
Will turned to Lizzy just as she turned to him, eyebrows pinched together.
“Right.” Vivienne nodded, too deep in thought to notice. “Richard loved that movie.”
Annabelle groaned as if she already knew where this was going. “Oh God.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before Vivienne was on her feet, heading back inside. “I’ll be right back.”
“Can we hold off on cyberstalking your ex-husband until after breakfast, please?” Annabelle said, following close behind.
