She nodded slowly, tucking the thought away. Doris patted the counter twice with her hand. “On the house. For old times’ sake.”
We sat at a sun-faded table and ate our cones. Brynn was lost in thought, the possibilities ricocheting behind her eyes. I stayed quiet, content to be a bystander to her happiness. And she was right. The ice cream was the perfect mix of tart and sweet. The waffle cone balanced both perfectly.
When we left, Doris called after us, “Don’t be strangers!”
Outside, the afternoon was soft and sticky. Brynn licked a trail of melting ice cream from her wrist. “Thank you. For… all of that.”
I shrugged, feeling exposed. “Just telling the truth.”
“That’s rare these days.”
When we got back to Sunset Siesta, we strolled along the pier. Both boats we’d been on,Sunset DiverandLine Dancer, bobbed gently on either side, ready for tomorrow’s adventures.
Brynn stopped and gazed at the distant horizon. “I don’t know what I want, Dean. I just know I want something different.”
I forgot to breathe as the sun caught her eyes, illuminating the gold in them. And I realized I wanted to be the one to help her find it. I was a man who didn’t believe in love, and that wasn’t what this was—not after only a few days. But it felt like something had started between us.
We were silent as we strolled back to the resort, hand in hand. Sometimes, words only got in the way.
