Ben gave me another quiet nod. “Maybe Eli and Jules getting involved kind of broke the ice on these kinds of relationships. But he’d better do right by you. Just say the word, and I’ll rearrange his face for him.” He picked up his shovel and went back to inspecting a newly planted hibiscus.
“I hardly think that will be necessary,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster under the circumstances.
That left Austin. He pushed away from the palm tree, his gaze fixed on me as we walked away. “You okay?” he asked gruffly, the two words carrying more weight than Braden’s entire monologue.
“I think so,” I admitted honestly. “It’s… new. And scary.”
“It’s your business. But don’t let it distract you from all that’s going on around here.” A pause, a shift in his expression. “Or get hurt again.”
I chewed my lip, sensing the warning beneath his words. “How about we take a walk down to your boat?” I suggested, hoping to bridge the distance between us.
“Sure.”
As we made our way toward the dock, I thought abouthow much Austin had changed, how the fun, easygoing brother of my youth had become this introspective, sometimes downright curmudgeonly man. He used to laugh with a freedom that matched the ocean he loved, but I was afraid those days were behind him now.
Line Dancersat tied to the pier, the resort’s fishing charter boat that mirrored its captain. Everything about it was tidy and efficient, from the coiled ropes to the spotless deck. Austin stepped on board, waiting for me to join him.
A mix of frustration and hope knotted in my chest. “So that’s it? You’re not going to say anything else?”
His eyes shifted to mine, then out to the water. “Chase has got it together. He’s not like Dad. Or Jarod.”
I let out a breath. It wasn’t a ringing endorsement, but it was something. “No, he’s not.” And I had a feeling reminding myself he wasn’t Finn’s dad was going to be a common refrain for me.
He looked at me again, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “Just don’t expect me to babysit while you two are off having sex in some fancy new resort bed.”
I laughed, the sound carrying over the water. “Fine. I’ve got plenty of others to ask.”
His smile steadied, and lightness spread through my chest. When Austin smiled, it changed his whole face, like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky, a glimpse of the brother he’d once been. “Finn’s welcome on my boat anytime. You know that.”
“I do. Thank you. He loves going out on the water with you.”
“When are you gonna tell Mom?” he asked, a knowing look in his eye.
“Once I survive telling everyone else.”
“I think she’ll be okay with it.” He leaned against therailing, relaxed now. “You and Chase are the responsible ones. I didn’t blame her for being furious at Eli.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Yeah, but look how that came out.”
We stood in companionable silence for a moment, the waves lapping against the hull. At last, I felt like maybe everything was going to be okay. Or at least manageable.
“I guess Brenna is next on the list,” I said.
Austin nodded, then picked up one of the huge rods and inspected the reel. “You know where to find me if Ashworth steps out of line.”
As I walked away, I pulled out my phone and dialed my little sister. She was between Austin and Braden in the birth order. Her voice came through bright and cheerful. “Harper! What’s up?”
“Could I come over to the bookshop?” I asked, the need for a sisterly sounding board growing stronger. She could offer advice that would never even occur to our brothers. “I’ve got something to talk about.”
“Of course,” she said without missing a beat. “I’ll brew a fresh pot of tea.”
“Perfect,” I replied, feeling a touch lighter. We hung up, and I made my way to the parking lot, bracing myself for round two of the Coleridge confession tour.
“…so I just came from telling Austin, Braden, and Ben about us,” I finished, picking nervously at a loose thread on the cuff of my resort polo shirt as I leaned against the checkout counter of Bookshop in Paradise.
Brenna just stared at me, her iced tea halfway to her lips, those warm green eyes wide with surprised assessment. She’d kept quiet during my long-winded explanation.For a long moment, the only sound was the low hum of the shop’s air conditioner. Then, slowly, a wide, knowing smile spread across her face.
“Chase?” she finally breathed, setting her tea down carefully on a stack of order forms. She tilted her head. “Actually, yeah. That sort of makes sense, doesn’t it?”
