Eli:Hey sis! I’ve heard on good authority that you’ve been working too hard. Need a stress reliever?
A smile touched my lips despite my racing thoughts. Trust Eli to know when I needed a distraction, even if he didn’t know the half ofwhyI was stressed.
Harper:You have no idea. What did you have in mind? More unsolicited advice about my love life?
Eli:Ouch. And here I thought we bonded over parrotfish costumes. But I was thinking something more… immersive.
Harper: ???
Eli:Diving! Jules and I were planning on hitting the reef Saturday afternoon after my classes were finished. Figured maybe you and Mr. Architect Fancy Pants might want to join us?
My breath caught. Diving. With Eli and Jules… and Chase. The idea sent a jolt of mingled excitement through me. Being out on the water, away from work, just the four of us… it sounded idyllic. A picture of easy coupledom that felt dangerously appealing, especially when my own feelings were accelerating at warp speed.
The image of the clear blue water, the peaceful quiet beneath the surface, the thought of sharing somethingIloved withChase… it was undeniably tempting. A chance to see him in a different element. A chance, maybe, tojustbetogether without the weight of the resort pressing down. Taking a deep breath, I typed back, choosing hope over fear.
Harper:That sounds amazing. Assuming Mr. Architect Fancy Pants is free, count us in. What time Saturday?
Eli:Perfect! Meet at the dive shop around two? We’ll take Sunset Diver. Prepare for maximum relaxation… and probably some terrible jokes.
Harper:Wouldn’t expect anything less. See you then. Thanks, Eli.
I slid the phone back into my pocket, my heart doing a nervous flutter kick. A double date dive, where I was dating my brother’s best friend. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, probably. But as I walked toward the restaurant to meet Brenna, a tiny spark of exhilaration ignited within the anxiety.
Island Breeze Bistrobuzzed with the lunch rush as I slid into the vinyl booth across from Brenna. She looked up from her iced tea, her auburn hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window, and one look at my face told her everything she needed to know.
“That bad, huh?” She pushed a menu toward me, though we both knew I’d order the same thing I always did. The red vinyl booth squeaked as I settled in.
“Yes and no. I just left Ben looking like he was about ready to use his anatomy textbook for kindling.”
Brenna laughed softly. “EMT classes getting to him?”
“Understatement of the year. But I think I talked him off the ledge.” I flagged down Marge, the waitress who’d been serving us since we were kids, her gray hair pulled back in the same tight bun she’d worn for twenty years.
“Fish and chips with extra tartar?” Marge didn’t even pull out her notepad.
I nodded. “And?—”
“Lemonade, minimal ice.” She winked. “I’ve got you, honey.”
As Marge bustled away, I pressed my fingertips against my temples, trying to ward off the headache that Ben’s stress—and my own swirling thoughts about Chase—had triggered. The checkered floor, the familiar scent of frying fish, and the low hum of local gossip were usually grounding. Today, they were just loud.
“Okay.” Brenna set her iced tea down, her warm eyes, so like Ben’s but infinitely kinder, fixed on me. “Ben might be struggling with anatomy, but something tells me your stress headache isn’t solely related to sibling support.”
“No.” I took a deep breath. The words I’d been holding back, the confession I hadn’t even fully admitted to myself until this moment, felt ready to burst.“I’m falling for Chase. Hard and fast and totally out of control.” The admission felt both frightening and freeing, like jumping from a cliff and finding out mid-fall that I was enjoying the sensation.
“Oh, Harper.” Her voice held no surprise, just gentle understanding. “I can see how that would be scary for you.”
“It’s happening so fast, Bren. One minute, he’s just Eli’s friend. The next, he’s… everywhere. In my thoughts, in my dreams.” I paused as Marge delivered my lemonade and left. “In my bed every chance we get.”
Brenna’s eyebrows shot up, a small smile playing at her lips. “And this is a problem because…?”
“Because I have Finn to think about. Because the last man I trusted walked away without a backward glance. Because Chase is Eli’s best friend, which is weird, and now he’s our business partner. Plus, if this all goes sideways, it’s not only my heart on the line.” The words tumbled out, gaining momentum. “It’s Finn’s heart, the resort’s future, our family’s stability.”
Brenna reached across the table, her hand covering mine. “Breathe, Harper.”
I tried, pulling air into lungs that suddenly felt too small. The diner continued its dance around us—a couple arguing in hushed tones in the corner, a family with sunburned cheeks laughing over milkshakes, tourists poring over maps and brochures—all oblivious to my internal crisis.
“Finn adores him,” I continued, softer now. “He always has. Chase treats him like he matters, like his opinions are important. If this doesn’t work out…” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “Finn has never had a father figure. What if he gets attached and then loses Chase?”
