"Look, I'm sorry about that. None of this is your fault, and I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself. Even if I wanted your help, there's nothing you can do. I made my bed, and I have to lie in it."
"Tell me about you and Wren."
"No. I've said enough. Let's go." He got to his feet.
She slowly followed, seeing the look of determination in his eyes. She liked to push, but she also knew when to back off. "You know, I heard you play last night on the beach. When I came home from my shift, I walked out to the sand, and I listened to you play."
His eyes widened with surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I thought I should respect your privacy."
"Well…thank you."
"You play really well," she said as they walked back to the car. "You could play Reina's song for Walter, couldn't you?"
He stopped when they got to the car and gave her a pointed look. "The last thing I want to do right now is play someone else's song."
"There's more to this story than you're telling me."
"Maybe there is, but it doesn't matter. From here on out, we don't really need to speak again."
"Are you going to pack your bags as soon as you get back and disappear somewhere else?" she asked, feeling disappointed at that thought.
"I don't know. Doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"You can't just keep running."
"Actually, I can."
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should." His angry eyes didn't intimidate her because she'd gotten to know him, and a man who played music like he did, who looked at a piano like it was the holy grail, who was willing to take time to help an old man didn't seem like a villain. And God help her, she did want to help him, even if he didn't want her to.
"Kaia—" he began.
"Ocean Shores can still be a haven for you," she interrupted. "No one there will talk to the media."
"Of course they will."
"No, they won't," she argued. "You might not like any of us, but we're a community, and we stick together. If any photographers come around, they'll be sent on their way."
"Why do you care what I do?"
"Maybe because I'm a nosy, meddling, fix-it girl like you said. And the people who need the most help are usually the ones who don't want to ask for it or accept it. I don't know what happened with this song, or with your partner. But you are in pain. I've seen it in your eyes. And leaving won't take it away."
"Staying won't do that, either," he countered. "Get in the car. I'll take you home."
"We should keep talking."
"You can argue in the car. I'm sure I can't stop you."
She reluctantly got in the car. "You're very stubborn."
"Right back at you," he said as he started the car.
As they headed into town, she gave him directions on the back roads to Ocean Shores. There was no sign of the car that had been following them, and no one was lurking in the parking lot.
"I don't think he knows where you live," she said as they got out of the car.
"I'm sure it won't take long."
