He catches the door before I can slam it shut, his fingers curled tight around the frame. For half a second, I imagine crushing them in the hinge.
“Lunch, then,” Stephen says lightly. “Please. If you hear me out and still hate me, I’ll never contact you or Maddie again. That’s a promise.”
I chew the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. Nothing he says could erase thirteen years of abandonment, but he won’t leave us alone until I play his little game. If that’s the price of getting him to stay out of Maddie’s life, then fine.
“You promise?” I grind out, eyes narrowed.
“Promise.”
“Fine. Meet me at that café on Lakeshore Avenue at noon. Don’t be late.”
Stephen nods and finally releases the door.
I slam the door, crank the engine, and tear out of the driveway, gravel spitting beneath my tires. In the rearview mirror, Stephen grows smaller and smaller until he disappears, the same way he did all those years ago.
***
As I haul myself up to the lifeguard tower, I’m seeing red. I can’t believe Stephen has the audacity to show up at our house after everything he’s done—after everything hedidn’tdo. My fingers dig into the foam life ring in my lap, hard enough to leave dents in the surface.
Thank God I’m paired with Aliyah today instead of Ryan. She knows me well enough to recognize when I need space. We sit in silence, scanning the waves, her presence steady but quiet. I’m sure she can feel the heat radiating off me.
The beach is overflowing with people, towels and umbrellas crowding every inch of sand. Frankly, I don’t have the patience for it today. I even snapped at a random guy who asked for directions earlier. Aliyah had to intervene and calm me down.
I drag a hand over my face, willing myself to focus, when a familiar shadow crosses beneath the tower.
“Hey,” Hunter calls up, voice light and easy, like sunshine cutting through storm clouds. He’s got his backpack slung over one shoulder, skin glistening with sweat. A loose tank sticks to his chest under an unbuttoned overshirt, paired with baggy denim shorts only he could make look good. “You ready for lunch?”
Aliyah flicks me a look, knowing. “Go ahead, take your break. I’ll cover.”
I give her a short nod. “Thanks.”
Climbing down the ladder, my feet land on hot sand. I lean in, brushing a quick kiss across Hunter’s cheek before lacing our fingers together. Without a word, I tug him toward a quieter part of the beach, zig-zagging through the maze of sunbathers.
Hunter studies me with a worried crease between his brows. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say automatically, my thumb stroking the side of his palm to settle him more than myself. “I just wanted to tell you I have other lunch plans today, so I can’t join you.”
His expression falters. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry,” I add quickly.
He drops my hand, eyes darting away. “You don’t have to apologize. You can do whatever you want. We’re not exclusive.”
I blink at him. “Wait, what?”
He exhales sharply through his nose. “You just told me you have a lunch date, right?”
A disbelieving laugh slips out of me. “Not adate, you idiot. Stephen wants to meet with me.”
Hunter’s eyes widen. “Stephen—as in your dad?”
“Yeah.” My chest feels heavy as I sigh. “He showed up at the house this morning unannounced. Said if I hear him out, he’ll leave us alone for good.”
“Jesus.” Hunter rubs my bicep gently. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I mutter, though it feels like a lie.
He offers a soft smile. “Wanna come over after work?”
