“Telling someone you want to apologize isnotan apology. You have to actually say it.”
He dropped to his knees in the sand. “I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Do I have to list every sin?”
“Only the ones you’re sorry for.”
“I’m sorry I accused you of vandalizing the property.”
“Apology accepted.”
“So, I have to ask,” he said, looking uncomfortable. “Are you going tomorrow?”
“Probably. My friends want me to.”
“Please, don’t go,” he said.
That pissed me off. “Where do you get off telling me what to do?”
“I’m not telling you what to do. I’m asking you not to go. It’s going to get messy.”
I shrugged. “Sorry, I’m going.”
I hadn’t been sure I was going to go until just then.
“It might get dangerous,” he warned. “The cruise line owner, Judd, is pissed about all of this. Really pissed. I’m trying to keep him out of town, but he’s coming. He wants to confront the locals. You and I both know that’s not going to end well.”
I laughed. “Oh, that’s a great idea. Let Mr. Bigshot show up. Everyone will have a lot to say to him.”
He grimaced and shook his head. He didn’t like that. “Summer, this isn’t a joke.”
“I’m not laughing.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I.” I sat up fully and brushed sand off my elbow. “You want me to stay home while my friends and my neighbors stand up for something that matters to them because your business partner has a temper problem? That’s what you’re asking me?”
“I’m asking you to be careful. He’s pissed and whether you want to admit it or not, the vandalism is illegal. Someone broke the law and if that same person is at the protest stirring shit up, they will be arrested.”
“Look,” I said, softer. “I hear you. I do. But I’m not going to hide in my house because some asshole is throwing a tantrum about someone messing with his little project.”
“It’s not just his project. I’m investing in it. His name is on it, but I’m putting up a lot of money.”
I shrugged. “Not my problem.”
He sat back on his heels in the sand. He looked human. Normal. I almost felt bad for him.
“I went to the Pelican the other night,” he said.
I blinked at the subject change. “It’s not the Pelican anymore.”
“No. It’s not.” He said it quietly, like he was still a little surprised by it. “It’s not the same. Not even close.”
I nodded. I remembered when they sold it. It had been a whole thing. Half the town showed up for the last night and Elena cried when they turned off the lights.
“They retired.”
