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“I . . . ”

She watched me expectantly. “Yes? You?”

“Asking myself whether I wanted it to work out or not is completely ridiculous.”

“But why?” she blurted out again. “I didn’t realize that was an option for you.” Neither did I. “I thought it was a quick, convenient fling.” For Shane, maybe. “Didn’t he want to?” she asked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I . . . didn’t ask him directly.”

Sway’s eyes widened. “But . . . ?”

“I ran away?”

Now her mouth dropped open. “Ruben! Why?”

“I had a good reason. Shane doesn’t want anything serious. You saw him when we were in Ocean View. He changes bed partners faster than some people change their underwear. Why should I sit there and watch him replace me?”

“He replaced you?” She stared at me in disbelief. “Ever since you two got together, I’ve only seen him with you.”

“I saw him with someone else.”

My colleague and also my friend now pursed her lips in solidarity and outrage. “That sucks. He could have at least told you. Or did he?”

I avoided her gaze and chewed on my lower lip. “He didn’t say anything. He claims nothing happened.”

She shrugged and pointed at my phone in my pocket. “What now?”

“Now we write. Pointless stuff.”

Her expression softened again. “It isn’t pointless if it captivates you to the point, I can sneak up on you.”

I grinned sheepishly. The things that captivated me. A sand cake.

Sway nudged me with her foot. “Maybe write something else. Something less pointless. Something you’ve been wanting to say for a long time.”

“And who are you now? A matchmaker? Come on, get to work. We’re opening in half an hour, and nothing is ready! Chop, chop! Stop dawdling!”

I turned away busily. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her rolling her eyes with a smirk. “Sure thing, boss,” she said, every word dripping with sarcasm.

I took a short break on a bench in the center of the small town after the midday rush had subsided. The wooden pavilion next to me provided shade, but I wanted to enjoy the last rays of summer sunshine. Autumn, with its fog, would be upon us soon enough. The summer heat still lingered in the streets, which were deserted after the last days of summer break. Most of the kids were back at school. Just days before, they had all been hanging out in front of the ice cream parlor, but now there was no sign of them until late afternoon.

I tilted my head back and gazed at the gentle hills and woods surrounding the New England town. Individual trees already stood out from the forests in autumnal shades of gold and red.

I boldly pulled my phone out of my pocket. Sway was right. It was time to take action.

Hey. What’s up?

I stared at the words. More nonsense.

I boldly opened the chat. As I typed, the message got marked as read.

Have you got time to meet up? I could drive to Ocean View. I’m only about two hours away. There. If that didn’t say action, nothing did.

The dots that signaled Shane was typing flashed incessantly. My hands were sweating. Damn it. It was only a question. If he didn’t want to meet up, I’d know soon enough.

Sorry. Aiden and I are in Maine for the season finale all week. My boss signed us up for a few amateur races. We’re representing the school. Maybe another time?

Aiden. The same Aiden from the party? Was that a rejection? It was definitely a no. Damn. The last grain of hope crumbled inside me. Where the hell had that come from? Why couldn’t I stop thinking about this guy?

Yeah, sure. Let’s see. Never!

Maybe next week? Shane replied immediately.

I turned my smartphone in my hands. What if he had spent the whole week with Aiden the surfer dude? What kind of coward was I, anyway?

I already have plans. Lie. I’ll be in touch. Another lie.

Okay.

Okay? Okay? I was about to throw my phone at that damn adorable romantic pavilion.

I stood abruptly. My break was over anyway.

Work was the only thing that would help me get the image of Shane and Adonis-Aiden rolling around in the sand out of my head. I closed my eyes at the thought and clenched my jaw. Or not.