“Yeah.” He wrapped both hands around his coffee mug. “How’s that working out for you?”
I met his eyes. Decided to be honest. “Terribly.”
His laugh was rough, surprised. “Same.”
We sat there for a moment, the truth finally between us. No more pretending. No more careful distance.
“I don’t know what to do about this,” I admitted. “About us.”
“There is nous. Can’t be.” But his voice lacked conviction.
“I know.”
“But…”
“But,” I agreed with a sigh.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “This is impossible. You’re their sister. I’m their... I’m their brother, basically. We can’t…”
“I know we can’t, but I also… don’t.”
“And you’re leaving at the end of summer anyway.” The words sounded like they hurt him. “You have a business in Blue Point Bay. A life there.”
“Right. Of course.” I traced the rim of my coffee cup. “So this is just... temporary. Whatever this is.”
More silence. Heavy, loaded, miserable.
But also... wasn’t it? Temporary?
The thought crystallized in my mind, dangerous and tempting.
“What if…” I started, then stopped, unsure.
“What if what?”
I took a breath. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this. “What if we stopped fighting it? Just for the summer.”
His eyes snapped to mine. “What?”
“I’m leaving anyway at the end of August. You live here. There’s an expiration date built in.” I was talking faster now, trying to convince myself as much as him. “We could just... see what happens? No pressure, no expectations. No one has to know. Just us.”
“Leigh…”
“I know it’s crazy. Forget I said anything….” The burn in my cheeks was enough to set this place on fire. I’d completely read this situation wrong.
“No.” His hand shot across the table, covering mine. Stopping me. “It’s not crazy.”
I looked at our hands. At the way his fingers curled around mine, warm and solid and right.
“It’s not?” My voice came out smaller than I intended.
“It’s probably the worst idea either of us has ever had.” His thumb brushed across my knuckles, and I shivered. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. Haven’t been able to since that first night.”
“Me either.”
“The brothers…”
“We don’t have to tell them. Not yet. Maybe not ever.” I turned my hand over, lacing our fingers together properly. “It’s just the summer. Just us. And then I go back to Blue Point Bay and we both move on. We don’t need to let whatever is happening between us be a thing. We can just be adults and enjoy ourselves.”
