Page 74 of After You Returned

“This is ridiculous,” I mutter as I tear it open. “I deserve to know what the offer is.”

“Dear Ms. Harris, We’re excited to offer you the position of Physical Therapist. Yada yada yada. Your annual salary will consist of…”

I gasp and drop the envelope. I must be seeing things. Maybe I need glasses. No way, no how are they offering methatsalary. Plus four weeks paid vacation, health care, and a retirement plan. This isn’t a good offer. It’s a great offer.

It could be the dawn of a new career for me. I could travel from VA hospital to VA hospital across the country.

My stomach sours. Instead of being away from Smuggler’s Hideaway for a few years, I’d be gone my entire career.

This is the truth I didn’t want to admit to myself. If I leave the island to become a PT somewhere else, I can’t come backin a year or two. It’s not as if the inhabitants of this island will grow. And once I’m gone, it’ll be easier to stay away.

The doorbell rings. I stuff the offer back in the envelope and shove it in a kitchen drawer before going to answer the bell.

“Miles. How did you know I’d be home?”

He kisses my cheek before handing me a bouquet of daisies and a card. “You usually don’t work on Sunday nights since you have therapy patients on Monday morning.”

“Have you been stalking me?”

He barks out a laugh. “I’m stalking you because I know your routine?”

“You also synced my schedule to your agenda.”

He shrugs. “Did you forget we live on Smuggler’s Hideaway?”

“I might not live here for long.”

The words taste like acid in my mouth, but they’re true.

“Can I come in?”

I open the door wide to allow him inside.

“Shall I put these in a vase?” he asks but doesn’t wait for a response. He marches straight to my kitchen and opens the cabinet holding the vases.

“Now I know you’re stalking me.”

He glances up from pouring water into the vase to smile at me. His blue eyes twinkle with amusement. “Why?”

I point to the vase. “How else did you know where my vases are?”

“It’s the cabinet they were in the last time I brought you flowers.”

“And you remembered?”

“I remember everything about you. Every second we’ve spent together.”

I snort. “Pretty sure you don’t remember senior skip day when you drank a bottle of moonshine before ridingSiren’s SpiralatMermaid Mystical Gardens.”

“Correction. I remember almost every second we’ve spent together.”

“I wish I didn’t remember senior skip day. Vomiting is not attractive.”

Miles shrugs. “We were stupid kids.”

I lift an eyebrow. “And you’re not stupid anymore?”

He sighs before putting the vase of daisies on my kitchen table. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to Hudson about a job for you without telling you in advance.”