“We’ll see them when we get back. But with the storm, we never really had a chance to unwind, just us girls. And we still have one more broken heart to mend. How can we give you a chance to do that with Will lurking around?” Sienna pointed spiritedly at Emily.
“Thank you,” Emily said.
“Of course.” Sienna stood up. “You know what I was thinking?”
Emily and Blair looked over at her.
“The town is still recovering from the storm, so we’re pretty much stuck in this gorgeous mansion. Why don’t we ask Julia, Winston, and Patrick over as a thank-you for their hospitality?We could grill some hot dogs or something, swim, and play with Winston. Maybe he could bring his dog.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Blair said.
Emily agreed, happiness already bubbling up at the thought of seeing Patrick again.
“Text him,” Blair suggested.
Emily grabbed a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, then went upstairs and got her phone. When she did, she realized she’d missed Martha’s call and checked the message. Of course, Martha’s voice was lively and full of promise for the school year ahead. Emily decided to call her back right away.
Martha answered with her principal’s phone greeting.
“Hi, Martha, it’s Emily. I’m glad I got you.”
“Great to hear from you. How’s your summer so far?” she asked, her voice chipper down the line.
“It’s…interesting.” She hemmed and hawed, unsure what she really wanted to ask. But in the silence, she very quickly came to the conclusion it wasn’t that she didn’t knowwhatto ask, but rather what she’d do if she did ask it.
“So, what’s up?” Martha’s unsuspecting voice floated into her ear.
Emily took a steadying breath. “I was wondering…” She swallowed. Was she really going to ask this? She reminded herself that if she got out of her contract, she had no work lined up, and she wouldn’t have Will to keep her afloat if she were unemployed. “I was wondering if we had any professional development days this summer? I didn’t see any on the calendar before August.”
“I thought you all would like the break,” Martha said with a laugh. “But I admire your dedication. Your contract hours don’t start until August. Now go enjoy your summer.”
“Okay, thanks.” Emily hung up, her heart pounding. Was she having some sort of early midlife crisis? She’d actuallyconsidered walking away from a perfectly good job with benefits and regular paychecks. And why? Because she’d hung out with a handsome guy for a few days at the beach? What was she thinking? On paper, it made no sense, but she couldn’t deny what her heart was telling her.
“What did he say?” Blair called up the stairs.
“Oh, sorry!” Emily opened the door. “I had another call. I’m texting him now.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, chewing the inside of her lip as her toast and coffee got cold. Maybe she shouldn’t text Patrick. She’d only fall harder for him if they spent time together, and look at where that had gotten her—nearly ready to quit her job. They lived over seven hours apart.
Emily dropped her phone onto her bed, picked up her uneaten breakfast, and went downstairs. Sienna and Blair watched her expectantly.
“I was going to text Patrick,” Emily said, dropping her dishes on the island and then plopping down on the sofa, “but it occurred to me that the whole reason the guys went home was so we could have the girls’ time we never got. Let’s spend the day together.”
Sienna clapped her hands and stood up, the flowy pink, floral-printed kimono she wore over her tank top billowing out behind her. “That’s a great idea. Let’s make beachy drinks and have a swim in the Gulf.”
Blair clutched her phone. “My notifications are blowing up right now. People are waiting for content. I could definitely do with some photos of the house and the fun we get into.”
“Perfect,” Emily said, deciding then and there that she needed to spend her time healing instead of swooning over someone she’d never see again, no matter how much she wanted to.
They put on their swimsuits, made coconut-rum lemonades (non-alcoholic for Sienna), and walked through the powdery sand down to the water. The surf gurgled over Emily’s painted toes while she sipped her drink. The alcohol warmed her throat, and the sun beat down on her bare shoulders, reminding her of how she’d felt when they’d first arrived.
Blair videoed her feet as she kicked the water, splashing white suds.
Sienna protectively placed her hands on her belly. Blair turned the camera toward Sienna’s hands and snapped a shot.
“The idea of a baby feels so much more natural after telling Tyson,” Sienna said before turning toward the wind, her long hair blowing out behind her. “I still don’t know if I’ll be any good at being a mother, but I’m getting excited to try.”
“You’ll be amazing. I’m sure of it,” Emily said. Her friends’ lives seemed to have gotten back on track easily, and yet she was still struggling. “So much has happened since we got here,” she said, taking a step and submerging her feet and ankles in the cool current.
