My mouth forms an O for a few seconds before I realize it and clamp it shut. My skin feels tight.
“Hey, look, a whale.” He points his finger in the distance, where a whale tail flips out of the surface.
It’s all suddenly so clear to me. I went for passion the first time around, and I got burned—badly burned. Third-degree burns with scars on my heart to prove it. So, when I met Axel, it suddenly felt safe and easy and, ultimately, passionless. I thought boring was what I needed, but this is worse than boring; it’s fully platonic.
“Axel,” I begin, exhaling and trying to gather my thoughts, “you and I are really, really great friends. You’ve been fun to hang out with for the past three years. I think … I think maybe that’s all we were ever meant to be … friends.” I hold my breath after saying it, watching his face for a reaction.
We both stop walking at the same time. After a long pause, his blue eyes find mine. He sighs, shaking his head slightly. “I understand, Sum. Maybe you’re right. Maybe friends is all we were ever meant to be. I care about you though—a lot. I hope this island is healing you.”
Relief floods my system like salt water on an open wound. I finally let the tears spill over my cheeks as I crush him into a hug. He holds my shaky body.
My voice quivers. “I am. I am healing here. I really am.”
chapter twelve
Dayton
I’m an asshole. I just shouldn’t speak to Summer, unless it’s absolutely necessary. The things I said to her yesterday were uncalled for. I don’t even know why I did it. She drives me to a place I don’t want to be. I can’t think straight around her. What I did while looking at her photos makes me feel like a monster. Now I’m turning my anger at my obsession with her on her.
I just want her to break up with that moron already.
Why? It wouldn’t change a damn thing for us. She’ll always be off-limits.
I would never disappoint my father by attempting anything with Summer, especially now that he and Clara are gone. Not to mention the fact that Summer despises me and barely tolerates me.
I called an Uber and left the bungalow a few minutes after she stormed out and took a walk with Axel down the beach. I didn’t sleep much last night in my hotel room at the Grand Palm. Our heated conversation has been running through my head on repeat for nearly twenty-four hours.
Now I’m standing on the beach next to my buddy Reed’swife, Alani. She’s holding their baby girl and watching their son, Koa, build sandcastles.
They’re here visiting because they own a chain of coffee and margarita food trucks on beaches all over America. When they first met, he started a rival business, selling margaritas across from her coffee cart on the beach in Hawaii. He stole her heart, and now they own the pop-ups together.
“Reed texted me that he needs me to come rewrite some of the menu items on the board. Would you mind holding Luna for me for just a second?” Alani turns to me and extends the sleeping baby girl in her arms.
I freeze. I’ve never held a baby before in my life. I shift my feet.
She notes the hesitation on my face and laughs. “She won’t bite. She’s a heavy sleeper.”
I tentatively extend my arms, and she places the baby directly into them. I don’t move a muscle as the tiny little girl wiggles around before settling herself and going still again.
Alani grabs Koa’s hand. “We’ll be right back. If she wakes up, just give her the pacifier in the diaper bag!”
She meanders through the crowd toward the food trucks, Koa in tow.
I gently rock the baby back and forth, like I’ve seen people do in movies. She’s drooling on my arm. As long as she stays asleep, I can handle this … I hope.
“Dayton?”
I turn toward the voice, being met with the face of a girl I went to high school with, Aurelia. Her husband, Will, is standing beside her, grinning at me. He has a guitar case on his back.
“Damn, Dayton, I had no idea! Congrats, man.” He claps meon the shoulder.
Aurelia smiles. “Who’s the lucky lady? I’m a little offended that we weren’t invited to the wedding.”
My brows rise. “I’m not married. This isn’t my kid. She’s my buddy’s, who’s running a marg truck over there.”
They both nod in understanding before giving each other a knowing glance.
“That makes more sense,” Will says. “I never thought you’d get over you know who.” He grins.
