She squeezes my hand before standing up. “Well, in that case, make him sweat. You’re worth it.”
I don’t go to dinner, and I don’t hear from Dayton. The next day, I mope around the studio. The crew shows up to work on the back deck. Jack is making finishing touches to the mural, and he yells at one of the construction guys who steps in his paint tray.
I survive on shriveled green grapes and a three-day-old grilled cheese and tomato soup from Tide and Table. I check my phone every ten minutes, but I don’t get a single text all day.
By the time the sun starts setting, I wonder if I made a grave mistake in skipping out on dinner.
I could’ve at least heard him out.
He doesn’t deserve it!
But what if he was telling the truth?
The endless ping-pong volley in my head is making me crazy. I’m mad at myself for being so affected by what happened at his office, but I’m starting to accept that when it comes to Dayton, I’ve always been affected. He just has a way of burying himself underneath my skin, no matter how hard I try not to care.
I’m sitting on the beach, doodling in the sand near the water, when January finally pokes her head out of her kitchen window.
“If you get scared later, come hunker down with me in the wine cellar.”
“Scared of what?” I ask.
“The storm, honey. It’ll start raining any minute.”
I look up at the sky to see that despite being a clear,cloudless day, there is a little crop of gray clouds beginning to roll in.
“Hmm, your gift is uncanny.”
She smirks, shaking her head of pink hair. “Let me know if you need help deciding what to do with that big man of yours.”
I huff. “He’s not mine.”
“Just holler! Back door is always open.” She slams the window shut, presumably to keep out the rain.
Sure enough, not even five minutes later, the rain starts. It’s light at first, but after ten minutes, it’s a downpour. I get up, intending to go inside for cover when I spot a dark figure walking toward me on the beach. I pause, knowing I would recognize those shoulders anywhere.
I wrap my arms around myself. Lightning strikes in the distance, making me jump. When the thunder claps a few seconds later, I gasp.
Dayton is only ten yards away now. He stops in the sand, hands tucked in the pockets of his linen white pants, which are now see-through. The good bits are hidden by his underwear.
“What do you want?” I shout over the rain.
He looks around before settling his eyes on me again. “I can go.”
I can barely hear him.
“You might as well tell me why you’re here first.”
He nods, taking one step closer.
“Unless you’re interested in playing more games with my head—in which case, you can start swimming that way and stop when you find someone who gives a fuck because I promise you, I don’t.” I point out over the vast Atlantic Ocean.
He takes two steps closer. “I’m not here to mess with you, Summer. I started walking, and this is where I ended up.”
“Right, because you don’t know your way around this island that you grew up on.” I roll my eyes.
Lightning strikes again, closer this time. Dayton walks toward me, and I can finally see the hurt in his eyes.
“You need to get inside. It’s not safe out here.”
