Junie’s sister Maileah was engaged to Sailor, a world-class professional surfer.
“I think Maileah is cooking for the three of them tonight. Rocky seems like a great guy.”
Jo had always liked him, even though he was a little scruffy and skinny. “Didn’t Rocky surf?”
“That’s how he and Sailor met,” Junie replied, nodding. “He’s not in Sailor’s league, obviously, but few are in the world. He’s a good guy, smart and industrious, the kind who walks in and sorts out whatever mess there is. My cousin Ivy once told me he did a lot of work on the Seabreeze Inn. And he just graduated with a master’s degree in business from USC.”
Jo recalled that Rocky was intelligent, so he must have started applying himself. The University of Southern California was one of the most prestigious private universities in Southern California.
“I wondered where he’d disappeared to. Last I’d heard, he was working with his father. Do you know what he plans to do now?”
Jo shrugged. “Maileah told me he’s considering his options. In the meantime, he’s taking the summer off before he starts working. Maybe he’ll come by the diner. He’s awfully good-looking.”
Her friend’s voice sounded hopeful. “I know what you’re getting at, but I’m not looking for anyone now.” Her heart was a mess of emotions.
From the patio, Jo could see the glow of Knox’s kitchen light across the street. Penny was probably already asleep. Knox was likely waiting for Junie. They seemed to know what they wanted.
Jo looked at her grandmother’s plate and wondered what she would say about a woman who was thirty-something and still eating dinner with friends, instead of the man who said he loved her.
She knew exactly what Rose Dufour would say. Good for you, sweetheart. Don’t ever wait on a man like your mother does.
Just then, headlights swept across the front of the cottage and through the garden area. A car door closed.
Jo set down her glass. “That sounds like Blue’s car.”
“I should let you two talk.” Junie stood and squeezed Jo’s shoulder. “Want me to clean up?”
“No, but thanks.” Junie was like a sister to her now, and they often helped each other.
After Junie left by the side gate and crossed the street, the patio was quiet again. Jo sat for a moment in the jasmine-scented dark, listening to Blue’s footsteps on the front walk. She didn’t get up right away.
Whatever he had to say could wait while she armored her heart.
2
“I know it’s late,” Blue said as he stood at Jo’s lemon-yellow front door, still in his uniform. He sniffed the air. “Something smells delicious.”
“Enchiladas.”
“Do you have any left over? I didn’t eat dinner.”
Jo sighed. “Come in.”
He closed the door behind him and stood there, one hand on the door frame, the other at his side. He didn’t make a move to hug her.
She waited for a beat, then walked back to the kitchen.
Across the street, through the kitchen window, Jo watched Knox meet Junie at the front door. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her under the porch light, then they went inside together, his arm across her shoulder, with Junie leaning into him and laughing.
She looked away.
Jo stared at Blue, who stood awkwardly waiting at the counter as if this was the diner. He hadn’t called in two weeks; he’d blown through their vacation, and he’d walked through her door like it was a restaurant. And now he wanted enchiladas.
At least he had the decency to look sheepish.
“It’s been a long day,” he said.
“Aren’t they all?”
