Page 24 of Tell It To The Waves

“Ma’am.”

I’m yanked out of my daydream and thank God. “Yes.” I swallow deeply.

“We’re all done. I left a tax right off slip on your counter. We appreciate your donations.” He smiles at me sweetly.

“Thank you.”

CHAPTER TEN

I change the vinyl, now playing Percy SledgeWhen A Man Loves A Woman, my mom and dad’s song. Sitting in the middle of the living room floor, my mind racing.

Once again, I delete the text I wrote, not needing to bring Baylee into this. I just need someone else to decipher what it all means…if it means anything at all. But I can’t run to her; how unfair is that of me after everything I did to her?

Instead of sending her a text, I doomscroll Instagram, and my mind tells me to search Molly’s Instagram, knowing someone like her has one and it’s not private; she wants people to see and be envious of what she has.

Her page is the first to pop up. Clicking on it, it’s public. Licking my lips, my finger scrolls, but I make sure to touch the side of my screen. The last thing I need is her knowing I was on her page.

Numerous photos of her in different places, different people. I have to scroll down a bit to find a picture of her and Bohdi, and when I do, it’s a punch in the gut. My gaze trains on his face, zooming in on his eyes. He’s smiling, but there is no happiness behind it.

Scrolling down a bit more, I find their engagement photos, over the top and screaming money. I can’t look at them.

“What the hell are you doing, August?” I chastise myself. Because this isn’t who we are. I went years without snooping on Bohdi, and here I am two days in Driftwood Bay, and I’m stalking his fiancé’s Instagram.

The sun is setting and I’m becoming antsy. I can’t sit here. Not letting myself think twice, I get up, grab my stuff, and head to the car.

Main Street is busy; the nightlife is soon fixing to gear up.

Finding a parking spot, I step out, shaking my hair out of the top knot it was in. It falls to the middle of my back, curly and full of life.

I don’t know where I’m going, but I just walk. I want to blend in and be a vacationer for a bit.

As I step into Things To Remember, the old smell of antiques welcomes me. I browse the shelves, picking up things here and there, but nothing catches my attention. Turning to the furniture, I stop dead in my tracks. “Oh, my.” Sitting in front of me is a beautiful, detailed wooden headboard; the carvings are everything.

“Can I help you?” a voice behind me speaks.

Whipping around, I say, “I’m just browsing. Thank you.”

She doesn’t leave but stands beside me. “It’s gorgeous. Antique,” she announces like I can’t see that. I hold in a giggle. “This is a French Louis XV, around the year eighteen eighty, pristine walnut wood, hand carved.” Her voice is so silky, trying to lure me into buying.

“It’s beautiful, but unfortunately, I’m not in the market at the moment,” I tell her politely.

“One of a kind.” She walks to it, looking back at me. “They don’t make things like these anymore.” She squints at me. Is shetrying to scare me into buying it, or does she have something in her eye? It’s hard to tell.

Smiling friendly at her, I say, “I’ll keep that in mind.” Not letting her get another word in, I head to the front of the store, exiting.

I think about texting Baylee to let her know I’m walking the shops, but decide not to. I don’t want to seem too pushy. I’m still holding back, just because I don’t want to hurt anyone again. And definitely not her. So, I head to the Candy shop; the only place that sells my favorite saltwater taffy is Driftwood.

“Here you go.” The young cashier hands me my bag. I’m now the proud owner of four pounds of strawberry kiwi taffy. It’s a lot, but it’ll last me a while.

Crossing the street, I walk to the other shops, window browsing as I’m eating my taffy, in my own world. Stopping as I pass Crabby’s, I’m once again met with the for-sale sign on the window of the empty shop. This time there is a dimly lit light at the back of the building, highlighting a small kitchen through an open door.

Pressing my face against the glass, cupping my hands to help me see better, it’s one huge space, but with so much potential.

Grabbing my phone, I take a picture of the for-sale sign. “What are you even doing, August?” I mumble to myself, not needing people to think I’m crazy. But maybe I am?

Popping another taffy into my mouth, I walk to the bookstore hoping I’ll find something new to read.

Browsing, a red and black cover catches my eye. Dark romance, not something I’d really read, but the blurb is intriguing, and it got me at female rage.