Page 79 of Tell It To The Waves

She narrows her eyes at me. “Why didn’t you say bye?”

I motion between her and me, “We're done. We’ve been done, and I know it was all your plan that you put into motion on the marina.”

Her mouth drops open, shaking her head. “No, Bo, it isn’t like that.”

Laughing loudly, “You didn’t switch documents on my parents and then try to blackmail me to marry you?”

“I love you,” she cries.

“You love the idea of using me. You love getting one over on people. You love yourself, Molly. I don’t think I ever loved you.” I watch tears stream down her face. “Save them. You wanted me to think your father was the mastermind behind it all, but it was you. You can thank your dad for letting me know that fact.

The elevator dings and I walk in, turning around, eyes looking straight through her. As she stands there in complete shock, everything she built falls around her.

I hop on my bike and notice the time. The ferry will be closed once I get to the port, but I decide to head that way anyway and just wait until they reopen it at four AM. I’m ready to get back to where I belong.

I’m in my own thoughts of what to do next when I take the curb, my tire catches on something, and I slide…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I watch as Kai hangs the enormous piece of driftwood from the ceiling, smiling when I see my vision come into focus.

I’ve spent all my waking hours here the last few days at the bakery, setting up. I needed to put my mind on something else instead of Bohdi and the night we spent together. And that has been hard. Especially when my body still tingles from the ghost of his tongue.

The thought of staying in the cottage, just thinking about Bohdi, I couldn’t do it. He left me a note saying he’d be back, but that was it. Naked in his room, alone, is where he left me.

My mind has been playing with me, so to keep it quiet, I throw myself into the bakery. All that’s left to do is the décor and furniture. The other day, my beautiful stoves were delivered, completing my kitchen.

The unveiling of the name won’t be until the grand opening.

Chiming sounds, letting me know someone just walked in. Turning around, Baylee holds up coffee. “This place already doesn’t look the same.” She smiles, walking over to me.

Morning sickness has taken a toll on her, so I’m glad to see her out and about.

“Thank you.” I reach for the coffee.

“So how was your bath in your own place?”

Leaning my head back, I say, “It was amazing. I opened the French doors, let the ocean sounds wash over me while lying in my antique claw-footed tub, and thought, ‘This is what dreams are made of.’”

Baylee sits down at one of the tables I have haphazardly placed. “Have you moved into the main bedroom?” Her eyes softened, knowing how I felt about being in their room.

I shake my head but say nothing.

“August, you have to make it yours. Right now, in your mind, it’s still theirs. I know they’d be so damn happy knowing it was you in that house, in their old room. That’s how they wanted it.”

Pursing my lips, I say, “I know.” And I do, but telling my heart all that, it doesn’t care.

The sun has gone down for the day; night now triggers the light poles to turn on, illuminating the uneven sidewalks.

Looking outside the store window, I watch people in their own worlds walking and talking. Bags in hand, enjoying their time in Driftwood Bay.

I had to put a sign on the door stating that it’s closed, so many people tried to come in. Which is good for me, but not for when I open. Not now.

Heading into the kitchen, I pull out the sheet of cookies, golden and perfectly cooked. The chocolate chips and marshmallows melted just right.

Placing them on a cooling rack, I crush up graham crackers and pull out my marshmallow fluff. Baylee has been craving s’mores, so I thought to make it in cookie form and drop someoff to her before I head to the cottage. I know her, and late-night pregnancy cravings are the thing right now. She had Kai drive to the cottage at one in the morning to get cookies. Half-asleep and dead to the world, I packed her some cookies and sent them with Kai, who looked like a zombie.

Dropping a dollop of fluff on a cookie, I use my torch to melt it down, giving it a toasted look before dropping the crushed graham crackers on it and placing a piece of chocolate right on top, again using my torch to melt the chocolate just a bit.