Page 56 of Coastal Runaway

“I look forward to it. I can’t wait to meet the girl who tamed Luke Cavan.”

I laughed, “what do you mean? Kiara and I only broke up six months ago. You’re acting like I’ve been a leper.”

“I don’t know, man, I know you dated Kiara for a few years, but I haven’t seen you this happy since high school.”

He’s right. Kiara and I never really fit, it was a relationship of convenience that I fell into because my heart was shattered. She was there to pick up the pieces, and I would always be grateful that she did. But, it felt nothing like the way it felt with Keegan.

“This one makes me really happy. It’s like no matter what mood I’m in, the moment she walks into the room the rest of the world fades away and it’s just her. She has this way of drawing people in and making them feel special.” Pink crept onto my cheeks as I opened up to my best friend. While he didn’t know that I was referring to his sister, it felt good to finally open up to him.

“Well, isn’t this so cute,” Maeve chimed in as she walked in from the pool deck, “Bro-ing out having a heart to heart. I love that for you guys.”

Nolan stood and faced her, “now, now, baby sister, I have a bone to pick with you.”

She innocently fluttered her eyelashes, “I simply don’t know what you’re talking about.” It's the line she always used when she knew she was caught.

Nolan scoffed, “when are you going to stop sneaking guys into this house?” He crossed his arms.

“As soon as I am confident that if I bring a guy through the front door you won’t act like a caveman and punch him in the nose.” She squared her hips and rested her hands there.

“Never gonna happen,” Nolan patted her head and walked toward the front door, “anyway, I’m out, I’m meeting up with Lindsay. Don’t wait up.”

“I thought you were done with Lindsay?” I said.

“What can I say, man? They always come crawling back.” He winked and walked out the door.

Shaking my head I turned toward the kitchen only to find Maeve pinning with a glare, “when are you going to stop lying to him?”

“I simply don’t know what you’re talking about.” I fluttered my eyelashes the way she did when delivering her signature line.

“Humor me,” She said, clearly not taking my shit.

“I want to tell him, okay? Keegan needs time.”

“Keegan is always going to need time. She acts all cool, but she isn’t over what happened and she won’t let her walls down until she hears it from you.”

“Hears what from me?” I threw my arms up, raising my voice. I knew that this wasn't Maeve’s problem but I could feel the built up anger bubbling out of me, “she left me!” I shouted.

“Yeah, because she heard you, dumbass!” She shouted back.

“Heard me? Heard me say what?” I paused and dropped my hands.

“You really don’t know?” She looked dumbfounded, “You don't know why she left?”

“NO!” I burst, slapping the island counter.

“The morning after the party, she was hiding in the pantry when you were talking to Nolan. She heard you tell him how pathetic she was for begging to drop to her knees for you.”

“Wait, what? I never said that.”

“You did.”

“Okay, I mean I did⁠—”

“You’re an asshole.” She cut me off.

“No, let me explain, I said it as a joke. The next sentence out of my mouth was that I was falling in love with her.”

“Wait, what?”