Page 41 of In Your Wake

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but this might actually be good.”

“How do you figure?”

“My attention needs to be here, on Dad and the brewery.”

I watch someone parasailing near the shore. On clear days like today, I remember what I used to love about the Bay. The stunning sea views, the not-too-warm weather. The sheer ease of everything.

“And on the inn, apparently,” I add, then glance back to meet Spencer’s confused glare. I explain my parents’ wishes to him, his frown getting deeper the more I reveal.

“You and Maxine?” His eyebrows lift above the rim of his sunglasses. “Working together?”

“It’s insane, right?”

“That’s putting it mildly. How does she feel about this?”

“She’s about as excited as you’d expect her to be.”

Spencer’s brow furrows. “Clearly, we need to talk about this.”

“Do we?” I ask, narrowing my gaze.

He stands up, gathering his things. “You bet your ass we do. Let’s go grab a bite.”

“Not that I don’t love the place, but weren’t we just at the brewery?”

“Nah, not the brewery.” He grabs his phone and texts someone. “Let’s go to Hunt’s. Assuming he’s not too busy with Celia.”

“Did something finally happen?”

While we were at the cemetery the other night, Hunter leveled me with his heartfelt confession. I had no idea he’d been struggling to deal with his past. And I still can’t get over the fact that Seth had a crush on him, or that they shared a kiss the summer Seth left to join the army. But I hope our conversation freed him from his guilt. More importantly, I hope I was able to convince him to follow his heart and pursue Celia.

“Not sure,” Spencer says, but then arches a blond eyebrow. “All I know is they went for a drive last night.”

“Which means…?”

“With Hunter, who knows?” he answers. “But we should definitely go bug him about it.” He winks, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Or if you’d rather, I could continue bugging you about Maxine.”

I shove him away, earning his laughter. “Nah, let’s go pick on Hunter.”

Max

Out the window, the afternoon sun glares off the sleek silver SUV parked in Hunter’s driveway across the street.

“Ugh.”

“What are you groaning about?” Celia asks, following my line of sight.

“That car.”

“It’s very shiny,” she says lightheartedly. “Not a fan?”

“It’s Mitchell’s rental.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. Can’t I go anywhere without him following me? I swear he’s stalking me.”

Celia tilts her head. “To be fair, Max, he’s Hunter’s best friend. I’m sure it’s nothing but a coincidence.”