Page 27 of Coastal Rewind

She laughed. “I was just passing through. I’m always just passing through.” She got quiet after that, seeming to be lost in thought. “I have this weird theory that I’ll just land where I’m supposed to, you know? Like the town will choose me and I’ll feel this pull that I can’t leave. I haven’t found that yet.”

“Maybe you need to be open to the pull,” I said.

Her words resonated with me more than I thought they would. I didn’t move from place to place but was always seeking where I fit in the world. I always felt like I was surviving; like I was waiting for the time where I could take a deep breath and just live.

Ryleigh finished her drink and pushed to stand. “Thanks for the drink.” Her face was soft as she turned and disappeared back into the house.

I stayed outside for a bit longer, thinking about the summer and how this arrangement felt different than it ever had before. I’d had nannies but I was always tense about it. I felt the need to check in and was constantly on edge about MJ, but I didn’t have those feelings with Ryleigh. I knew she had a good head on her shoulders and her survival skills were unmatched. She had family nearby in case of an emergency, and I trusted her.

This was all completely out of my comfort zone. If I wasn’t careful, I would let myself get used to it only to end up heartbroken when she packed her van in September and took off for the next adventure.

I dropped my duffel bag in the pile to be loaded onto the plane and jogged up the small stairs. I spotted Nolan who waved me over to my usual seat.

“I’m so ready to be home,” he said as he dropped his head back onto the seat.

“Got one more night. Think you can make it?” I laughed as he rolled his eyes.

We’d been on the road for four days and I understood wanting to be home. The first night away, I was nervous to leave. I knew Ryleigh and MJ would be fine, but I never liked leaving him. The fear completely dissipated after the first day game when MJ and Ryleigh called to tell me they’d watched my game on TV. That was the first good night’s sleep I’d gotten on the road in months.

“How’s our boy?” Nolan asked, looking down at his phone and typing.

“He’s good. Him and Ryleigh have been exploring the local parks after school this week.”

Nolan furrowed his brow and reached a hand up to poke my cheek. I pushed it away and laughed.

“Sorry, I just didn’t know your face was capable of making that.” He pointed at me.

“Making what?”

“An expression besides chronically constipated.”

I rolled my eyes and rubbed my lips together to not give him the satisfaction. “I don’t know, man. Things are just good.”

“I’m glad it’s working out. Ryleigh is a tough nut to crack but she’s always been a caretaker in the family. She really stepped up when our mom passed.”

I obviously knew that Ryleigh was Nolan’s older sister, but it never occurred to me that the fucked-up shit Nolan had to work through must have taken its toll on her, too.

A few years ago, when Nolan met his wife, he went through hell trying to figure out if he wanted to let another woman close to him after the loss of his mom. The man was terrified of commitment.

Ryleigh was a few years older but she was still a kid and it couldn’t have been easy to help her dad raise her younger siblings. It was clear she was a caretaker at heart and did whatever she could for others. Hell, she was swooping in to save me this summer and absolutely refused any payment I offered her in return. She was literally watching my son to be nice.

A fucking angel.

Zane sat in the seat in front of mine but propped up on one knee to talk to us. “So, a bunch of us want to go out in Seattle after the game. Who’s in?” he asked, glancing between me and Nolan.

“I’ll go, but if a girl punches you in the face then I’m on her side.” Nolan laughed.

Both of them looked at me in question.

I shrugged. “Sure.”

“Yes!” Zane cheered before flopping back down into his seat.

For once, I wasn’t anxious about going out for a drink. I usually preferred to be sober on nights off in case I got a call that MJ needed me or another nanny abandoned him in the middle of the night.

For once, I could go out and be confident that everything at home was calm.

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