Page 3 of Coastal Rewind

“Owen,” I said louder.

He paused and looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. “How do I do college without you?” he asked, his voice low and timid.

“You do it without fear. We got this, okay?”

“Please come back.” His voice broke, along with my heart.

“I’ll be back,” I promised, even though it felt like a lie.

Owen and I had never been apart. From birth and for the next eighteen years, we had been each other’s person. Now, he was off to California to follow in our dad’s footsteps, and I was off to, well, wherever the wind blew.

“One heart,” I said, sticking my hand out.

“Two souls,” he said, before slapping the back of my hand in a sort of backward low five like we’d done since we were little.

I walked into his chest and took a deep breath as his strong arms wrapped around me.

I will not cry today.

I stepped back and turned to walk toward the driver’s side door where my dad was waiting for me.

“Got everything you need?” he asked, pulling the door open.

I nodded.

“Good. Don’t forget to call me when you get to the hotel in Pennsylvania tonight.”

I just nodded again.

My dad reached out to cup my jaw and I leaned my head into his touch. “She’d be so proud of you.”

I nodded one last time before I slid behind the wheel and closed the door behind me. I couldn’t listen to anymore of his words. If I did, there was a chance I wouldn’t have the courage to leave.

I waved to my massive family before shifting the car in drive and heading out onto the open road.

Rule #1 Fear has no place here. Go for it. Always.

one

Ryleigh

My alarm blared as I groaned and rolled over, slapping the counter so hard that my phone fell off the tiny countertop and tumbled onto the floor. I not so graciously failed to actually turn the alarm off and got out of bed to retrieve the device from hell. When I glanced at the many messages from my siblings, I rolled my eyes.

It was way too early for this shit.

Nolan changed the name of the group chat to “The Brady Bunch Reunion, and Luke”

Nolan

Ry, Ry, Ry, what time do you get here?

Maggie

Nolan, let her sleep.

Keegan

It’s like 6 am. Please stop blowing up our phones.