Page 119 of Lowering His Guard

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “How?”

“How what? How do I know May ran out of Five Fathoms the other day crying her eyes out?”

Pain slices through me. I’m hurt and furious with May for thinking she gets to decide what a fulfilling life for me is. But I don’t want her to hurt. And I definitely don’t want her crying. Especially when I’m not there to wipe her tears. To hold her until they dry up.

“I am serious. I’m retiring after this season,” I say.

“Does Coach Knox know you’re retiring?”

“He does. And I also know Knox is leaving the team.” He’s tried to keep his departure a secret but it’s impossible to keep a secret on a football team.

“Don’t blame me!”

I frown. “Why would I blame you?”

She blows out a breath. “Because everyone else is. I can’t go anywhere on the island with Knox without people stopping us to ask him to reconsider his decision. While glaring at me as if I’m a homewrecker. I’m not a homewrecker! He’s the one who….”

She shakes her head. “Never mind. We’re getting off course. What do you think of this building? Would it work for a gym?”

“Can I get a tour?”

As she shows me around the building, I think about how I could convert the rooms into a weight room, a fitness room, changing rooms, etc.

And I think about how to convince May I’m serious about her. I’m serious about staying. I’m serious about building a life with her.

The gym is a good step, but it’s not enough. May’s worried I’m giving up the chance to have a family. I need to show her she is my family. She and Jace are all the family I need.

But how do I show her?

Chapter 36

Home Break – Some waves bring you exactly where you belong.

May

I stand in front of the entrance to Wok the Plank. My legs refuse to move. I do not want to have this conversation with my parents. I don’t want them to know I’m defective.

But I can’t avoid it any longer. Mom has been blowing up my phone – asking me why I broke up with Brock. Because she knows. Of course she does. The whole island knows by now.

I haven’t been the subject of this much gossip since I got caught surfing naked when I was seventeen. In my defense, Miles Raider started it.

A car honks behind me and I glance over my shoulder. Mayor Lana waves at me before pulling into the parking lot.

Smoking smugglers. Mayor Lana is the biggest gossip on the island.

I hurry into the restaurant and lock the door behind me. I peek through the window until Lana drives away. Phew.

“What are you doing?” Dad asks.

I startle and nearly fall to the ground. I clamor to steady myself. “Nothing.”

“You better be here to tell us why you broke up with Brock,” Mom says.

I sigh. “We need to talk.”

“About damn time,” Dad mutters.

We settle at a table near the kitchen. The staff is in there preparing the food for the buffet and Mom doesn’t feel comfortable leaving them without supervision.