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That was empathy, right? The family psychologist had told him he needed to show it, even if it was harder than anything else he’d ever done.
“The difference is, you had the choice whether to move to this crappy town. I didn’t. You made the decision for me, the same way everybody does, and I just have to go with it. Do you know what it’s like to move schools in your junior year? Everybody already has their friends. Nobody’s interested in a new girl. They’re just going to look at me as if I’m some weirdo. Thanks, Dad.”
Nate felt his heart rate begin to rise. “Ri…”
“I’m going to be late. I’ll see you this afternoon.” This time when she grabbed the handle, she opened the door.
“Are you okay catching the bus home?”
Riley gave a grunt as she climbed out of the car.
“Okay, well have a good day…” But she’d already slammed the door and was stomping up the sidewalk, her backpack slung over one shoulder, and her long hair falling over her face.
“See you later, Dad. Good luck at the new shop,” Nate muttered, then pressed the button of his Lexus to start up the engine.
Yep, he was really killing it at this dad thing.
* * *
There was something special about running early in the morning. The sun was barely up, and most of the small beach town of Angel Sands was still asleep as Ally pounded her way down the boardwalk, her breath steady and her muscles strong in spite of the ten miles she’d completed. She still had a couple more miles in her – she could feel it – maybe a run up and down the beach would finish things off nicely.
Stopping by the café, she pulled her running shoes and socks off, and stuffed them by the front entrance. Like the rest of the shops on the boardwalk, it was shut up and silent. In an hour they’d all be opening up and the customers would begin to trickle in, but right now the boardwalk and beach belonged to the surfers and runners.
Yep, it was definitely her favorite time of day.
The sun had begun to rise behind the cliffs that bordered Angel Sands to the east, the bright orange rays stretching across the sleeping town. Ally launched her body forward, her long legs stretching as she pounded her way across the beach, the unforgiving sand making her thighs ache and her breath come faster.
God, she needed this. To forget about everything for a while. Her head was too full of thoughts about the café closing and trying to decide her next steps – the nothingness that running brought was welcome.
When she reached Paxton’s Pier, she took a deep breath, leaning on a wooden post as she looked out at the sparkling blue ocean beyond. A small crew of fishermen were loading up their boats to sail out for that day’s catch, calling to each other and laughing. A familiar bearded figure was walking up the boarded slats, his hands stuffed in
the pockets of his cut-off jeans, a captain’s hat jauntily angled on the top of his overgrown hair. She lifted her hand to wave, and Griffin waved back. She’d gotten to know him ever since her best friend, Ember, had started dating his own best friend, Lucas. They’d got on like a house on fire, enough for Ember to ask her if there was anything going on.
“No there isn’t,” Ally had said, wrinkling her nose up. “We’re friends, that’s all.”
“Well you can’t blame me for asking,” Ember had said, grinning. “You’re usually the first to see the romantic possibilities in everything. I’m only doing you a favor by pointing it out.”
Ember had been right in one respect. Though Ally was only interested in Griff as a buddy, she usually was the first to spot the chemistry when her friends met a guy. It was so much easier with other people than it was with herself. She believed in love, she really did.
But maybe not for herself. If there was a Mr. Right out there for her, he was hiding so hard he deserved a medal. She’d almost given up hope of meeting him.
She made it back to the boardwalk half an hour before opening time. Lorne Daniels was already opening up the Forever Summer Surf Shop, next to the Beach Café. She smiled as she watched him clip the front doors open. He glanced at her as if he could feel the warmth of it, and squeezed his eyes together to block out the brightness of the morning sunrise.
“Mornin’.” He nodded at her. “Looks like it’s going to be another warm one.”
He always said that, as though the weather in Angel Sands was anything else.
“Should be good for business,” she replied, nodding at him. “Did you make it out for a surf this morning?”
“With these old bones?” he asked her. “No, ma’am. I decided to have an extra half hour in bed. You’ve got enough energy for the both of us.” His tone was teasing.
“Speaking of which, I should go and grab my shoes.” Ally glanced over at the café she’d been working in for the past ten years. “I need a shower before I open up. The time ran away with me this morning.”
Lorne cleared his throat, still staring at her. “Have you spoken with your dad?”
“Since he told me about the sale? No.” Ally looked down at her feet; they were covered in sand. She wiggled her toes to try and brush it off. “I haven’t called him back yet.” Or listened to the voicemails he’d left in the special folder. She was still too hurt, too angry to hear them. Ember had been right, she should wait for a week or two until she felt better.
He was her dad. She wanted to get over this, not burn any bridges between them.
