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“Maybe you could cut down on the travel.” Autumn opened the car and they climbed inside. “Change your business model a little so that you can work from the US a little more.”
“Travel’s what I do,” Lydia said. “It always has been. I don’t know who I’d be if I stayed in one place for very long. And anyway, Jackson hasn’t asked me to stay. So it would look a little crazy if I hung around like a bad smell.”
“So that’s it? You leave and this thing between you is over? Won’t that be awkward the next time you come and visit us?”
“I’m always friends with my exes,” Lydia said. “And I promised you from the start I wouldn’t make it awkward. I like Jackson.” Like was way too weak a word, but she didn’t want to alarm her sister. “He’ll always be special to me.”
“Oh, honey. You’re in love with him. Anybody can see that when they look at the two of you. And it’s killing me that neither of you will admit it.”
“What good would it do to admit it?” Lydia asked. “It won’t change anything. It would only make it hurt even more than it already does.”
Autumn drove them toward the boardwalk, parking in the lot beside the coffee shop. Déjà Brew’s doors were open, people standing on the deck and spilling onto the beach. Griff had set up a music system on the deck and the sounds were pumping out into the evening air. The aroma of burgers and hot dogs wafted up from the sand where Lucas and his friend, Breck, were cooking on two oversize grills.
The beach was full of familiar faces, all lighting up as she greeted them. She hugged Ally and Brooke, and chatted with Harper and Ember about their children, before heading over to a group of older folk who were calling out her name.
“Look at this,” Deenie Russell said, pulling her phone from her pocket. “I took ten new photographs today for my Instagram. One of them has sixty comments.”
Lydia smiled at her as she took her phone, flipping through the photos. “You’re a natural,” she told Deenie. “Give it a couple of months and you’ll be an influencer.”
“What’s that?” Lorne Daniels asked. He wrinkled his face. “It sounds dangerous.”
“Do you think you can set me up on Instagram the next time you visit?” Frank Megassey asked. “I’d love to drum up some business for the hardware store.”
“Of course. We could have a lot of fun with that,” Lydia agreed. “I’ll be sure to come in just as soon as I’m back.”
“Don’t forget to come see me at the surf shop, too,” Lorne said. “I might need a refresher course by then.”
“It’s a date. For sure,” Lydia told him.
“Who’s asking you out on a date?” Jackson asked, sliding his arms around Lydia’s waist and pressing his lips to her cheek. “Don’t they know that you’re taken tonight?”
She leaned her head against his chest, smiling up at him. “I was just about to tell them.”
“You two are too cute for words,” Deenie told them. “You look good together.”
“Well thank you.” Jackson gave her a grin. “Now if you guys don’t mind, I’d like to dance with this beautiful woman before she skips town.”
“Be our guest,” Frank said. “But I might be over to steal a dance later.”
Jackson blew Frank a kiss. “I’ll dance with you any time, Frank.”
Lydia burst into laughter at Frank’s expression as Jackson led her down to the beach. His warm hand was tight on hers.
“I missed you,” Jackson murmured, as he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her body to his, moving his hips to the rhythm of the slow music Griff was playing.
“It’s only been a couple of hours.” Lydia leaned her head against his chest, letting him take the lead. She loved dancing. Loved even more that Jackson could dance and didn’t have to be dragged onto the beach to hold her. He actually wanted to be here, swaying softly to the beat.
“Three hours and forty minutes,” he told her. “I think I counted every second.”
“Well you have me now.” Her eyes sparkled. “What are you going to do with me?”
He brushed his lips against her forehead. “I have a few ideas.”
“I like them already,” she said, looping her arms around his neck, and pressing her body against his. “Especially if they involve dancing.”
“I’ll dance with you all night if you want.” He brushed her lips with his.
“We can stop for refreshments,” she said, nodding seriously. “But yes please.” Being in his arms felt so good.
