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“Love is a madness, Brianna, and sometimes it makes us do unthinkable things. Things we wouldn’t rationally do.”
“Love?” I sneer. “I doubt that is what it was. Selfishness, yeah, but love?” I shake my head. “I just feel so lost, Mom.”
“Bre, your father and I leave for Florida this weekend. Amanda and Keaton insist that we keep up the tradition. It’s been a year since Anna passed away. Maybe you should come along, to where it all began, and maybe you can retrace your steps and find your way home again.”
“I’ll think about it.” I sniff.
“Now, make yourself useful and make a salad.” She tells me. I appreciate the distraction.
It’s odd being back here and with my parents. Sitting in the backseat of their car is almost déjà vu. When we arrive at the summer house, I almost expect Savanna to run out and throw her arms around me. My mom walks around the car and loops her arms through mine.
“Oh my, Brianna, what an awesome surprise. Now everything is perfect.” Amanda wraps me in a hug.
“Hey, Aunt Amanda,” I kiss her cheek.
“Gosh, I missed you, and my grandson tells me you’ve been taking such good care of them.”
“Justin is exaggerating. I help out when I can, but not nearly enough,” I smile, looking at my mom.
“Lily, Rich, God, am I glad you’re here. Keaton’s been getting on my nerves, and I need Rich to get him off my hands.” She tells my mom. They hug, and I smile because, after all these years, they’re still friends. The moment Amanda met my mom, they were inseparable. The same thing happened when I met Savanna. I feel an ache in my chest when I think about her.
“Get inside you lot,” Keaton’s voice booms. He hugs my mom and me, slapping my dad on the back . “Got the grill going.”
I suck in a breath when I enter the house because from the foyer, I can see into the backyard, and sipping a beer on the deck is Denton.
I want to turn around and walk away. I feel my throat constrict.
“It’s okay, honey,” my mom whispers.
“Well, you know where your room is,” Amanda tells me. “Come down whenever you’re ready. I’ve got some wine chilling.”
I bound up the stairs, getting to my room and locking myself inside it. I’m hyperventilating, and I have to sit on the floor with my head between my legs until my breathing normalizes. This is not the plan. I need to be here to let him go, to let Anna go, and now he’s spending the summer here too.
I splash my face with some water and look at myself in the mirror. “This doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s over between us anyway. Right?” But my reflection doesn’t answer.
When I’ve pulled myself together, I make my way downstairs and out onto the deck. I can’t help the smile that forms at the sight of Denton and Justin laughing over something they’re talking about. Ty is on Denton’s lap, and he touches or kisses his baby every now and then.
Justin turns, and when he spots me, he gets up and runs toward me. “Hey,” he greets, grinning and hugging me in that awkward way teenagers do. “Didn’t know you were coming, but I’m glad you're here.”
“Thanks, Justin,” I say. “How are you guys?”
He looks over at his dad, who sneaks glances my way. “Better. Dad’s been better,” he smiles.
“I should-” he motions to the grill. He walks away, and I grin after him.
“Hi,” Denton finally greets when I’m close enough. “Good to see you.”
“Can’t say the same.” I know how bitchy I sound, but I can’t help it. The last conversation we had was not exactly the friendliest.
We remain civil through the evening, not having a choice in the matter. After dinner outside under the moonlight, I offer to clear up. The steak was perfect, the salads divine, the least I can do is pack a dishwasher.
“I’ll help you take the dishes in,” he offers, and I nearly roll my eyes.
“I think I can manage,” I say, but he’s already stacking the plates.
“The dishwasher tablets are in the top cabinet above the dishwasher,” Amanda tells me.
Before I can reach for the cabinet, the asshole walks up behind me, reaching for the tablets, setting them down on the counter. His chest brushes against my back, and my skin erupts in gooseflesh. He moves back, giving me space. My cheeks burn when I turn and realize he hasn’t moved an inch.
