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Deciding to let it go, I focused back on the column. “Okay, so if you don’t think it’s Mrs. Pritcher, then who?”
Harlee sighed. “Seriously, Palmer, why are you so obsessed with finding out who Ms. Seaside is? If I remember correctly, she said she was wishing you and Mason the best.”
I looked at Harlee. “She said we made a cute couple.”
She gave me a warm smile. “And you do. I’m simply saying, you’re focusing so much of your attention on this, and for what? What will you actually do when you find out who’s writing the column?”
Chewing on my lower lip, I replied, “Probably nothing. Plus, I did tell Brax I’d let it go.”
Harlee nodded. “Then let it go and focus on what’s going on in your world. Mason and Charlie.”
I looked down at my half-eaten meal and grinned. When I looked up, the three of them were watching me. “I’ve never felt this way before about anyone.”
Sutton reached across the table and took my hand in hers. I could feel tears forming at the back of my eyes.
“I’m in love with him,” I said, “and that scares me because it’s happening so fast.”
Harlee wrapped her arm around me.
Addie sniffled, then wiped her nose before she spoke. “Oh, baby sister, how I’ve been waiting for the day when someone would knock you off your feet.”
We all laughed, then simultaneously sniffled as well.
“I get where you’re coming from,” Addie added.
Sutton squeezed my hand. “So do I. It’s hard to give your heart to someone when you know they could easily break it in two. But at the same time, when you take a chance on love, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”
Addie nodded. “Do you remember when that storm came in and Gannon fell trying to board the ship?”
I nodded. “Yes, that was terrifying for all of us, especially for you.”
After drawing in a deep breath, Addie exhaled. “For one moment, after I found out he was okay, I panicked. I wanted to run, because in my mind, I knew I wouldn’t be able to live without Gannon and the fact that his job could take him away from me…” She slowly shook her head. “I thought I’d be better off without him in my life than to have him get ripped away.”
“What changed your mind?” I asked.
“That’s easy. I only needed one second to realize that not having him in my life at all would be worse than not living a life with him for as long as we’re blessed to be together. The kind of love you’re feeling for Mason should make you scared.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Really?”
Sutton spoke next. “Yes! It’s the passion, the desire—and I don’t just mean sexual desire. I’m talking about the desire to simply look across a room and see him. To have him sleep next to you in bed and wake up every morning with a good morning, beautiful. It’s the kiss he gives you when you’re least expecting it, and the one he gives you when you’re making love. That kind of love is powerful, and if you’re lucky enough to find that with someone, take hold of the reins, Palmer, and enjoy the ride.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I let Sutton’s words settle in.
“Jesus H. Christ. When did you become so…deep?” Harlee asked.
Sutton let go of my hand, took a drink of her water, and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I think it has something to do with the baby. Or it’s these kick-ass prenatal vitamins I’m taking.”
We all stared at her before bursting into laughter. The kind of laughter that makes your belly hurt and erases all the anxiety swirling inside of you.
I loved Mason. And I was going to tell him the moment I saw him. No more waiting and making sure this would all turn out okay. I was going to grab the reins, damn it, and enjoy the ride!
Mason
Thursdays were my day to pick up Charlie from school. We always did something together those afternoons. It had become our tradition since moving to Seaside. Today, I was taking him down to the marina where Braxton was going to give us a tour of one of his fishing charter boats. Since Charlie had asked about learning how to fish when it was warmer, I was going straight to the top.
I pulled up to the pick-up line and saw the principal standing there with Charlie. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, and I knew something was wrong.
She walked up, and I rolled the passenger-side window down.
“Afternoon, Mr. Bryan.”
“How are you, Principal Walker?”
She gave me a warm smile. “I’m doing well. Are you free to park and chat for a few minutes?”
My eyes went to Charlie. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Charlie isn’t in any kind of trouble.”
