Page 22 of Diving In

“Define decent,” I said, trying for casual even though I felt anything but.

“Holy shit. What is that ungodly delicious smell?” he said, sniffing his way closer to me. “Chocolate chip cookies? My favorite.” He traced his bottom lip with his tongue ever so lightly.

I attempted to hide the flush that invaded my cheeks as I turned to the sink, pretending to wash out my coffee cup but really just buying some time until I had to face him.

“Did you need something?” I asked.

“I tried your cell a few times last night but never got an answer. I almost came back over, but I resisted. I wasn’t sure if the storm would freak you out, being so close to the water and all.”

As I stood there and listened to Cal express concern for me, it made me feel something I didn’t think I’d ever felt in a relationship: safe. Which isn’t entirely fair to Ian, because he knew I was independent. He always assumed that if I needed him, I would let him know, which was what I’d always preferred. Or at least I thought I did until just now.

“Georgia, you okay? You’ve washed that coffee mug at least six times.” Cal’s voice was closer now, as he’d apparently cut the distance between us while my back was turned. I grabbed for the faucet at the same time he did, his hand landing on top of mine. Startled by the warmth that radiated from his palm, I rotated to face him, our bodies inches from touching.

I tried my best to seem unaffected by his concern, but the truth was that up until this moment, I’d always done the worrying for myself, never allowing anyone else to fret about me. But also, because this ridiculously handsome man apparently wasn’t scared to show me that he cared about me. He’d shown me in the way he drove me here last night, carrying in my luggage and making sure I knew he was there for me. And now he was showing me again by simply being here, checking in on me even though he didn’t know that nobody else would be.

Reaching up, he took his thumb and brushed it against my lower lip. “You had a little chocolate…” He pulled away and pushed his thumb in his mouth, licking it clean.

I flinched, my eyes widening as I watched his tongue maneuver around his finger. My younger self would be losing her actual mind right now.

I nibbled my bottom lip, attempting to refocus. “You know, you keep forgetting that I lived on this island for nine years. I think it’s safe to say I’ve been through a few tropical storms,” I teased, placing my pointer finger against his chest to drive my point home, but I wasn’t prepared for the brick wall that met my fingertips.

“Right. I must have forgotten.” He smirked. “Well, now that we’ve settled that, have you eaten? The Grounded Bean makes a killer breakfast scramble,” he said.

I wasn’t sure this was the best idea, considering being in the same room as Cal was proving to be harder than expected and I was in no position to be making googly eyes at him—atanyone—with my fresh breakup lingering. But he was also one of the only people I knew that really knew Jack, so if I was hoping to get any answers, he might be my only prospect.

“Give me ten to freshen up? And can you take the cookies out when the timer goes off?” I asked, moving away from him and toward the stairs.

He raised an eyebrow and said, “Don’t forget a bra.”

My head shot down and mortification overtook me at the sight of my nipples clearly piercing through my shirt.

My eyes flicked up, immediately meeting his baby blues. And this man… He had the audacity towink. His winks were getting more and more frequent, and they were doing something to me that I wasn’t quite ready to address.

I had no words. I bolted for the stairs, taking them two at a time until I reached the top. I pushed open the bedroom door and rummaged through my things before coming across a pair of black leggings, a cropped black half-zip, and my sneakers.

I made my way to the bathroom just as I heard my phone go off again. I had been doing my best to ignore it, but it was relentlessly pinging. I snagged it from the pocket of my purse and saw a “2” hovering in the top right corner of my message app. Even though I was dreading opening it, I knew I needed to.

I opened the text from Ivy first.

Ivy:

Just thinking about you. Let me know if you need anything. I love you, G.

I could always count on Ivy to be straightforward, letting me know she’s there without being overbearing.

My relief from my best friend’s message was short-lived when I saw a text from Ian, my heart rate immediately speeding up.

Ian:

Hey, G. Just wanted to make sure you made it safely. I’m a little surprised I haven’t heard from you after last night. I’d hoped you’d sleep it off and come to your senses. I know you’re dealing with your dad’s death and whatever else, but I think we should talk about how we ended things. Miss you.

Whatever else… Ha. If only he knew what I had dealt with since landing in this quiet South Carolina beach town. I’d never shared much with him about my life growing up here on the island because I’d never felt comfortable telling him, never felt confident that he’d even care.

I understood where he was coming from thinking that we should talk more, but it also annoyed me. He’d managed to check in on me while somehow making it about him, and if that wasn’t classic Ian, I didn’t know what was. I had so much on my plate, I couldn’t have Ian buzzing in my ear too. Plus, our breakup was a decision I still wholeheartedly stood by, so that was that, end of story.

After I read his text, I tossed my phone onto the bed and decided I would deal with it all later. My energy was nonexistent, especially for ex-boyfriends.

I returned my attention to the current predicament at hand: making myself presentable for breakfast with Cal.

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