Page 110 of Changing Tides

“No, I’m not,” she says.

I look up at her. “Yes, you are. You’re pissed I haven’t been there for you and her.”

She shakes her head as a tear slides down her cheek.

I tap my head against the glass.

“You’re pissed when I didn’t even know she existed.”

She whimpers as she leans her head against mine, the glass separating us.

“Fuck, Avie. That’s not fucking fair.”

“I know,” she whispers.

“Let me in,” I plead.

A few agonizing moments pass before I hear the lock click and she steps back.

I slide the door open and step inside.

She turns and walks to the refrigerator and removes a pitcher of iced tea as she gestures for me to sit.

She fills two glasses and sits down beside me.

I stare at her.

She’s beautiful. Even with her puffy, red-rimmed eyes and splotchy face.

I want to reach out and cup her face. To kiss the sadness away, but I don’t. There’s too much to be said before I can touch her.

She slides one of the teas to me. “There’s nothing that can’t be figured out over a cup of tea,” she says cryptically.

Sebastian

Itake a deep breath and look over her shoulder, where my eyes focus on a stack of boxes on the floor.

“What are those?” I ask, and her eyes follow mine.

“Packing boxes,” she says.

“Why the fuck are you packing?”

“This isn’t our home, Sebastian,” she murmurs.

“It could be,” I say.

She turns back to me. “No, it’s just somewhere we spent the summer. It’s time we get back to our life.”

“Our life. Leia is four years old. Her life is wherever the people she loves are.”

“Sebastian.”

“You can’t tell me you don’t love Sandcastle Cove. I know she does.”

She shakes her head.

“Fuck, Avie. You guys landed on my island for a reason. Can’t you see that? She belongs here with us, with me. You both do. I know things are fucked up right now, and I said a lot of shit in anger the other night. But we can figure it out if you stay.”

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