Page 82 of Beachside Kisses With My Enemy

Behind us, the sound of a ball clacking against another rings through the air. Frederick calls Landon a dodgy bloke, and Landon laughs.

Glancing back at them, Jordan smiles and rolls his eyes. Then he brings his gaze back to the board. Adjusts his ball cap before throwing his last dart. Just left of center.

But he doesn’t gloat, merely looks at me. “Your turn.”

Grunting, I move into position and throw. My first dart misses the board altogether. Disgusted with myself, I take another drink of my soda. Shake it off. Try again. Same thing.

“Something bothering you?” Jordan asks. Grabbing up his soda again, he sits on the back of the couch next to me, legs crossed at the ankles. “I find I can never hit the board when I’ve got something else on my mind.” His voice is so casual, but I’m no dummy.

I give him serious side eye. “Marilee told you about me and Lucy, didn’t she?”

“She may have mentioned it.” He holds up his hands. “But that’s not why I invited you over. We were already getting together. You’re not the only one who needed a distraction.”

I turn toward him, forgetting the darts for a moment. “Why? What’s wrong with you?”

He laughs. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?” Then he rubs the back of his neck. “Nah, it’s just Ryder. He’s had a lot of trouble sleeping lately. It’s been about six months since his mom passed. He’s been wetting the bed again every night, wanting to sleep with me. That kind of thing.”

I blow out a breath. “Dang. That’s rough.”

“Yeah.”

“You and his mom…” I clear my throat. “Was her passing hard on you?”

He shrugs. “I mean, yeah, of course. But we were never together. That is, we were never a couple. I’d like to say it was complicated, but it really wasn’t. I didn’t have feelings for her beyond…” His cheeks turn red. “But she was a good co-parent. A good mom to Ryder. Seeing how it’s affected him has been really hard.”

I study him, this solid guy who clearly stepped up to the plate when Ryder came along, doing right by him and his mom. From what I know of him, he’s smart. His business is always booming, and it seems like his schedule is full. I think back to what he told me that day on the boardwalk, about why he came back to Hallmark Beach when he could have gone anywhere after business school: “Guess you could say that everything I wanted was in this little town. It’s home.”

The thought slams me straight in the heart.

I cough. “I think…I think I want to stay in Hallmark Beach.”

Jordan’s eyebrows go up, disappearing beneath the brim of his hat. “Yeah?” He takes the change of subject in stride. “That would be awesome. But you don’t sound too sure. What about the restaurant?”

“I know. That’s the problem. I should want that, right? It’s an amazing opportunity. Plus, I’ve already committed to it.”

“I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, necessarily. And an opportunity can be amazing and wrong at the same time.”

Whoa. My brain buzzes with the implications.

Jordan continues. “Have you signed paperwork?”

“No. My business partner wants me to sign it later this week once I’m back. His lawyer’s been drawing everything up.”

“Then you haven’t actually committed. Though I understand wanting your word to be your bond and all that.” He takes another swig of Diet Coke. “Or is there more to it?”

“There’s more.” I sigh, glance back at Frederick and Landon. Much as I like them, I don’t really know them yet. But Jordan’s more than just a solid guy. He’s my sister’s friend. Mine too.

Imagine that. I have a friend. Huh.

I blink, rolling the dart between my thumb and forefinger. “You knew my dad. He had certain ideas about success. And I don’t think—well, I know he wouldn’t have considered a food truck business in a small town to be ‘success.’ But a booming restaurant in Los Angeles that brings in stars and reviews and celebrity chef status? That would be something.”

Still holding onto his drink, Jordan folds his arms over his chest, nodding along.

“So while I think my heart wants to be here, I’m not sure my head will allow it. The thought of giving up my dad’s dream for me—because if I’m honest, that’s what the restaurant is—doesn’t really compute.” I pause. “Especially if I give it up for Lucy. My dad led with his heart, and then his head was never happy with him later. I guess I just need to figure out which to listen to.”

“I get that, man. And I don’t have all the answers by any means. Believe me, I’m still warring daily with my heart and my head.” He shifts, and I wonder once again what’s going on deeper inside of him—maybe as it regards my sister. Jordan moves on before I can think too much about that. “But I guess you just have to ask yourself what success means to you. Not your dad. You.”

“Isn’t there only the one kind?” I joke, but there’s a serious question there too.

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