Page 90 of Every Beautiful Mile

“Don’t remind me,” Derek groans, running a hand through his long hair. “I have a float trip this morning, and I need about fifteen hours more sleep.”

Marin and Finn yawn in agreement.

“We are heading out in just a bit. Is your dad up yet? I want to say goodbye, of course, but I don’t want to wake him or anything.”

I look around and try not to seem too eager.

“Uhh…” Derek clears his throat. “He left.”

“Left?”

My voice is a strangled kind of sound.

“Yeah…” His eyes bounce from Marin to Finn, then back to me. “He had some, uhh, stuff with the restaurant, I guess. I dunno, I think it was planned?”

“Yes, right. Of course!” I force a laugh that sounds like a robotic ha ha ha. “I mean, the day after a holiday is always a big cleanup in a restaurant, so I totally get that. I mean, gotta start early, right? People need to eat, right? Crowds can sometimes be bigger on the fifth of July than they are on the fourth, did you know that? I mean, it’s the darndest thing. I guess everyone is just so burned out from all the celebrations they just want someone else to cook for them. And not do the dishes, of course.”

I babble like a moron.

Marin’s eyes are wide as Finn presses a finger to his lips while Derek just stands, confused and uncomfortable. Clearly, he’s never dealt with a shocked woman who just had a much-needed sexual experience on his dad’s leg in the yard before.

“Right.” I smack my lips together. “Derek, thank you. You are an amazing cook, guide, and host. If you ever find yourself in Key Largo, please look us up. And thank Austin for us, and your dad, of course. Or not. You know, just whatever feels…”

I wave my hand around as if it’s an understood signal that this conversation is over.

He left.

He left?

I must have missed something. Like maybe he told me this last night, but I had too much wine to remember. Or he said it, but it was during the fireworks, so I didn’t hear him.

It can’t be right.

I didn’t expect him to throw himself in the middle of the street and beg me not to leave, but no goodbye? It feels like a knife is being twisted straight through my chest.

Was this because I used his leg? I cringe at the thought of that possibility.

I bounce between feeling incredibly sad and ferociously angry. I knew what I was getting with him. He’s a man who dates a lot of women, and it’s ridiculous to read anything deeper into what happened.

Hell, it was probably just another night for Ethan Mills!

To hell with him.

I only start to breathe easy after we pull out of the driveway and head east toward the coast.

Finn immediately crawls back into bed, and Marin sits next to me in the passenger seat. Our eyes are glued to the hazy road in front of us. It starts to rain harder, and a thick fog covers everything like a blanket.

The weather is an actual representation of my mood.

“Mom…” Marin taps her fingers on her lap and drops her head onto the headrest. “I’m sorry about Ethan. I know you… enjoyed spending time with him. I’m sure there’s a reason he left.”

I shake my head and swallow down all the tears that I want to cry but refuse to give to him. “Oh, Marin, don’t be silly. Did I like spending time with him? Sure. But that’s it. He has a life. I didn’t expect him to base his schedule on us leaving or anything.”

Lie.

I did expect that.

“Plus, we are going to see whales! And puffins! And lobster!” I feign enthusiasm, but the way she looks at me lets me know she’s not buying it. I reach my hand over to hers and give it a squeeze.

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