Page 105 of Never Forever

“How about food, do you have food in your hotel? Good food, not just yogurt and Sour Patch Kids.”

Her cold veneer cracked again, a quick smile and then gone. “I eat more than Sour Patch Kids these days.”

“I don’t think you eat much of anything,” I said. I wasn’t going to make the comment that she was too thin, I knew it would start a fight and I didn’t want to fight. But someone had to take care of her.

I wanted it to be me. Stab to the heart or not – she was mine.

“The movie is over,” she said. “I’ve got time to take a break.”

“Good. But should we stop at the grocery store? You have a kitchen at the hotel, right?”

“I’m not staying at the hotel.”

“Oh, great,” I said with real relief. “You’re with your sister.”

“I’m not there, either.”

I kept my hands on the wheel, my eyes on the road. I even managed to keep my voice calm. “You’re leaving Calico Cove?”

“No,” she said. “I’m staying out on the island.”

“What?” I looked at her.

“Eyes on the road, Matt.”

“The house is getting renovated. And there’s no furniture.”

“Not until the end of the month and there’s enough furniture. I have a bed. A chair. A kitchen. And a Tiffany lamp.”

“You’ll be alone out there, Carrie.”

“My family has been alone out there for years, Matt.”

“You can stay with me,” I said.

“With your dad? Matt!”

“You think I still live with my dad?” I asked, shocked that she thought I was that much of a homebody. “I have my own house. I built it. For me. It’s not much, but I have a guest room and a great porch. Also, I have a grill so I can cook.”

“You couldn’t grill to save your life.”

“A lot has changed since we were kids, Carrie.”

She smiled at me. “You trying to tell me you make more than eggs and bacon now?”

“Yes, I make a mean pasta Carbonara.”

She laughed, the brightness of it filling the car and filling me. “That’s eggs and bacon on pasta.”

Huh. I never thought of it that way.

“Matt, I’ll be okay on the island. I need the break. From the world. It’s been a long hard shoot and the island just…it feels right.”

I couldn’t argue with that. The island was an amazing place to put the world into perspective. Plus, I would be out there at least four times a day.

“Okay, but I’ll be checking on you. I can bring you food. Books.”

“I don’t need you to do that,” she said.

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