Page 32 of Claimed By my Frenemy

If I have to let go of something, maybe that something is Theo.

I walk over to the window and see lights on in the building across the muddy ground that is still healing from yesterday’s flood. Theo must be in there. Is he thinking about me?

As I look out the window, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. My grandmother’s letters have given me a new perspective, a new understanding of what love really means.

I want what my grandmother had. Now, I just have to figure out if that’s something I can have with Theo or not.

16

THEO

I snapthe resort plans closed. I’ve been looking at the plan that excludes Building C, the plan that means Mia has her bed and breakfast right next to us. I’m trying to accept the fact that she’s not willing to sell.

I’ve come to a point where I have to decide. Either I continue to pursue the resort, or I give it up. From what I’ve seen from Mia, continuing to pursue the resort’s larger plans means she will only dig her heels in further.

But if I give up, I’m going to have to inform my business partner, Steve, that plans have changed, and we won’t be making as much money as I thought we would. I’m actually worried that with the number of guest rooms currently possible, we would have to hike the price up so far that we might charge too much for our target market.

After staring at the pages for so long, I know it’s time to get outside and clear my head. It’s a cloudy day which means the sun isn’t beating down too hard, and walking on the beach will clear my head.

I kick my shoes off and put on the sandals I keep under my desk for just such an occasion.

The sound of the waves is soothing, and the breeze is cool against my skin. I take deep breaths of the salty air, hoping it will help me think more clearly.

My thoughts are still racing, but maybe they are moving a little bit more slowly now. I don’t feel as overwhelmed as I did before. This is a property and an investment, and even if it’s not going to be as great as it could have been, I may just have to accept that and change my focus to another property on Oak Island.

As I walk, I stare at the ground, picking up little details like a collection of seashells just past the water line, a name that someone scribbled in the sand, and tiny footprints heading down to the water.

“Theo!”

My head jerks up at the sound, and I realize someone standing partway in the water is calling my name.

I don’t really remember her face, but her blue hair is distinctive. It’s one of Mia’s friends. She was there that night at the bar, encouraging Mia and me to “kiss and make up.”

She gives me a small wave then motions for me to join her. I’m wearing jeans, so I wasn’t planning on wading in the water, but I don’t want to be rude.

I imagine the conversation she would have with Mia if I were to just keep on walking. “I saw that guy at the beach today,” she would say. “He pretended he didn’t recognize me. Mia, you can’t trust him. He’s rude. You should never even look at him again.”

Reluctantly. I slosh through the water until half of my calves are wet and stand next to Mia’s blue-haired friend.

“Stella,” she says, offering her hand.

“Theo,” I reply, shaking her offered hand. “But then, you clearly already know my name.”

Stella flashes a smile before turning and looking back out over the ocean. It’s a bit rough today, the waves slapping each other angrily as they smack the shore again and again.

“What brings you out here?”

I glance down the beach in the direction I was walking. It’s a pretty busy day with lots of people walking up and down the sand. There are a couple of dogs trotting along happily with their owners. “Just needed to clear my head,” I finally reply.

Neither one of us speaks for a minute. This is a very awkward conversation. Stella acted like she wanted to talk to me. She waved me toward her like she wanted to get to know me a little bit, but now, here we stand not saying anything.

It’s peaceful if I close my eyes. I can almost imagine I’m here by myself, but I don’t know how to slosh back out of the water with my wet jeans without seeming rude. I wish I had walked closer to the dunes, then Stella wouldn’t have seen me. I could have avoided this whole awkward situation.

Finally, Stella breaks the silence. “So, what’s going on with you and Mia?” she asks, turning to look at me. She crosses her arms, and now, her eyes are studying me intently.

It’s my turn to look out over the water even as she continues to study my jawline and face. I hesitate. “Nothing really. Just trying to figure out this resort situation.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Really? Because it seems like there might be more to it than that. I thought the resort thing was already figured out. Mia isn’t interested in selling. She wants to open a bed and breakfast.”

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