Page 101 of Just This Once

I’m sorry for everything. I’d like to prove it in person. Can you meet me tomorrow morning at Bluebird Books around nine?

I staredat my phone and frowned.Tomorrow?

First, the man blurts out that he is in love with me and then ghosts me?

Annoyance buzzed under my skin as my inner critic whispered,Sucks to be ghosted, doesn’t it?

I nearly growled with irritation as I stomped down the beachfront, kicking up sand like a child and frowning at all the happy, freckled faces of tourists enjoying Outtatowner’s immaculate beach. After coming to the realization that I would do just about anything to stay, I went in search of Whip and came up empty-handed.

Defeated, I had chosen the beach as a way to bide my time.

I glanced at the concrete pier that jutted out into the Lake Michigan waters and stopped at the lighthouse at the end. It had always seemed so picturesque and magical. Fishermen dottedthe pier, casting long lines into the water. Everything about Outtatowner felt likehome.

My phone vibrated again, and my heart rate ticked higher. When I glanced down and saw a message from my mom, I sighed.

Mom

Can you come by? I need your help with something.

Her message was annoyingly vague, but ever the dutiful daughter, I quickly typed my reply.

Of course.

With my sandals in hand, I swiveled and headed back up the beach, past the Sand Dollar Snack Shack, and toward the marina. The sun beat down on me, warming my shoulders and lifting my spirits. Laughter swirled around me as children built sand castles and ran through the tumbling waves.

Ahead of me, I spotted Lark, propped in a beach chair alongside Wyatt Sullivan and sunning herself while they both watched little Penny play in the shallow waters with a friend. Wyatt leaned into her, whispering something in her ear, and a shot of laughter rang out. She eased into him, allowing his arm to wrap her in an embrace that held secret promises.

My heart pinched.That could be mine too.

Sure, Whip and I had definitely started things off on the wrong foot—no one really expected a one-night stand to turn into what it had. Hell, it had been my assumption that if you had a one-night stand, you never saw each other again... I never,everexpected for our relationship to morph into what it had become.

Regardless of how things started, Whip and I had always been drawn to each other. I glanced up at the lighthouse and smiled. Much like the tower, he was strong and unwavering. Like one of the ships bobbing in the waters, I found solace in his reassuring glow, his affection and confidence in us guiding me through the murky waters of living my life so guarded. He’d never asked me to change—to be less rigid or less careful. Whip even showed me that a man would stand by you when life wobbled.

Love and affection for him burst through me. There was no way in hell I could wait until tomorrow to see him. My feet kicked through the sand as I took off in a run down the beach. I weaved through sunbathers, ducked past a volleyball game, and came out onto the pavement panting and exhilarated.

When my phone rang, I answered without even looking at the caller. “Hello?” I was panting and out of breath, but eager to find Whip.

“Emily.” I placed Bug King’s voice in two beats.

“Hey, Bug. How are you?” I swallowed and tried to level my breathing.

“Better than you, it sounds. Is this a bad time?” Bug’s voice hinted at the slight irritation that always carried in her voice.

“Uh... no. No, it’s fine. What can I do for you?” My mind raced, certain that word had spread to her about the argument between her nephew and me.

“I need you to come see me at the library immediately. Are you able to do that? It’s important.”Always to the point.

I smiled as my breath finally evened out and checked my watch. While I was itching to seek out Whip, I certainly didn’t want any interruptions when I threw myself at his feet, begged for forgiveness for our argument, and spent the following hours—if not days—completely tangled in him. “I can come by now, if that works?”

A rare smile floated through the phone. “That’s perfect. I’ll see you soon.”

We hung up, and I brushed off sand from my sundress and swiped at the bottoms of my feet. Slipping my sandals on, I walked up the hill toward town. Winning over Bug was no easy feat, so I decided I’d pop back into the Sugar Bowl and get her a coffee or pastry to help my case.

As I passed King Tattoo, I spotted Whip’s brother Royal taping large sheets of brown kraft paper over the storefront window.

“Hi, Royal,” I called out.

The tattooed beast of a man turned with his ever-present grin. When he saw who had called to him, his eyes went wide. “Oh, hey. Emily, right?”

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