Page 60 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

Becca is my best friend in the whole entire world?The one person who completely gets me. Even still, it’s hard to say the words, but I manage to meet her square in the face when I finally do. “I think I’m in love with him.”

Her eyes widen briefly, but then her expression changes to one I can’t place. “You only just met him,” she says, looking away from me onto the sand below us. “And you’re only now getting to know him.”

“I know what I feel,” I insist, recognizing she’s trying to talk me out of things, and downplaying my emotions. It upsets me because I know what Callahan means to me and because she knows I don’t use that word lightly.

“I’m not simply attracted to him. I know that’s how it started, but it’s not what it’s become. Ineedhim, Becca. Need to hear his deep voice, and feel his warmth when he tucks me against him.” I clasp her hand, speaking gently and trying to get her understand. “He shares his soul, knowing I’ll listen with my whole heart. And when he kisses me, I never want him to stop. It’s like something’s missing when we’re apart. Something I can’t stand being without.”

She turns back to meet me eye to eye, her features more solemn than I’ve seen in a long time. “Then I think you’re in serious trouble, Trin?Hear me out,” she says, quickly when I try to argue. “You may think you’re falling in love with him. But that man’s already there. You don’t see the way he looks you, the way he takes you in like no one else matters. And that night of the brawl, he wasn’t just angry some guy had touched you. He was genuinely scared something could happen to you.” She purses her lips as if afraid to continue. “Men, they don’t behave like that over someone they know in passing. They get that way over the women they love.”

I cover my mouth, a little shaken by what she has to say, and how she phrased it. It’s one thing to think someone likes you. It’s another thing for someone who knows you?as well as Becca knows me?to flip it in a way that demonstrates what you’ve failed to see.

She sighs, her beautiful face heartbreakingly sad. “Trin, you’re leaving in September. Now’s not a good time to fall in love,” she says.

“I?”

She shakes her head, cutting me off, and returning her attention to that sea none of us ever want to know life without. “Don’t tell me you won’t go, because you will. It was always your plan to travel the world and help those in need. It’s what your parents instilled in you, and what you were born and bred to do.” She swallows hard, surprising me by wiping away a tear. “You’re not going to give up helping villages full of people to help one man, no matter what you feel. I know you better than that.”

I lean in close and wrap my arms around her. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I wish you were that selfish, Trin?to stay behind and be with all of us who love you. But you’re not. Why do you think this summer is so important to us? Why do you think we’re working for a few dollars an hour instead of using our hard-earned degrees to make real money? We want to be with you, Trin—me, Hale, Sean, and Mason—the five of us together one last time.”

“You act like we’ll never see each other.” I say it to make her feel better, but it’s a fear that’s crossed my mind too many times. Growing up often means moving on, and far away from those who know and love you best.

She wipes another tear. “You may not be going to war, girl, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Something can happen to you out there. Something bad. But that won’t stop you, will it? You’ll still go.”

“Ihaveto,” I say, my tone splintering. “Look, I’ve always had my heart set on volunteering all over the world—just like my parents did. But I’ll admit, now that I’ve met Callahan, it’s like my life is imploding around me. I don’t want to go—not like I did before. But I can’t back out. There’re people with worse problems than me who need help.”

“So you’ll go?” she asks. “No matter who you leave behind?” She shakes her head again when I don’t answer. “Trin, if that’s the case, I don’t know what to tell you.”

I rest my cheek against her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what? Leaving us? Or leaving him?”

I’m seconds from losing it, and barely manage to answer. “All of it.”

She sniffs, squaring her shoulders as she tries to rein in her emotions. “Have you even told him yet?”

My hands slip off her shoulders. “No.”

“Why?”

“Becks, I’m the only one he has to talk to. And he’s been through a lot. If I tell him I’m leaving, he’ll close up. I have to be there for him for as long as I can.”

“Until you up and leave him,” she says, slowly.

I don’t answer, not right away. Mostly because she’s right. “Do you think I shouldn’t be with him?” I finally ask.

“I don’t see how either of you will be able to stay apart. Not given what he means to you, and what you seem to mean to him.” She embraces me, holding me tight. “Trin, I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I can tell you is I don’t think it’s going to end well. For either of you.”

Chapter Eighteen

Callahan

Jed flips over the last chair so the afternoon crew can clean the floors before they open the bar. The only chair still perched on its legs is the one Trin’s sitting on. I asked her to wait for me after Jed announced closing and she started to pile out with her friends. She seemed hesitant to stay, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if she would. But she did. And I’m glad.

Except for Lindsey, all the waitresses hurry out the second they’re done counting their tips. Jed glances from Lindsey and Trin before meeting me with a smirk. I’m not sure what he’s thinking until I see Lindsey walk toward the door. She stops beside Trin and turns around, smiling in a way I know means trouble.

“Hey, Callahan. If you ever want a real woman, instead of a little girl, be sure to give me a call.”

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