Page 89 of Broken Hearts

“Almost like your dad knew too,” she says, filling in my missing words when I trail off. “He did. He knew you would have a connection with Nate. It’s why he left you both as owners of the shop. It’s why you going there was so important.”

She says this all like she can see the future, and while I know neither her nor my father could, it certainly feels that way.

“There was always more out there for you than staying in New York. I knew the moment I took you on that first trip with me when you were a baby. You loved seeing the world, and you loved the sunshine and the beach when I would visit your dad with you. It’s where you were meant to be.”

Each word she says buries itself deep in my soul, and when I look around my dad’s apartment, it feels more like home than any place I’ve ever been.

“I’m going to withdraw from school and see if I can get in somewhere here,” I tell my mom, and she lets out a tsk.

“Sage,” she warns, and I know she’s rolling her eyes.

This is where we differ. She’d gladly see me working at the shop and forgetting about graduating from college. When I told her I didn’t want to take a gap year, she thought I was crazy.

“Mom,” I chastise right back. “I want to finish school. I want to get a teaching job. The dropout rate in Hawaii is really high, and I want to be a part of changing that.”

“I think that sounds wonderful,” she now says. “When do you think you’ll be back in New York to get your things? I want to make sure I’m here.”

I give her a couple of dates, and she notes them and asks me to make sure to let her know when I decide on a final one. We chat for a little longer, smiling through the entire conversation. While I’m going to miss seeing her on a regular basis, I know I made the right choice to stay.

After hanging up with my mom, I head downstairs to meet up with Nate. As I head in through the back door of the shop, I find Alana sitting at the little desk in the makeshift office in the storage room.

She’s bent over the desk, her eyes focused on the papers scattered around. Without Nate and Alana, I’m not sure what I would do. I probably would have had to sell the shop, not knowing the slightest thing about running it.

“What are you working on?” I say, startling her, and she nearly jumps up out of the chair.

“Oh my god, Sage!” she screams in the way only she can do without it feeling over the top. “You scared me.” She shakes her head, and then hits me with a smile. “Just ordering some new wetsuits. We got this catalog in, and I was trying to see what’s new. We’re always looking to add new stuff, but it’s hard to know what will sell.” She stops, and again shakes her head. “Never mind. You don’t really need to hear all about that.”

“Well, I kinda do,” I say, and she tilts her head to the side, giving me a funny look. “Because turns out I own fifty percent of this shop now.”

“Fifty?”

“Nate owns the other half,” I tell her, and before I can even fully get the last word out, she’s shoving past me and storming out onto the sales floor.

“Nathan!” she yells, her tone harsh, and I laugh, following behind her.

“What?” he quips, narrowing his eyes at her as she storms up on him, nearly running him down.

“We’ve been here together for the last hour and you didn’t say a damn word about being part-owner of The Pipe Dream.” She punches him in the shoulder and crosses her arms over her chest, obviously annoyed with his secret.

“Guessing Sage didn’t tell you she’s staying either,” he counters, and my mouth falls open. He just threw me under the bus to get out of trouble with Alana. That shithead.

“Oh my god, what?” Alana squeals, running to me. She throws her arms around me in a massive hug, giggling as she does.

“Wait, why does Sage get a hug and I get punched?” Nate questions, his hands on his hips. He hits Alana with a death stare.

“Because I like her. I just tolerate you,” Alana quips back, absolutely beaming. “I think we need to celebrate. What do you say? I’ll get Daisy and Sloane, and we can do a little party.”

“Sounds great,” I say.

“And I guess you can come too, Nate, even though you didn’t bother to tell me you’re now my boss,” Alana teases, walking over to him. She pulls him in for a hug, and he returns it. “Congratulations, you deserve it, Nate.” She plants a kiss on his cheek, and I swear I see him blush.

This is my family now, and I love it.

“You knowI’m coming back, right?”

I blow out a breath, tightening my arms around Sage as we stand together just before the airport security gates. “Yeah, I know,” I say.

She pulls back, smiling at me as she takes my face in her hands. “I’m coming back,” she whispers, before she leans in to kiss me.

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