Page 87 of The Last Time

I look out at the water and smile. “The view, the sun, the people.”

Her head tilts to the side as she analyzes me. “Have you thought about staying for good? Maybe all this was sign that you should be here.”

“I’ve been thinking about it. The thought of leaving here, of selling this place, it’s starting to feel wrong. I don’t know. It hurt to be here at first, but now it feels like it’s part of me.”

“You’d be okay living near my brother? Even if things don’t work out?”

“It’d be hard. But this is bigger than him, bigger than us.”

“Well,” she smiles. “If you do stay, I promise you’ll always have people here to love you. Maybe your mom could move down here eventually.”

I think about that. I know mom loved this place like I do. Maybe she could eventually heal enough to move forward and see a life here.

It’s a lot to consider. But life is too short to not do what makes you happy. Losing my father so suddenly, it’s starting to make me see everything in a different light.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Asher

We’redoingSundaydinnerat my parents’ place tonight. I told Ma I needed a break. From cooking, entertaining the family… from everything.

Liam is outside with Brie, likely teaching her how to do something dangerous that I’ll have to correct.

“You want a beer?” Pa asks me.

I’m sitting at their kitchen island, Layla next to me while Ma cooks.

“Yeah, thanks,” I reply.

Layla hasn’t talked to me yet today. She’s watching me with her arms crossed, stewing on something. Probably wanting to reem me out again for not going after Charlotte.

It’s been over a week.

I’m stalling. I know I am. I just don’t know what to say. I’m not ready to confront everything from my past, and she won’t let me off the hook. We’re at an impasse, and I think I’m terrified to officially hear her tell me we’re over. I’m avoiding my problems, like always.

Pa hands me the beer and I take a big gulp immediately.

Layla grunts a sound of disgust. “Just gonna sit there and drink a beer like nothing’s happening.”

Eric looks over at us from across the island. He was talking to Ma about something but clearly didn’t miss Layla’s outburst.

“Is there something we need to know?” Eric cuts in.

“Yeah. Maybe you can talk some sense into Asher. He flew off the handle at Charlotte the other night. Now he won’t apologize because he’s too afraid of…something.”

I roll my eyes and take another sip of my beer.

“This true?” Eric asks. “You got into it with Charlotte? Were you two seeing each other?”

A muscle flicks angrily in my jaw. “It doesn’t matter what we were. She’s leaving at the end of the summer. It’s also nobody’s business what happened between us.” I look at Layla when I finish.

She scoffs. “You don’t even know if she wants to stay here for good or not. Probably too scared to have an honest conversation with her.”

“What does that mean? If she’s staying?” I ask, trying not to raise my eyebrows with such interest.

“I don’t see how that’s anybody’s business,” she says, throwing my words back at me.

I shoot her a penetrating glare.

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