Page 2 of While We Waited

Flynn is Sophia’s boyfriend. They’ve been obsessed with each other since high school but only recently got together. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked her to marry him yet.

I sigh. Everyone’s pairing off. Sophia with Flynn. Chloe with Lucas – although their relationship is supposedly ‘fake’.

I want someone to love and have tons of babies with. I want a family. Someone to cuddle under the blankets with while watching movies in the evening. Someone to eat pancakes with on Sunday morning. Someone to observe the stars with at night.

I’ve got Finn Fable, my cat, but he’s not allowed outside at night anymore. Not after he attacked the dog next door. I swear the dog was asking for it. Why else would my five-pound kitty go after a seventy-five-pound German Shepherd?

Paisley strolls into the office and stops in front of my desk. I grin up at her. “Good morning, Paisley.”

“Have you spoken to Hudson yet?”

I groan. Hudson is the bane of my existence. He’s also the owner of the largest resort on the island of Smuggler’s Hideaway where we live.Hideaway Haven Resortis an exclusive hotel. It’s also the only hospitality establishment on the island that doesn’t serveFive Fathoms Brewing.

“I’ve spoken to Hudson numerous times,” I hedge.

“She means since high school when you tried to get his attention by trying out to become a cheerleader,” Sophia says.

“I didn’t try out to be a cheerleader because of Hudson,” I lie. “The lead cheerleader asked me to try out.”

“Because she…” Maya’s eyes widen and she slams a hand over her mouth. “Never mind.”

“It’s okay, Maya. You can say it.”

Her cheeks darken and she drops her chin to stare at her fingernails. “Sorry, Nova. I didn’t mean to bring her up,” she whispers.

“You can talk about my mom. I won’t burst into flames at the mention of her name.”

My chest feels tight and my limbs heavy at the mention of Mom but I fight through the sadness. Mom’s been gone for more than a decade. I’m used to the sensation by now.

Paisley’s brow furrows. “Burst into flames? Why would you burst into flames?”

“Vampires burst into flames when they’re exposed to sunshine. Unless they are mated to a human,” Maya explains.

Sophia giggles. “Are you reading a vampire romance?”

Maya is a hopeless romantic who would rather read than deal with the world. She’s lucky her job as our financial manager doesn’t require her to speak to other people much. She’ll literallysend fifty emails to remind a customer to pay their bill rather than picking up the phone and carrying out a five-minute conversation.

She sighs. “Vampire romances are hot.”

“Yes, I imagine they are if they’re bursting into flames,” Paisley says.

I giggle. Paisley doesn’t joke often. She’s usually too busy reciting random factoids. She’s the smartest person I know. She can quote facts about nearly everything. Except mermaids. She doesn’t believe in those. Which is a sin if you live on Smuggler’s Hideaway.

She clears her throat. “Anyway, Hudson?”

“I’ll contact him today.”

“Tell him I have a bunch of ideas for exclusive beers at his resort.”

“Hold on,” Sophia says. “You do?”

Paisley pushes her glasses up her nose. “I do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Exclusive beers make for great marketing material.”

Sophia is the marketing manager ofFive Fathoms Brewing.She used to work for some hot shot marketing company in Atlanta but she came home a few months ago after she quit her job. It killed her pride to come home, but I’m glad she’s back on the island. Considering she’s living with the man she’s been in love with forever, she’s happy now as well.

“These beers will be exclusive toHideaway Haven Resort,”Paisley explains.

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