Page 52 of Until We Break

“Oh.” I was confused. My stomach flipped, but not like it had with Caleb. This was different. It felt off and queasy.

“I thought you might like some island cooking this morning. But it looks like you’ve already been out.” His eyes dragged over my body. The gesture felt more like an intrusion than anything. I wanted to disappear inside the cottage and take a shower. I was wearing the clothes I had dressed in for the bonfire last night.

“I’m not really hungry.” I climbed the stairs to the screen porch. “But thanks for the offer.”

Dean’s expression changed. “You’re coming home, aren’t you? From last night?”

“What business is it of yours?” I snapped. I didn’t like the intrusion.

“Caleb, huh.”

I jogged back down to the landing. “What is it between you two?”

“I don’t have a problem with him. Unless you count elementary, middle, and high school.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know why you don’t like each other. I don’t want to be in the middle of it, okay? I’m going inside.” I yanked the paper bag out of his hand, changing my mind about suddenly being hungry. “Thanks for the biscuits.”

I charged into the house and slammed the screen door behind me, locking the flimsy hook in place before finally exhaling.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Caleb

Iheard her soft footsteps across the floor. I didn’t move. I didn’t even breathe. I knew she was getting dressed. What I didn’t know was whether she would try to wake me before she left. As soon as the door closed in place, I had my answer. I sat upright.

I could have stopped her at any point, but let her go. I wondered if that was the right decision. She didn’t have a car. I imagined her traipsing all the way back alone. At least the rain had stopped. The storm had blown through.

I showered and dressed. I could stop by Reel Time to pick up breakfast and take it to her. I didn’t want her to think this was a one-time thing or that it didn’t matter. Bonfire hookups had that reputation for a reason. We still had a lot to talk about. I still didn’t have any answers from her. Breakfast could set that straight. I’d call ahead and make sure Nan made some of her biscuits. I had a feeling she would be extra busy today cooking for people who were doing yard and water cleanup.

I shoved my wallet in my back pocket, but not before I glanced at Carrie’s check on the dresser. It sat there, reminding me thatI still had to deal with it and everything it implied. Someone knocked on the door and shoved it in the top drawer, tucking it away at the back quickly.

“Yeah?”

Gabe strolled in. “Good morning, sunshine.” He looked half-asleep and his hair was wet.

“What are you doing in here?”

He looked around, checked under the bed, and in the bathroom, making a spectacle of his hide-and-seek game. “She’s already gone? Must have had a bad night. No reason to stick around for round two?”

“I’m not talking about Margot,” I grumbled.

“Margot? Hmm. Why not? You know about my girl.”

“It’s not the same thing and you know it.” I stuffed some gum and sunscreen in my boat bag. “Your girl is a summer girl. She’s not sticking around.”

He sighed. “Okay. She is. But maybe Margot isn’t? I saw you two together at the bonfire last night. It looked serious.”

“Like I said, I’m not talking about her.”

He shrugged. “Okay. Well, we should talk about the patrols today.”

“I’m off.” I knew what was coming though.

“We have to scan for damage. You know the drill. Check for stranded boaters. See if there are any changes in the channel. Last year we had to move all the channel markers after thatnor’easter blew through here. Took days. You want one of the boats going out now or a later shift?”

“Later,” I answered. I wanted to make the breakfast plan happen for Margot. If I started patrolling the island now there was no telling how late I would be.

“Okay. I’ll let the captain know. I’m going now. I guess I’ll see you around.” He hesitated in the doorway.

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