Page 70 of Summer Love

Jonathan and Joy ate inside.

Talk centered around things going on around the island and upcoming construction projects. Ivy was a Realtor, so she was interested in new developments and businesses.

I'd come home to take care of Grams, but I'd gotten so much more. I was building a community with these people, and I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to leave it.

ChapterSixteen

HUDSON

We jumped in the pool after dinner. Some of the guys took turns shooting the basketball into the poolside hoop. When the sun dipped, we got out and dried off. And one of the guys started a fire in the fire pit on the beach.

I couldn't help but think it had been the perfect day. I was able to give back to the community and spend time with Elena.

She was the perfect girl, but was this the right time to pursue something serious? She could leave if her job didn't work out. She'd had a life in Boston. Would she get tired of island life? Would she miss her friends in Boston?

My heart contracted at the thought. She sat huddled with her friends, looking at Kinsley's phone while they argued over the next song to play.

"How are things going with the article?" Brady asked me.

I focused on him. "Elena's working on it, and there's still the photo shoot."

"I'm not looking forward to that," he grumbled.

"What? You don't want to take your shirt off for a magazine?" I asked sarcastically.

"That's more Shep and Coop's thing. Besides, Dalton has enough going on. I don't think he'll want to participate."

"Dad wants all of us to cooperate. This is important to him." Dalton and Brady were close growing up, and nothing had changed in that regard.

I missed Marshall. He was my rock, and then he left. I felt like he'd abandoned me when I needed him the most. Not that I'd ever tell him that. I wouldn't want him to feel guilty for pursuing his dreams.

We wanted different things. The problem was that he never told me he was having second thoughts about returning home and working in the family business.

Brady raised a brow. "Dalton's getting a harsh dose of reality."

"What's he gonna do?" I asked him.

"You know him. I'm sure he's already shopping for rings and planning the perfect time to get married, preferably before the baby's born. He won't want her to have it without his last name."

I shook my head. "I'm not saying that's the wrong thing to do. But he wanted to break up with her. How's that going to work?"

Brady chuckled without any humor. "You tell me."

"He wants to do the right thing, but what if it's not the right thing for him?" I thought out loud, wondering what I'd do in that situation. I'd support the woman and take care of my child, but I wouldn't force a relationship with someone if it wasn't right.

Brady's brow furrowed. "Maybe you can talk to him. I haven't been able to get through to him."

"Why me?" I asked, even though I’d planned to check on him already.

"You're older, more mature. The voice of reason."

I shook my head. "You make me sound like the village elder who holds all the wisdom."

Brady bumped my shoulder. "You and Marshall were that for us. It's not like we ever took advice from Dad. We always went to you when we were struggling with something."

I frowned. "I don't remember you listening to any of my advice."

"We were going to do what we were going to do regardless of what anyone said."

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