Page 96 of Summer Love

Grams raised a brow. "Did you get another assignment?"

"Not yet. Maybe she takes a break between issues." But I was more than a little worried about it.

Valerie had said she was too busy putting the final touches on the magazine to discuss what came next, and I wanted to respect that, but I couldn't deny that I was stressed about it.

"Don't hold yourself back," Grams said as she got up to go inside.

"How am I holding myself back?"

Hudson furrowed his brow. "Maybe she thinks that you can do better than theIsland Times."

"It was the only publication that was hiring when I moved."

Hudson gave me a sympathetic look. "I know."

"What other options are there for me right now?" I repeated, frustrated with Grams's advice.

"Be open to the possibilities. That's all."

"Yeah, okay. I can do that." I wasn't going to discount other options, but at the moment, theIsland Timeswas my best bet. I wanted more experience before I left there at the very least. Something that would add to my resume, not a pit stop. I didn't want to be known for going from one job to another.

"I'm sure you'll find something that's perfect for you, whether that's with the magazine or somewhere else."

I rested my head on his shoulder. "The question is, will it allow me to work here, close to Grams and you?"

"I hope so."

But hope was all we had. Reality was much harder to swallow. "We have the party next week, and then I'll have a better idea of where my future will be."

"Don't forget that you control your future, not Valerie or anyone else. You're the one who decided to move here. You believed in yourself then, and you can now too."

"You're right. I made the move happen; I can figure out a way to stay." Even if I had to go off island for a daytime job. It wouldn't be ideal, but it was better than no job whatsoever.

Grams returned to the porch. "Now, I know you just finished the porch, but I was wondering if you could add some shelves in the living room. I'd love to have a place to showcase my seashells."

Hudson shifted away from me, pulling out his phone. "Brady made one of these tables. It's perfect for displaying seashells."

He placed the screen between us so we could see. It was a glass top square table and underneath were the most beautiful seashells.

"This is perfect, Grams."

"I'm fairly sure you can take off the top and put things inside too, so you can switch out which ones are on display."

"Can you ask Brady how much that would be? It would be amazing to use as a coffee table," I said.

Hudson shot off a text message; I assume to Brady. I had a feeling he wasn't going to give me the regular price. It would be heavily discounted, and I couldn't get upset about that. Hudson had a huge heart and wanted to help those around him. Grams was a part of that select group of people now too, and I loved him for it.

He was so good to me and Grams. Everything was going right in my personal life. I just had to believe that my professional life would fall into place too. It would work out just the way I wanted it to. It had to because leaving Hudson and Grams wasn't an option. Not one I was willing to contemplate anyway.

ChapterTwenty-Two

HUDSON

This week was weird. Elena didn't show up at work with a smile on her face. We didn't have lunches on the beach or marathon question sessions where we talked about everything, from our childhood to our dreams for the future.

I missed her even though I saw her every night. We usually ate dinner with Grams and sat on her porch for a while until she went to bed. Then we headed back to my place where I kept Elena up late, exploring every inch of her gorgeous body.

I knew she was getting worried because Valerie hadn't given her an answer about her next assignment yet. But I hoped we'd know something after the party, which was slated for Saturday at a local restaurant and bar.

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