Page 25 of Seas the Dating Coach

My brows pinch. Why didn’t their efforts take, yet holding Finn’s gaze in the library earlier, I knew I was unstoppable?

My sister flops back on the cushions. “Wow. That’s . . . wow. That’s so great, Viv.”

I nod, twisting the silver shell ring on my pinky finger. My brain whirs, wondering why things are only starting to work outnow. It must be my ocean wish. I’ve just never had one come true before.

Several seconds pass before Brynn’s stomach rumbles loudly. “Sorry.” She rubs her flat belly. “I missed lunch today.”

“I’ll get started on dinner,” I say, happy for the distraction. “What sounds good?”

“Something light? Pasta, maybe, since it’s just for us tonight?” She glances out the window. “Let me get a quick four first.”

By “a quick four” she means four miles—two loops of Sand Bend Road. Like many other members of our town who also have a loose grip on their sanity, Brynn loves to run. You couldn’t pay me to run in the humid, eighty-degree weather when I could be slicing through soothing water.

“You got it.”

Pasta won’t take that long to prepare, so while Brynn heads out, I flop on the floral-print comforter in my room. I’m about to unlock my phone and stare at the number I’ve already memorized when realization that Brynn never asked any follow-up questions about Atticus pricks at my temple.

No “What did you two talk about?”

Or “Did you set up a date?”

Or “Does he have a brother for me?”

Nothing.

Disappointment pools deep in my belly. I’d really wanted a squealy, jump-on-the-couch gab session with my sister. It feels like years since we’ve done that. We’re always so focused on work, only vegging out together after long days. Brynn, more so than me, is perpetually exhausted, always giving too much of herself. That’s why I came up with a way to give Brynn a much-needed break. It’ll require another huge leap outside of my comfort zone, which is why I’ve kept it a secret.

A rough swallow struggles down my throat. The next step of my three-part plan to transform my life is Mount Everest compared to talking to Atticus. But after successfully talking to strangers and getting Atticus’s phone number at the library, I might just be able to pull it off.

Especiallyif I have a little help.

Convincing myself that the queasy spiral in my stomach is anticipation and not nerves, I pull up my contacts. I allow myself one breathy sigh at Atticus’s number before I tab over to the text conversation with Finn.

Vivian

Hey, Coach. Can you meet up later tonight?

eleven

Finn

It’s pathetic the way my heart catapults to the pebbled walkway the instant I see Vivian waiting for me outside Bayside Table. Truly pitiful. I’ve been in rooms with supermodels and movie stars, and yet, the way Vivian gives her signature small wave/smile combo to the two locals passing her before her face completely transforms when she sees me is enough to end a man. Pair her carefree, luminescent smile with the way Vivian bounces like she’s just been given a kitten, and it feels like my armor is melting beneath her joyous gaze.

“You made it.”

I give her a practiced, roguish smile. “You had doubts?”

Vivian rolls her eyes. “Can you turn off the charm machine for tonight? I’m going to introduce you to the town.”

“Pretty sure the town knows me.” I scoff, sliding my hands into my pockets.

Vivian requested casual clothes for tonight’s meet-up, so I changed into shorts and a fitted t-shirt. She’s switched into a smocked dress, that falls just below her knees, and sandals.

“No,” she argues, gesturing for me to follow her away from the Bayside Table’s main entrance and to a path around to the left side. “They know Finn-the-mainlander, who’s trying to destroy our library.”

“I’m not trying to destroy anything,” I grumble.

“Exactly.” She stops, spinning to face me so quickly we almost collide. “Tonight, we’ll show them that.”

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