Page 48 of One Sweet Day I Found You

“You know,” Courtney said, “I haven’t thought about my ex-boyfriend in days. I would consider that to be progress.”

“Oh, yeah? Wish I could say the same.”

Courtney gave her an emphatic nod. “Seriously, Austin used to pop into my head every day for one reason or another, like a curse. But his name hasn’t crossed my mind all week.” Courtney picked up her sandwich. “Until now. Thanks for that.” She rolled her eyes, grinning.

“Well, judging from my current obsession with Sam, I’d say that’s a good thing. I can’t stop thinking about him.” Kira played with the fruit salad on her plate. “Anyway, how long ago was this dude your main squeeze?”

“Eight-and-a-half months ago. We broke up a couple months before I went to Australia. After I found him cheating on me with my roommate.”

“Get out! No way?”

“Way.” Courtney sighed.

“Sheesh, some guys are really horrible. I’m glad Nick’s not like that.”

Courtney smiled.

“Anyway, seems like long enough to get over someone, eight-and-a-half months? Not that I want to think about that.” Kira looked serious.

Courtney sat back. “Yes, it totally is. So, uh, how is Sam?”

Kira had told Courtney that she and Sam were still talking and texting. Apparently, Sam liked his new job a lot.

“He sounds happy to be home. I guess I’m glad, for his sake. But for me, well, I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.”

Courtney made a sad face and wiped a napkin across her mouth.

“I might have to make a clean break. Because every time we talk, it’s like someone’s twisting the knife in my side.” Kira sat back.

“I’m really sorry, Kira. And I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I have to agree with you. Sometimes a complete break is so much easier. You can’t move on, otherwise.”

Kira kept a straight face and played with her straw. “You’re right, Aussie—I don’t want to hear it.” She looked up at Courtney. “But I think you’re right.” Kira offered half a smile and went back to her plate.

* * *

Nick slidan insurance-release form across the counter to a father of three. “Just need your signature here, then you guys can head out.”

The lake trail, accessible from the docks where Nick’s shop was located, eventually met up with Headland State Park. So bicycle rentals made up a large part of Inlet Outfitters’ daily business throughout the summer.

The man signed the form and slid it back.

“Thanks. All right, so we’ll see you guys in a few hours.” Nick smiled and filed the form under the counter.

The young family finished buckling their helmets and adjusting the heights of their seats. “Let’s go, kids.”

A couple of minutes later, they were gone. Nick went to find his phone before another stream of customers wandered in.

Nick pulled up his brother’s number from his contacts list. The summer session at UC was already underway. He tapped out a text.

I won’t be back this summer, but I’m thinking about what you said. Thanks, bro.

He’d reached out to Kenny instead of to his father because Kenny had a knack for keeping the man calm.

Nick also wanted to let Kenny know where things stood. In retrospect, he’d really appreciated their talk a few weeks ago.

Nick had realized, after several semi-sleepless nights, that if he wanted to find the old Nick, then he had to start acting like the old Nick.

He yawned and reached for his iced coffee. He knew for sure that he didn’t want to go back to med school, and he wasn’t going to leave Heritage Bay this summer. He had commitments and he wasn’t going to bail on anyone. But he had putreturning to Chicago sometime in the futureback on his list of possibilities. Maybe next winter, if things here weren’t going anywhere.

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