Page 21 of Fixing Up My Love Life

“How is the boutique coming?” I ask.

“I’m looking into switching up some of my inventory to see if I can turn a better profit. The mayor’s wife thinks we need to expand this town, fix it up like what we’re doing to the Hensley House.”

“And what do you think about that?” I ask.

Her wavy hair blows into her face, and she gathersit over one shoulder. “I can see the potential, but it has to be done right.”

“Just like any fixer upper, I suppose,” I say. “You can’t upgrade a home with cheap parts and expect good results.”

Hazel is quiet for a second, then lets out a slow breath. “Can I tell you something kind of ridiculous?”

“Always.”

She bites her bottom lip. “Sometimes, I lie awake at night and wonder if I’m doing enough. Like... I have the boutique, the girls, this house now. And it’s good. It really is. But there’s this itch inside me, this feeling like maybe I’m meant for more than folding beach cover-ups and scrubbing lipstick off the walls.”

That surprises me. Hazel’s always struck me as content. Strong. Grounded. I never imagined she felt anything close to restless.

She glances at me, her expression suddenly wary. “Does that make me sound selfish?”

“No,” I say honestly. “It makes you sound like someone who’s ready for the next chapter.”

The wind lifts Hazel’s hair across her cheek. I reach over and brush it back, my fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Her expression softens—relieved, but shadowed with something quieter.

“I used to have dreams, Jack. Big ones. Andsomewhere along the way, I think I got so busy surviving, I forgot to keep chasing them.”

We walk in silence, barefoot in the cool sand, the wind tangling through her hair. Our arms brush with each step, an easy rhythm between us. I don’t say a word. Just carry her confession like something sacred. She’s still dreaming.

And if I have anything to do with it, she won’t be chasing those dreams alone.

“Exactly. I want to draw crowds to Twin Waves. Families. But I want that charming small-town feel to stick around. We just need to polish up a few nooks and crannies.”

“I’ve thought the same thing for a long time.” I nudge a shell out of her path with my heel. “It’s why I wanted to work with Brett on the renovations. Twin Waves does need a makeover. And without proper lodging, that won’t happen.”

“But I’m not sure what I can do about it. I’ve thought about doing something more—something that fits me better—but I don’t know what that looks like yet.”

“I get that.” My voice lowers, the breeze carrying it between us. “Sometimes knowing you want more is the first step. Doesn’t mean you have to have it all figuredout yet.”

Hazel nods, pulling her hair behind one ear. "Exactly. I’ve been doing the boutique for so long, and now the house renovation is filling that creative space in my brain. But once that’s done... I’m not sure what’s next. I want to build something that really matters—not just for tourists, but something wholesome. Something that brings families together. A place where people feel safe, connected, and like they belong. I don’t want to just make money off beach towels. I want to create memories."

“Sounds like you’re dreaming big.”

“Maybe,” she says. “Or maybe I’m just waking up—to what I really want. Something that matters. Lasting. A place where families feel like they belong.”

“Now you’re getting somewhere. There’s a reason your store’s thriving. You’ve built something beautiful, Hazel. You’ve got a gift, and people feel that the second they walk in.”

For a moment, the only sound is the waves rolling in. Hazel’s gaze drifts toward the pier, her features peaceful in a way that stops me. She belongs here, in this moment, on this beach, and suddenly, I want to belong here with her.

The words come before I can stop them. “When you introduced Madeline, I panicked. Just for a second.”

Hazel turns to face me, her brow lifting just slightly. “You thought . . . ?”

I nod once. “I didn’t know. I realized I could have missed it all.” A breath escapes my lungs. “I could’ve missedher. Missedyou.”

The tide pushes higher as we walk, swirling around our ankles. Hazel stops and looks up at me, her mouth parted slightly. A flicker of hesitation flashes through her, then melts away.

She rises onto her toes and presses her mouth to mine. Warmth surges through me. For a second, I’m frozen—but then I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. The world drops away. Her familiar scent rises beneath the sea air, soft and sweet like summer roses. Her hair brushes my shoulder as the breeze threads around us. I memorize everything—the taste, the heat, the way she melts into me—because it can’t last.

I don’t know if this is real. But I know I don’t want it to end.

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