Page 52 of Rewriting the Story

“Me!” Paige smiles as she comes over to us. “I finished my book, and I need to get my legs moving.”

“Let’s go,” Grant says as he practically pulls me over to the boards in the sand. Paige and Grant say nothing as they head across from me, and I’m about to ask who Paige is playing with, but my question is answered when Henry appears next to me.

“I guess we’re board partners,” he says, definitely not excited about that.

“Grant, are you sure you want to be on that side? Isn't this side better for your throwing arm?”

He shakes his head. “Nope! I’m okay over here.”

Of course he is. I'm going to have a talk with those two later. Anyone with eyes can tell what they’re doing, and it’s not my intention to hurt Henry more than I already have.

They’re trying to get us back together, I’m sure. If by some miracle they're not doing that, then whatever they are doing is cruel. The point of this trip is to celebrate Paige and Oliver, not to make me and Henry talk about what went down at the airport all those years ago.

I don’t know if we’ll ever discuss it, but Henry has mentioned he wants answers. I just don’t know when he wants to actually talk. The only time the two of us have been alone besides the elevator was when he spilled coffee on himself. I know I owe him a conversation, but is now really the best time?

“Can you really not bear to stand next to me for a simple game of cornhole?” Henry whispers under his breath, and I suddenly feel like sinking into the sand.

“No, I just figured you would be more comfortable with Grant over here instead of me.”

“Stop assuming things about me, Amelia. You don't know me well enough anymore to be able to do that.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I agree.

“Are you guys ready?” Paige calls out from the other board.

“Yeah!” I say as I swing my arm out. “Bride’s team goes first.”

Paige throws the first few, and we play a few rounds, the four of us shouting taunts across the sand at one another.

Just being back in Henry’s orbit has made me feel off my axis, and I’m sure it’s noticeable. After a few more tosses, we’re down to the wire.Grant needs to make it into the hole and another on the board. Paige has to do the same. So far, neither of us has points this round because Paige and Grant have tied what they’ve gotten.

“You’ve got this.” Paige is hyping herself up for her final shot. When she misses the board entirely, Grant smiles at me. He throws and makes it on the board. Now, it’s up to me to close out this game.

“Alright, Amelia, bring it home for us, okay?” Grant smiles at me before I hear Henry scoff beside me.

I look over at him, and I can tell that was a reaction he didn't mean to say out loud.

“Something to say?” I ask, my voice low so only he can hear it.

“No. Sorry,” he says as he shifts the beanbag from hand to hand.

Suddenly, the sand feels coarse beneath my feet, and I can hear my blood pumping through my veins. I somehow throw my shots, but Henry and Paige end up winning. As they celebrate, Grant comes over to me.

“Do you need some water?”

I nod, unable to form words to speak.

“Here,” Grant says as he pulls up one of the beach chairs for me, and I sit down. “Are you good?”

“Yup,” I say as I choke the words out. “Swell.”

“You always were a terrible liar.” He smiles at me before looking at the sand. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

“Why would you want to talk to me, Grant?” I snap at him, regretting it immediately. “I didn't mean to sound so—”

“Cruel?”

I laugh, and my mind starts to settle. “Yeah.”

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