Page 23 of Knockin' Boats
“Right,” Mel said. “I know a couple of guys who could take a page out of your book.”
“Well, this one can read my pages anytime,” Danny said with a wink as he finished up Mel’s latte.
We carried our drinks to a couple of brightly colored mismatched armchairs. I took a sip of mine and sighed as sweet chocolate with the underlying notes of espresso coated my tongue. Danny might be a flirty tease, but he knew his business. The coffee was damn good.
“Thanks again for the ride over,” I said. “Rick has been such a dick lately. Now that I quit DreamBoats, he keeps charging mefeesfor everything I use at the house.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she said. “Maybe he’ll take off on another trip soon?”
“Maybe. Mom says I hurt his feelings by leaving and to be patient with him.” I rolled my eyes. “But she always wants to pretend he’s not an asshole.”
“She probably needs to see it that way. Otherwise, what is she doing with him?”
“I guess.” I sighed. “I don’t want to break up her marriage or anything. Though I think she could do a lot better.”
“Of course.”
“But I don’t think I should stay, even if he takes off again. I need my own place.”
“You should move to Swallow Cove,” she said.
I hesitated. “Well, I did think that at first, but…”
“But what?” she demanded. “You’re going to commute the whole summer just to avoid Sawyer?”
I crinkled up my nose. “I hurt him. I know that. I mean, I wish he’d forgive me for being stupid, but?—”
“Thanks a lot,” she said.
“You know what I mean. We were never right for each other anyway.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “You need to clear the air with him once and for all. It’s the only way you guys will move on.”
“Don’t you think I tried that like ten years ago?”
“He wasn’t ready then.”
“Not sure he’s ready now,” I grumbled. “How come he doesn’t hate you?”
Mel fluttered her eyelashes. “Because I’m adorable.”
I fluttered mine back. “And I’m not?”
She smirked. “Maybe you’re too adorable and it confuses all his straight-boy senses.”
“It’s not fair, you know. He forgave you almost immediately. If he ever blamed you at all. But me, he wouldn’t even hear me out.”
“Well, we broke up, Ash. Our relationship had ended. But his relationship with you, his friendship, that wasn’t over. At least, he didn’t think so.”
“I didn’t want it to be,” I said, “but maybe…”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe I thought it was.”
She nodded. “He shut everyone out for a long time. In a way, you two just had a different kind of breakup. A messier one. But you don’t have to let that bitterness continue to infect you. Talk it out.”
“You’re such a woman. Talk it out.” I huffed. “Like it’seasy.”
