Page 93 of Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
“So, go back,” she says. “Didn’t you leave all your stuff in storage? Tie up the loose ends. Sell your stuff or move it down. But see how the city feels now that you’ve had a taste of something different. You’ve got to deal with your stuff in storage at some point anyway, unless you want to hemorrhage money for no reason.”
“You really think I should go back?”
“I do. You’ll either realize the city is your true home, or you’ll realize you miss island life more.”
I’ll miss Hunter if I go. THAT I already know.
But maybe it would help to see the city again. I could handle the things I didn’t when I practically ran down here. Maybe being there will give me clarity. I already suspect this will be more of a goodbye tour, but at least going, I’ll know for sure. Even thinking about the idea now, a weight lifts off my chest.
“Am I allowed? Like, with the conditions of Gran’s estate—can I leave temporarily or does one of us have to be here all the time?”
“I don’t know,” Sadie says, her eyes going to something off-screen. She frowns, then chuckles. “But I gotta go. Some newb thinks he can get past my firewall. Ask Jake about the will stuff. Bye!”
And then she’s gone. Sadie has always been an abrupt hanger-upper, but I’ve never gotten used to it.
Jake isn’t next door—not surprising as it’s the middle of a workday. But as I’m walking away from his door, Naomi pulls into the front drive, practically leaping out of her car. She drops her keys and then her purse when she bends to pick them up.
A boy who must be Liam climbs out of the back. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s around Isabelle’s age, maybe a little younger. He pats his mother’s hand, a sweet gesture. Then I catch him rolling his eyes.
I bite back a smile. Not so sweet, then.
“Is Jake not here?” Naomi calls as I approach. When I shake my head, she makes a frustrated growl, staring down at her phone. “I know his car is gone but sometimes he walks home for lunch. Gah!”
“Can I help?” I’ll happily return the favor after she helped me pick out clothes for my date.
“He’s supposed to watch Liam for me, but I’m running late and need to go.”
“I’m headed to his office, actually. If you're comfortable with it, I could walk Liam there. I mean, I know I don’t know you that well or anything but—”
“You’re Lo’s sister,” Liam says, like this fact answers all potential questions. “That makes you fine.”
Oh, for the world to be so simple.
“Are you sure?” Naomi says, but she’s already backing toward her car. “I mean, I normally wouldn’t foist him on someone like this, but I knew your grandmother, and I love Lo, and—”
I hold up a hand. “It’s fine.”
“I appreciate it so much! Thank you!” Naomi practically peels out, oyster shells from the driveway spinning under her tires as she goes.
Liam adjusts his backpack, which isn’t a normal kid’s backpack but more like one of Sadie’s computer bags. “Which sister are you—the oldest or the middle?”
“Oldest. I’m Merritt.” I start walking toward the row of businesses on Main Street where Jake’s office is located in a small, updated cottage.
“Cool.”
Liam isn’t chatty or bubbly like Isabelle and I find myself panicking a little about what to say. “Does your uncle Jake watch you a lot?”
“Yes. But he usually doesn’t forget. He’s been forgetting a lot of things lately.” Liam wrinkles his nose. “I’m never falling in love. It makes a mess of your life.”
“I can’t argue with your logic there.”
We walk a few blocks in a silence that starts to feel comfortable. A stirring somewhere in my midsection fills me with unexpected warmth.
I’m enjoying this. I coulddothis.
This being a parental-type figure. My feelings have been shifting for a while now, new possibilities rising up and poking through my consciousness. I mean, it’s impossible to be with Hunter without thinking about what it would be like to help Hunter with Isabelle. Even tohave kidswith Hunter.
But this sensation is different. This isn’t about changing my plans just to make them match Hunter’s. This is only about me. About deciding what I want with or without Hunter.
