Page 124 of Tender Heart
But he doesn’t look up, doesn’t look at me.
No, that’s fine.
Totally fine. I get it.
He’s making space.
Making it easier. Emmett grabs my bag as Cal hands it up. For a moment I can’t believe I lived through the last nine months with so few possessions. One bag was all it took for my life to be uprooted and turned around. It looks too insignificant. My time on Fire Island, the place that changed my life, reduced to one small piece of luggage.
I can’t decide if that’s freeing or depressing.
“Come on, Miss Eve, let’s get you back to the city.” Em’s smile is sad. I turn back, desperate to say goodbye to Cal, but he’s ducked back inside the cabin.
Like he doesn’t do goodbyes.
Figures.
May the ending emulate the beginning.
The man of few words.
The sound of tiny plastic wheels rolling over jetty boards drowns out my thoughts, and I turn to follow Emmett toward the marina parking lot.
“I bet you’re ready for civilization again, hey?”
I tug my sunglasses from my bag and slide them on. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Yeah, maybe.” I give him a sad smile.
He shakes his head, blowing out a breath. “You can always come home. We’ll always be here.”
“Thank you,” I say quickly, before the burn nailing the back of my eyes can choke me.
He tugs me into his side and rubs a hand over my hair, playfully mussing it. Big brother move of the century.
That’s all it takes for my heart to crack.
These people took me in so easily.
“Can I say goodbye to Iris before I go?” I ask, steeling against my misery.
“Sure,” he says, and it never fails to make my heart glow the way just the mention of Iris lights up his face.
We swing a left and head for the café. It’s busy, but Iris rounds the counter with arms open when I push through the door and the bell jingles. Em hangs back, and I take my bag from him. Hands in the pockets of his Coast Guard uniform, he really is handsome. Iris oughta get onto that. I chuckle at my casual ship of these two.
Tight arms hug me, and I return the gesture.
“You take care of yourself, you hear?” Iris whispers. I swear her voice wobbles.
I push from her hold and nod. My bag bumps against my side, reminding me of its contents.
Pulling out her blue ombré scarf, I hand it to her, opening my palm as it hangs draped over. “Sorry it took me so long to return it. It’s just so pretty.”
She closes my hand over it. “Keep it. I have a suspicion blue is your favorite color.” She smiles at me.
Something buzzes on the counter.
