Page 80 of Love At The Shore
“We’ve got absolutely no agenda today.” Kayla grinned, and the wind whipped her blonde hair around her face. “I just want you to go get out there and play hard.”
The kids exchanged happy glances, excited to make the most of their last day at the beach. Only Ally stuck her hand in the air, classroom style.
Kayla pointed at her. “Yes, Ally?”
“Since it’s the last day, can we get half off M&M’s?” Ally shot her a hopeful grin.
Jenna wanted to remind her about the double fudge cupcakes they’d brought. She and Ally had made so many of them the night before that each camper could probably eat two and they’d still have cupcakes leftover. But before she could say anything, Kayla laughed and promised Ally a discount on M&M’s.
Then she blew her whistle and the kids sprinted toward the ocean, yelling and cheering into the wind.
Jenna and Maureen began their beach walk with much less enthusiasm, at least on Jenna’s part.
Maureen chatted away beside her, tossing out suggestions for tomorrow’s trip back to Savannah. “We could always caravan or get lunch or talk.”
Jenna trudged on.
And on.
She didn’t realize she was walking too fast for Maureen again until her friend quit moving altogether.
“All right, stop. You need to vent, or talk plans, or do something normal. Because you’re freaking me out with all this silence.”
“I’m sorry.” Jenna winced.
“Don’t be sorry. Just…” Maureen threw up her hands. “Talk to me!”
Jenna wanted to, but she didn’t know where to start. Everything was such a mess. “I don’t know what to say.”
Maureen wasn’t going to let her off the hook that easy. Because of course not. “It’s okay to feel disappointed. I liked him too.”
She shook her head. “This isn’t about Lucas.”
“No?” Maureen frowned. “Then what is this about?”
Okay, it wastotallyabout Lucas.
But Jenna didn’t have to admit it because Maureen already knew. That’s what best friends did—they read one another’s minds when the occasion really warranted it. And if any occasion ever did, it was this one.
“Maybe you should just talk to him.” She shrugged. “It might make you feel better.”
Or it might make her feel even worse. Which was probably the more likely scenario given how her last two encounters with Lucas had gone.
She’d said such terrible things. She’d lashed out because she’d been afraid—not just for Nick, but for herself. The truth of the matter was that she just wasn’t ready to fall in love.
Too late.
She shook her head. “I think we’ve already said way too much.”
Besides, Lucas was probably already gone on his road trip. Even if he wasn’t and by some miracle, they made up, Jenna and the kids already had one foot out the door. The rental on the beach house ran out in less than twenty-four hours.
“We’re leaving tomorrow. It’s better this way.” She nodded in an effort to make herself believe what she was saying.
“It’s certainly safer,” Maureen countered.
She said it like it was a bad thing—like Jenna wasn’t just trying to protect herself and her kids, but as if she was hiding instead.
Maybe because you are.
