Page 14 of Summer Ever After
I’m alone with Walker.
By this point, the rest of the bar has returned to their own conversations.
My eyes slowly drift to his. He’s staring.
“What?” I tug the side of my dress, feeling insecure under his scrutiny.
“Nothing.” That old familiar smile creeps onto his lips.
Walker was always a charmer, skirting through junior high and high school with winks and smiles, trapping everygirl in his spell. That’s the reason I promised Capri I’d never fall for him. Every other girl told her howhother older brother was and was only nice to her to get to him. Capri wanted one person who liked her more than they liked him. That person is me. And no matter how good-looking the grown-up version of Walker is, that person willalwaysbe me.
I shift my weight, putting a hand on my hip. “I know that look. You’re making fun of me.”
“There’s no look.” Amusement fills his voice. “I’m just surprised by howadultyou are.”
“Did you expect teenage acne and braces?”
“No.” He shakes his head, donning another smirk. “It’s just been a really long time since I’ve seen you. You’re all grown up now.”
“That sounds like something a creepy uncle would say to his teenage niece.”
“Really? I wasn’t going for the creepy uncle vibe. More like the slimy next-door neighbor that watches girls get off the bus.”
I reluctantly laugh at his joke. “Either way, I was grown up the last time you saw me.”
“And when was that?”
Of course he doesn’t know.
“Capri’s graduation nine years ago.” I probably should’ve pretended like I didn’t know.
“I’m sure we’ve seen each other since then during some holiday party or another.”
My stare puts him in his place. “You would’ve had to come home to visit your family for that to have actually happened.”
“I probably should’ve. Then I could’ve seen you.”
“Wow, you haven’t changed at all.”
“Oh, come on. I think I’ve gotten a little better looking.”
“That’s not what I meant.” And yes, he has somehow gotten better looking. “Speaking of your family…” I change the subject because that’s what you have to do with Walker. You have to control the tempo, or you’ll never survive. “I saw your grandma and Tala last night at book club, and they didn’t mention you visiting the island.”
I wish they had. My heart could’ve used a little heads-up.
“That’s probably because my grandma and sister don’t know I’m here.”
“What about your other sister, Capri? Does she know you’re here?” She tried calling me today, but we played phone tag until I had to leave on my date. I wish I had tried harder to connect with her if it meant learning Walker was in town.
“Nope, I haven’t talked to Capri in over a month.”
Not surprising. Walker has never been an integral member of the Collins family. When we were teens, he was never at home—always at the golf course. But when he did come home, he was quiet and removed. Nothing like the cool-guy persona he put on at school.
“Well, you should go visit Grandma Deedee while you’re here. She’d be happy to see you.”
“Are you happy to see me?”
I tilt my head, giving him a pointed look. “Walker, go visit your grandma.”
