Page 56 of Summer Ever After
He chuckles. There might even be a small blush crossing over his cheeks. “I’m really flattered, Jane, but I’m in a weird spot right now and not really looking to date anyone at the moment.”
It’s a crash landing.
“No, I get it.” I straighten. “I’m kind of in a weird spot right now too.”
Clearly.
I look around, searching for the quickest escape while still managing to keep a little dignity. I’m not sure it’s possible.
I reach for a copy ofSecret Crushon the table and hold it up. “Just the Sunny Palmer book, then.”
After paying for the book I already own, I push the door open and scurry away with my tail between my legs. I dig through my purse and immediately call Capri. I don’t expect her to answer. She’s still on her bike ride with Tristan, but I plan on leaving the longest voice message known to man.
The phone beeps, and I don’t hold back. “I just made a fool of myself in front of Briggs Dalton. I’m pretty sure he’ll never speak to me again. I think this whole plan of dating men on the island makes me look desperate. I know thatsounds strange coming from someone forcing romance tropes over here, but just disregard that.” I look both ways before crossing the street into the main square by the fountain. “I think it’s time I look at a dating app. You know, choose a small radius so I’m getting men on the mainland who live close to Sunset Harbor but not directly here. It’s like the saying,don’t crap where you eat. So I’m making a change. I’m taking my tropes off the island. I just thought you should know.”
I lower my phone and click off the call, shoving it back in my purse along with my stupid, sexy librarian glasses.
“Hi, Jane!” Betsy Barnes steps out of the hair salon, watering the plants outside her shop. Her signature pixie cut could be spotted a mile away. “What are you up to?”
Oh, you know. Just putting a stamp on my singlehood for the rest of my life.
“Nothing much. What about you?”
“I have another hair appointment in fifteen minutes, so I’m just getting a few things done. Randall called about a half hour ago and told me about your great idea for the golf fundraiser for the community pool. It was actually perfect timing because Walker was coming in for a haircut.”
My heart sinks, literally plummeting into the depths of despair. “Walker came to Cuts and Curls? Today?”
“Of course. Where else would he go for a haircut?” She points inside. “In fact, we just finished. He’s paying at the counter with Holland right now.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. “Did you mention the golf tournament?”
“Only how much it means to all of us on the island.”
“Oh, great.” I barely get the words out when Walker steps outside.
He’s not wearing a hat. I mean, why would he be wearinga hat when he just got a haircut? But he’s not wearing a hat, so his dark, wavy hair is on full display for the first time since he arrived on the island. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Walker in his golf hats—when he wears them forward or backward—but him without a hat has been my favorite thing ever since I first met him in seventh grade. Walker has the perfect amount of curl that every man wants but very few achieve. It’s iconic. Plus, you can see his cobalt-blue eyes better, and pair that with his smile and?—”
“Well, if it isn’t Pollyanna?” Speaking of smiles, his is pointed right at me.
“Pollyanna?” Betsy scoffs. “No, this is Jane.”
His playful stare stays on me, quickening my heartbeats. “Oh, I know who she is.” He finally glances away, adding a wink just for Betsy’s sake. “Pollyanna is just a little nickname between Jane and me.”
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “It’s actually not a nickname. He’s used it, like, twice. And it’s fading already.”
“I love pet names,” Betsy gushes, ignoring my refusal to accept Walker’s nickname. “Randall calls meTinkerbell—you know, because of my hair.”
“Isn’t that cute?” Walker smiles between us. “Well, I should be going. Thanks for the haircut, Betsy.”
“No, thankyoufor your help with the golf tournament.”
“It’s my pleasure.” His smile oozes with fake cheesiness—something you don’t see often from Walker Collins. “In fact”—he puts his arm around my shoulder, leading me away—“Jane and I need to discuss some of the details. We’ll catch you later.”
“I was going to tell you.” I roll my shoulder, trying to shirk his arm off me.
“You mean,askme?”
“Right.” He drops his hand, and my whole body instantlyrelaxes, which helps me think better so I can defend myself. “I was going to ask you if you’d be willing to do this golf fundraiser to help the island. I know you hate it here and you don’t like people being in your business, but something like this could really help out Sunset Harbor. And it’s not like I’m asking you to donate a kidney. All you’d have to do is play golf. It would be like a practice session.”
