Page 4 of Summer Ever After
Cat’s face distorts. “The Belacourt family? They’re worse than the Kardashians. Absolutely not.”
I throw my hands up. “It’s hard to come up with names on the spot. But you’re missing the point. We chose to live in Sunset Harbor because it’s the greatest place ever, so if we want to stay here, we need to give the available men on this island another chance. And this summer is the perfect time to do that.”
“Why this summer?” Holland asks.
“Because there’s no time like the present to fall in love.”
And because now that my parents have moved out, I’m all alone. I’ve done my best to turn my friends into my family. I fill my time with the community and being involved around the island, and that makes me happy, but it doesn’t take away the empty feeling at night when my head hits the pillow in a quiet house.
I’m lonely.
So, so lonely.
It’s not something I broadcast, and even if I did, nobody would believe me. I’m Jane Hayes, always happy, always looking on the bright side. But if I’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s that a person can be happy and lonely at the same time.
Those two feelings can coexist, but that doesn’t mean that I want them to.
Maybe this moment, with the book club as my witnesses, is the kick in the butt I need. Instead of feeling sorry for myself and just waiting around for love to find me, I’m going to take matters into my own hands and go find love.
I’m pro-active, not reactive—oooh, that’s good. Maybe I’ll make that phrase my home screen.
“This is our summer, ladies!” I pound the armrest beside me. “We’re not going to sit back and live vicariously through romance books. We’re going to make our own romance happen.”
“Oh, I like the sound of this.” Deedee hasn’t been this excited since she stopped reading that passage fromThe Haunted Cowboy and Me.
“And how do you suggest we do that?” The tone behind Cat’s words doesn’t faze me.
“By using romance tropes. Just like they drive a plot forward, they can drive our love life forward.” My entire face lights up. This might be the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had. I stand and begin pacing as I think things through. “Yes, we’ll spend the summer creating romantic moments between us and the men on this island?—”
“You meanforcingromantic moments,” Cat interjects.
“No, we’re just being proactive, not reactive.” The phrase was so good it needed to be said out loud. “We’re creating an environment where love can grow until we find the right guy.” I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before. I stop walking and face the book club with a smile bigger than my romance DVD collection back home. “This is the summer where we fall in love and get our happily ever afters.”
Everyone stares back at me with blank faces.
“I’m single,” Bill Dahle says from his chess game. “I’ll test out a few tropes with you.”
Not the response I was hoping for.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll keep to my age bracket.” I glance back at the women with a suppressed smile. “What do you say?” My eagerness travels back and forth between Holland and Cat, looking for a home.
“I say”—Holland smiles—“I’ve always loved your optimism.”
“It’s true, Jane.” Cat nods. “Your optimism, especially when it comes to love, is very admirable.”
My shoulders drop a little—just a little because I still think this is the greatest idea I’ve ever had. “This isn’t optimism. It’s manifesting. This is happening. I’m falling in love this summer, and I’m doing it with all the tropes you think aren’t real, and if you ladies don’t want to join me, that’s on you.”
I’ve hit my stride now, and nothing is going to stop me…except maybe that dark, twisty side of my brain that I try to ignore.
“It’s not that we don’t want to join you.” Cat looks at Holland for support. “It’s just…it seems a little ambitious. I don’t want you to be disappointed or get your heart broken.”
“How can I be disappointed when I’m in love?”
They exchange another worried look, but I ignore it because I don’t want to be wrong about this. Call me desperate, but I want to fall in love. I’mreadyto fall in love.
“I’ll do this on my own and prove to you that real love still exists. It’s the summer of Jane Hayes.” I grab my red plastic cup on the coffee table and hold it like I’m making a toast. “To falling in love!”
“Hear, hear!” Virginia cheers.
