Page 37 of Summer Ever After
“Why not?” Her immediate refusal has me bummed.
“Because you’re Capri’s brother.”
“So? People can date their friend’s older brother.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” There’s really not a good reason to press Jane on this. I’m only in town for a little while, but I press anyway. Maybe I’m just hoping for a distraction, a way to relax my mind a bit so I can do better in golf. Either way, teasing Jane is a game I love to play—unlike golf right now.
She shakes her head several times before answering. “You’re like a brother to me. It would be too weird.”
I’ve never thought of Jane Hayes as a little sister. Especially not the grown-up version I’ve seen this week.
“Not as weird as kissing Beau Palmer would’ve been,” I say.
Her side-eyed smirk is just about the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. “Weirder.”
“Ouch.” I grab my chest in fake pain. “You really know how to stuff a man’s shot, don’t you?”
“Walker, we both know I’m one shot you’re never going to make.” She pulls into Stan’s driveway and jerks the cart to a stop, looking at me expectantly, as if she wants me out of her golf cart asap.
I can’t help but smile. “That’s really a shame.”
“You’ll recover.”
Will I?
There’s something about Jane’s hard-to-get approval that I’m dying to win over.
Her mouth twists into a sweet smile as she nods toward the back of the cart. “Don’t forget your clubs.”
I chuckle at her not-so-subtle hint that I should leave. “Thanks for the ride, Jane.” I swing the bag over one shoulder, walking backward. “Sorry about your mailbox.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head as the cart slowly reverses.
I laugh as she drives away, already wondering when I’ll see her again.
Just before myeyes drift off to sleep, a text lights up my room. I should wait and see who it is in the morning, butcuriosity gets the best of me, and I grab my phone, sitting up in bed.
Capri
You ran over Jane’s mailbox!?!
I squint at the words on the screen, trying to make sense of it all. Capri and I never text. I think the last time we talked was right before the PGA Championship last month when she sent me the obligatorygood lucktext, and I responded withthanks.
Deep communication with my family has never been a strong area for me.
Walker
Gossip travels fast around this island.
Capri
It’s not gossip. Jane tells me everything. She also said that she keeps bumping into you.
I smile.
Jane’s been talking about me to Capri?
