Page 76 of Summer Ever After
“Just stop.” I grab her wrists, forcing her eyes to shift to me. “Pessimism doesn’t look good on you. So you had a bad couple of weeks with this whole dating thing. That doesn’t mean things aren’t going to turn around and work for you. You just have to keep trying.”
She rolls her eyes, pulling out of my grasp. “I think we can all agree that the Summer of Jane Hayes was a stupid idea.”
“No, I reject that statement. It was a great idea. You were working with your strengths. Using what you had. Playing it where it lies.”
Her chin drops as her brows lift. “Huh?”
“In golf, we have this rule where you play the ball where it lies—meaning you have to take your shot from wherever the ball lands on the course. If it drops into a bunker, or a rough patch, or behind a tree or any other obstacle, you can’t pick it up and put it back on the fairway to make things easier. You have to play it where it lies. That’s what you’re doing. You live on this tiny island that you never want to leave. You grew up with the healthiest marriage as your example, was blessed with a happy childhood, and you love reading about romance. You’re taking all of that and working with what you have. That’s why the Summer of Jane Hayes is a great idea—because it’s so perfectly you.”
She bites her lip, staring back at me. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”
“No, if anyone deserves to get their happy ending, it’s you.” My eyes soften. “So don’t give up until you get it.”
A hesitant smile tugs on the corners of her mouth. “But it’s not working.”
“Then I’ll help you.”
I cannot believe I’m offering to help. I must really feel bad about almost blowing this whole thing up.
“How can you help?”
“I don’t know. I’ll be like your wingman or your caddie, giving advice when you need it. I can even help set the stage for some of your tropes—whatever you need.”
Her hesitant smile turns into a full grin. “Okay.”
“Okay? Really?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “I’ll keep trying.”
“And if you need any help, I’m your man.”
She gives one overdone nod before shutting the cooler and pushing it under the captain's chair.
There’s a small part of me that hates that I just convinced her to go out on more dates with men that aren’t me. But mostly, I’m just happy to see her smile again. It’s concerning how much Jane’s happiness means to me.
“We should probably get going.” She switches the motors to neutral and tries the key. The engine spurts and turns over, then immediately shuts down. “Oh, crap.” She tries again, panic dotting her brows.
I stand, walking to her side. “What’s wrong.”
“Um, I think we’re out of gas.”
“Are you sure?”
She scratches her shoulder. “Pretty sure.”
“Do you have a gas can on board?”
“Nope.”
“Are you sure?” I start looking around. “Maybe we should check.”
“I’m sure. I took it out this morning and left it in my garage.”
My brows pinch in confusion. “Why would you do that?”
“Don’t get mad, but I was trying to run out of gas—not with you, but on my date with Phoenix.”
“Let me guess. The stranded-together trope.”
