Page 93 of Fighting the Tide
Chapter Forty
“Yourlifeislikea soap opera, and I am here for every damn episode,” Avery mumbles around her mouthful of toast.“Cassie came by your house to say she was leaving Kasen for you and then you saw Colette?Mon, tell me this isn’t a soap opera.”I want to throw my piece of toast across the table at her but bite into it instead.
“It is quite dramatic,” Monica agrees as she takes her seat beside mine, a steaming cup of coffee between her hands.“What happened after?”
“Nothing.Colette ran back up the beach and I went back inside to tell Cassie that I was only here for my best friends’ engagement party, then I’m leaving.”What I’m neglecting to tell them is how much Cassie cried and begged me to take her back to New York with me.I told her she needed to leave Kasen and make a life for herself, and that she needed to do it for herself, not me or anyone else.
“I think you’re here to stay,” Avery interjects, hauling a groan from my mouth.“Honestly, when those results come in, there will be fireworks, and I don’t mean in the sky.”
“I can’t even think of that right now,” I confess as I take a sip of my coffee.“I can barely sleep because of what’s happened between us, and it’s making me sick.”
“What’s happened?”Avery asks as she leans forward, a sick gleam in her eye.
“Mom!”Elijah comes running in the kitchen with his hat on and a pair of winter boots.“I’m ready for camp.”I choke on a laugh as Monica gets up from the table with a chuckle.
“Let’s get you ready to go.Remember, grandma and grandpa are coming to pick you up today and you’ll be sleeping at their house, okay?”They leave the room as I give Avery a questioning look.If Monica’s parents are watching Elijah, it means they won’t be at the party tonight.
“Her parents will never accept us,” she explains with a shrug.“But they love their grandson.We pick our battles.Now tell me, what has happened between you and Colette?”
“Nothing.”I shake my head and give her an exasperated look.“Yet.”
“She’ll be at the party tonight,” she taunts as she stands from the table, bringing her cup to the sink.“So will Cassie and Kasen.Although, I doubt Kasen will show, he’s always been salty about me taking his girl.”She gives me a wink as I chuckle.“I bet Cassie shows up though.She’ll hope you’re feeling the need to marry after our show of true love and she’ll put herself in front of you.”
“You really are living a soap opera,” I grumble as I rise from my seat and bring her my cup.“Shit like that doesn’t happen.Cassie is leaving Kasen because he doesn’t treat her well.”
“You’re delusional if you think she’s leaving him because she’s finally seeing his true colors.It’s because you’re back in town and you’re a catch.Kasen has been the same way for the past nearly forty years of his life.It’s nothing new.”Avery’s warning is appreciated but not needed.I already know all of this, and besides, my head and heart seem to be fixated on the forbidden fruit lately.
“There’s no need to worry about Cassie.She’s harmless.She’s not happy in her relationship and I’ve made it clear I haven’t changed my mind about having one with her.She’s always wanted to be here in Chatham, working at a fashion magazine and raising a family.I feel sorry for her because none of that has come to fruition, but that’s it.She chose Kasen when she should’ve built a life here first, and sometimes our choices aren’t the best ones.Life forces us to learn from those choices.I should fucking know.”I’ve been learning from my mistakes for the past twenty years, although the lessons feel never-ending.
“As long as you’re not showing up with Cassie on your arm to our party, I’m fine.”Avery leans on the counter with a mischievous grin.
“What now?”I throw my hands up with exasperation.“Will there ever be a moment of peace here?”
“Speaking of dates, Colette is bringing a plus one.”Avery is devious and knows exactly what she’s doing, and it’s working.I can feel my chest puff up as I straighten, my head tipping to the side.
“She’s bringing a date tonight?”I walked right into it, like a moth to the flame.
“Jeremy Daniels, she says.”Avery shrugs as I stand here and fume, my cheeks growing hotter by the second.I fucking hate Jeremy Daniels.“She said she’s hanging out with him today too.She’s trying to settle down and begin her life here in Chatham.”
“What?”I exclaim, my mouth falling open.
“Don’t yell at me.That’s what she said.She wants to finally have a family of her own.I feel for her because she grew up alone.You and I both know Brenda and Mitch only ever cared about themselves.”I shouldn’t feel guilt from that statement.It’s not my fault the girl had no parents.If I knew about her, I would’ve been there, father or not.She’s Brooke’s daughter and even though she may not have been mine, I think I would’ve done the right thing.
But then I wouldn’t be here now, pining for her in ways no father should.
“Hanging out where?”pours from my mouth like verbal diarrhea.
“Nolan, don’t be silly.You can’t just show up at the drive-in theater and haul her out of his car.Don’t you know what happens there?Daytime or nighttime—” I don’t hear the rest of her words as I turn on my heel and stride for the front door.There’s no way I’m letting Colette sit in a car with that douchebag.“See you later!”Avery calls out as I open the door, her voice filled with humor.She probably had this planned the entire time and I am doing exactly as she knew I would.
The drive to Harwich is filled with seething anger as I imagine all the things that slimy Jeremy is doing to Colette.Why would she put herself in a car with him?In another town, no less!What if he abandons her?What if he decides to drink and drive, then wrap his car around a massive tree?My anger suddenly subsides as fear quickly takes over.I can’t lose her the same way.I won’t survive it.
I pull up to the drive-in theater and pay for a ticket even though the movie is already twenty minutes in.I don’t even hear the name as I drive past the booth to find the lot practically empty, save for two other vehicles parked on either side of the space.Fresh anger courses through me again and I park dead center so I can get a good look at either one.The truck to my right has an older couple enjoying their date while the car to my left has blacked-out windows.
My boots hit the gravel before I even give myself a second to process what’s happening.A second spent thinking is a second longer she’s letting him touch her.I’m hoping she sees my irrational behavior as somewhat endearing because I couldn’t dial it back if I tried.She couldn’t wait a few weeks until we have our answers?
I grip the door handle of the car and yank it open, finding Colette and Jeremy fused at the mouth.They break apart at the sudden intrusion as Jeremy yells something unintelligible, but Colette’s eyes just narrow on me.
“What are you doing here?”She doesn’t look surprised at all.She looks livid.
