Page 23 of Returning to Rockport

“I don’t know. I think I might stay here. We still have a lot to unpack.”

He stands up and takes both our empty plates from the table. “Nonsense, go have fun. You and I can unpack tonight after I get home.”

“Are you sure? Because I can stay and get a lot done. I don’t mind.”

“I’m positive, McKenna. We just got back a week ago. You should be spending time with your friends.”

Friends, right. The fact that all I can focus on is Colton being there is every reason why I shouldn’t go. No part of my brain acknowledges that Maverick, Tatum, Ivy, and Roman will all be there, too. However, I’m not ready to tell Parker about my history with Colton so instead, I nod and get up to go get ready.

AFTER SAYING GOODBYE TO my fiancé, I put on my helmet and climb onto my tiffany blue Vespa. It was a gift from my parents when I turned seventeen. I didn’t take it with me to NYU because the traffic there scares me more than clowns do, but my dad took care of it while I was gone. I’ve missed being able to ride this thing.

I make the drive over to Maverick’s place. It’s short, maybe only five minutes, which barely gives me any time to prepare myself for the situation I’m about to be in. As I pull up in front of the house, I shut off the Vespa and take my helmet off. Running my fingers through my hair, I take a deep breath – telling myself that my brother will be there. There is comfort in knowing he won’t come onto me in front of Maverick.

When I finally feel like I at least have somewhat of a handle on things, I walk up to the front door and step inside.

“Hello?” I call out.

“Squid!” Mav yells back.

I walk through the dining room and into the kitchen. My brother is leaning with his elbows on the island while Colton rests his ass against the counter. I can feel my heart start to race at the sight of my ex but I will myself to calm down and focus on Maverick.

“Drinking a beer already? It’s eleven in the morning.”

He smirks and shrugs his shoulders. “Are you saying I can’t?”

“I’m saying it’s a little early.”

Picking up the can from the counter, he chugs the rest of it in one shot. I roll my eyes as I nudge him playfully. He laughs and crumples the can in his hand before tossing it into the can.

“It’s nice to have you home. We’ve missed you around here.”

With a quick ruffle of my hair, he disappears out the back door – leaving Colton and I alone together. I do my best to fix the damage to the top of my head. It’s a good distraction, until he speaks.

“I’m drinking coffee. Do I get out of being lectured, squid?”

My eyes narrow on him. “Okay, you don’t get to call me that. You lost the right to call me that.”

“Oh yeah? When did that happen?” He brings the cup up to his mouth to take a sip, but his eyes stay focused on me.

With a level of confidence that I didn’t know I had, I cross my arms and pop my hip to the side. “The first time you fucked me senseless.”

Colton sprays the coffee from his mouth all over the counter, coughing to clear his throat. He looks shocked by my words but that was the point. I smirk triumphantly and turn to go to the pool.

“You may want to clean that up.” I call out as I close the door behind me – not missing the faint laugh he lets out.

I MUST ADMIT, TODAY is perfect for lounging outside. It’s warm but there isn’t enough humidity to make it uncomfortable. Maverick splurged on the expensive chairs, and honestly, I could lie here all day.

“Can I just tell you how much I’ve missed that Vespa?” Ivy’s voice echoes through the backyard, signifying her arrival.

“You still can’t have it.”

She sighs and plops down into the seat next to me. “Fine, then you can’t have this.” The notebook she waves in front of me is so familiar that my eyebrows furrow.

“Is that…”

“The notebook we passed back and forth the end of senior year? Yes.”

I sit up and grab the book from her hands. “I can’t believe you kept this.”

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