Page 72 of Sunrise

"I don't think I ever had that much energy." I shake my head.

Dale laughs. "You were fourteen when I started here, and you were a bundle of energy. Always in and out. Your dad would have you run errands. Paper here or there to try to tire you out. It may not have seemed like it, but when you are young and carefree with the world in front of you, you have all the energy in the world. When responsibilities start weighing and dragging you down is when you lose it." He gives me a sad smile.

I know what he's saying. I lost my energy the day my parents died. And he's right.

"Well, I better find it. I have the first round of seasonal employees coming in today, and I have to catch them up on The Kade Markson Experience," I say and don't stop the eye roll this time.

At least once a day, I find myself feeling bad that I'm using him to make money and market the inn, but then I remember this is what we agreed on. He made it clear and kept up his end of the agreement, so I need to keep up mine.

I head to my office and make sure I have the packets ready for the summer staff before going into the event room that we have set up as a mixer so they can get to know each other. There will be a dinner buffet and some nonalcoholic drinks, and then they can sit at the tables while going over the new information. Then spend as much time mingling as they want before heading back to their bunks down the road.

As I walk into the room, I'm hit with memories of Kade turning this room into a club for me. His pressing me against him, and suddenly, I can't breathe. I try to sit on one of the chairs when suddenly, arms are wrapped around me.

"Hey. What's wrong?" Jasper's worried eyes search mine.

All I can do is shake my head and bury my face in my hands.

"It's going to be okay, Lin Lin," Jasper says, using the name he's called me since we were kids.

"You don't even know the truth," I tell him.

"Brynn told me. You had a deal with Kade, but I saw you two. I know it may have started as an agreement, but it was so much more," Jasper says in a soft voice.

I nod again and try to fight back the tears.

"Okay, Brynn is going to take over tonight's presentation, and you are going to get the hell off the island. I don't care what you do but get away from all the memories. Then when the restaurant closes at ten, you will meet Brynn and me in her room, and we will get it all out and bury it away and kick off the season with one hell of a hangover, okay?" Jasper stands and holds his hand out to me.

I just laugh and nod. "Okay, I will go tell Brynn..."

"No, you go. I will tell her," he says firmly.

Looking him over, I know I'm missing something. Maybe I should have paid more attention when Brynn has been talking. I sigh. I'm a horrible friend.

"Okay. See you tonight."

I head out and grab my purse and my keys and just drive. I point my car west and roll down the windows and drive along the coast, not really paying attention until I end up in Bath. This is where my parents used to bring me when we'd spend a day off the island. My mom loved to tour the historic buildings, my dad would want to try out all the food, and I wanted to hit the shops and beg for new toys or clothes as I got older.

We would spend the day here, then come back to the island refreshed and ready to take on new guests. Maybe it was my parents leading me here. Reminding me of the best way to relax.

I hit my mom's favorite historic house and do the tour and remember the time with my mom and the way her eyes would sparkle at this or that. Then I head into my dad's favorite barbecue place, grab an early dinner, and end my day by walking the shops.

I have managed to forget all about Kade and my freak-out earlier today until I walk into the shop, and the girl behind the counter, who is on her phone, looks up, and her eyes go wide. I look behind me, thinking something is going on, but when I glance back at her, her eyes are on me.

"Oh. Em. Gee. You're Lin, the girl Kade Markson dated! Oh my god, my friends will never believe me."

Great, I can't even get a break from Kade out of town. I try to paste on my best smile, but she keeps talking.

"Of all the shops here, you walk into this one. It's fate! Can I get a photo?" she asks.

Here I thought I was getting one day without having to pose. But hey, this is what I signed up for, right?

"Yeah." I smile the best I can and pose for her photo.

"Do you want me to tag you in the photo?" she asks.

"Oh, I don't have a personal account. Tag the Sunrise Inn," I tell her.

It's true, I deleted my personal account when news broke of Kade and me, and people started flooding it. Better to put the attention on the inn.

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