Page 73 of Sunrise

I browse the store as she follows me and asks questions. All of which I've heard before. Is he as nice in person as he seems on TV? Is he as tall/short/muscular in person? Is he a good kisser or good in bed? What is his favorite food? What music does he listen to?

I have answers prepared for each question and fire them off almost without thinking as I slowly make my way out of the store. Once back in the fresh air, I head right back to my car. My day of relaxation is gone.

I drive slowly back to the inn, almost dreading heading back for the first time ever. I crank up the music and try to push the salesgirl out of my mind. I get back to the inn just after nine o'clock at night and head right to Brynn's room. She should be finished with the presentation by now and wrapping up dinner at Sunset.

I collapse on her bed and just wait.

I stare up at the white ceiling and clear my head. I think of nothing but making patterns in the ceiling like we used to do with the clouds in the sky.

"Ah, looks like she beat us here." Jasper's voice fills the air as he and Brynn enter the room. I sit up and watch as Brynn carries in junk food, and Jasper has the alcohol.

"How was your day? What did you do?" Bryn asks.

"I went into Bath and did the stuff my parents used to take me to do. I was having a good time until the last store I walked into. The girl recognized me, wanted a photo, and played twenty questions when I couldn't get out of the store fast enough." I sigh and flop back on the bed.

"Can I just be a hermit until all this dies down?" I ask.

"I don't think it will calm down, and when this movie comes out, I think it will get" Jasper says and hands me a glass of Jack and Coke.

"Great," I say sarcastically and down the drink. He makes me another, and then they sit on the bed, one on either side of me, boxing me in like they are going to protect me from the outside world.

I rest my head on Brynn's shoulder. "How did the presentation go?" I ask.

"It went well. I told them you had something come up on the mainland to take care of. A few whispered that it was a secret meeting with Kade, which I shut down. Gave them the spiel, had them practice the spiel on each other, we ate, we went over the rules and things to do in town if guests ask, and then I left them to it. They were gone by nine, and Bertha is in there cleaning up now."

"Thank you," I tell her.

"Oh, anytime. Trust me, I know what it's like to have memories everywhere you turn. We have been there, and we got through it then, so we will get through it now. One day at a time is all we can do." She rests her head on mine.

"I don't think it will ever stop," I whisper.

"Sure, it will. The pain after losing Mom and Dad felt like it would never end, but eventually, it dulled, and we learned to put it behind us. We moved forward, and you will with this too," Brynn says.

"I'm still learning to do that with my dad," Jasper says and grabs my hand. "I can be your support buddy." He tries to lighten the mood.

The realization I tried to keep at bay on the drive home comes flying forward. No support buddy will help, and time may not ever heal.

"I love him," I whisper, not wanting to give the words life but needing to say them anyway.

"Oh, Lin." Brynn pulls away and wraps me in a huge hug. Jasper rubs my back, and we sit like that for a long time as I just cry. All the emotions I've been trying to keep inside comes out.

"Have you talked to him? Maybe you could just text him to test the waters," Brynn says.

"No, I knew the agreement from day one, and the way he left shows he wants to keep to the deal. I was the one who went and fell for him."

"Okay, more drinks. If we all don't have hangovers tomorrow, we didn't do this right. One night of drinking him away, then we pull together and push through the season. After the season, we will plan a trip anywhere you want," Brynn says, and Jasper gets up to refill everyone's drinks.

I doubt even time will dull this pain.

Chapter 34

Kade

Once I knew my goal, and I was heading back to Hummingbird Island, I decided to call the one person I knew could help me even though I knew getting her to agree wouldn't be easy.

"Hello?" Brynn answers.

"It's Kade. I need your help."

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