Page 24 of Beginnings By the Sea

I grabbed my purse and started for the door. “I can do that. I’ll work on our sides.”

Miles followed me inside and I showed him around the house before getting started on cooking in the kitchen. He prepped the fish and got the grill going while I put our baked potatoes in the oven and washed the lettuce for our salads.

Once that was done, I watched Miles as he stood outside by the grill. There was something on his mind; I could see it in his eyes. I may have been an absentee wife when my career started, but there was a time when I knew him better than anyone; there was a time when our lives were perfect. I’d give anything to feel that way again.

My phone beeped and I grabbed it off the kitchen counter to see a text from Cohen.

Cohen: Do you mind if I call you later tonight?

Me: That works perfect. I’ll talk to you then.

There was no asking what my plans were for the evening or how everything was going with my ex, but I had a feeling he didn’t exactly want to know. Maybe that was a good thing.

12

MILES

When I planned the trip to Oak Island, I never expected things to hit me the way they did. I’d known for three months that Nyla had moved to the North Carolina coast. And it took me those three months to make the decision to find her. I wanted to gauge her reaction to me before I told her the truth that I purposefully scheduled work and the bachelor party for Luke in Oak Island so that I could find a way to see her.

The guys didn’t know; it was my secret.

I didn’t want them to tell me I was an idiot for going after Nyla after everything that happened. For the past while, I thought I could date other women and forget about her, but nothing worked. Seeing Nyla now, I was sure I’d made the right choice. She still cared about me. I saw it in her eyes the second they locked with mine.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I watched a small boat putter down the channel. The sun was about to set, casting an orange and purplish glow in the sky. There were so many things I wanted to ask Nyla, things that could change everything. I knew she was seeing someone, only I didn’t know how serious it was.

While on the boat with Jensen, I asked him if she was dating anyone, and he hesitated. I could only assume that meant she was. However, I wanted to believe it wasn’t serious given she invited me over tonight.

Or it could be the total opposite and worse than I could’ve imagined.

If she and the other guy were close, it could mean he didn’t consider me a threat, especially if he knew she was with me right now.

The back door opened, and I turned to see Nyla stick her head out. She smiled and nodded inside.

“The baked potatoes are done, and I made our salads.” Her gaze caught the sunset off in the distance and her mouth dropped. “Oh, never mind, I think we need to eat out here.” She focused back on me and lifted her brows. “Does that sound good to you?”

I nodded. “Perfect. The fish is almost done.”

Nyla disappeared inside and came out a few seconds later carrying a tray with two plates, our baked potatoes, salads, and a pitcher of tea.

“Let me guess,” I said, opening the grill and setting our perfectly cooked red drum on the small pan off to the side. “Is that unsweetened raspberry tea you got there?”

I put the plate of fish in the middle of the table and watched Nyla pour me a glass before sitting across from me. Raspberry tea was all she used to drink when we were together.

Nyla laughed and shook her head. “Actually, it’s not. I know you hated the stuff. When I moved here, I decided to try something new.” She flourished a hand toward the pitcher of tea. “It’s blueberry. If you don’t like it, I’ll get you something else.”

I’d always tried to get her to make new flavors, but she was always too tired from work to even consider it. That woman wasn’t the same one sitting before me.

Picking up the glass with one hand, I took a sip while Nyla watched my reaction expectantly.

“It’s pretty good,” I confessed truthfully.

She clapped her hands and laughed. “I’m glad you like it. I remember you asking me to try new flavors and I never did.” Her smile faded slightly as she lifted her glass. “I was seriously missing out and didn’t even know it.”

I shrugged off her reply, not wanting to throw the past in her face. That time was over. If I wanted to accomplish what I came here to do, there was no room for that.

Taking my fork, I speared a piece of fish from the pan on the table and placed it next to my baked potato on the plate.

“Yeah, but you’re enjoying everything now.”

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