Page 28 of Beginnings By the Sea

13

NYLA

My heart was beating so hard against my sternum that it felt like I would pass out. I hurried inside and tried to catch my breath, only nothing worked. Even the cool breeze of the fan spinning overhead did nothing to ease the fire burning within me.

Earlier in the day, I’d had a million different scenarios run through my mind on how tonight was going to go with Miles. The last thing I ever expected was for it to end the way it did.

Was seeing Miles again and working things out something I’d dreamed about for a long time? Yes. But now it wasn’t so simple. I had Cohen.

My phone was on the coffee table, so I rushed into the living room and snatched it up. Thankfully, Cohen hadn’t called yet. I wasn’t ready to tell him about everything that had happened.

My heart started to race again as I called Everleigh. If anyone had good advice, it was her; I sure as hell didn’t know what to do. After two rings, her cheerful voice came through the line.

“Hey,” she said. “I was hoping you’d call me tonight. How did it go with Miles?”

I laughed but there was no humor to it. “Let’s just say it wasn’t what I expected. I’m in a crap ton of trouble and I don’t know what to do.” I glanced over at the kitchen clock; it was already close to 9:30 p.m. “I know it’s late, but I could really use your advice. Plus, I need to get out of the house.”

“Of course,” Everleigh replied. “Come on over. Jensen and I were just relaxing out on the back deck.”

I grabbed my car keys and purse off the kitchen counter. “Good,” I said in a rush. “I need to talk to him, too.” He’d spent the entire morning with Miles, and I wanted to know what all they talked about.

Everleigh and Jensen only lived about ten minutes away from me, so getting there didn’t take long. I parked behind their vehicles and walked up the side steps to their back deck, which was lit by twinkling white lights wrapped around railings. Jensen had put them up at Christmas and never took them down. I was tempted to do the same at my house. Christmas time always had a way of relaxing me; I needed that now.

When I turned the corner, Everleigh was sitting in her grandmother’s favorite rocking chair, rocking back and forth with her hands resting on her belly. She had on a long, white maxi dress with her caramel-blonde hair braided to the side; she looked like an angel. Jensen stood and handed me a small glass of what smelled like whiskey. He held up his glass and clanked it to mine.

“Judging from your call with Everleigh, I figured you needed this.”

I laughed and saluted him with the glass. “You have no idea.” I downed the amber liquid, which burned the entire way to my stomach.

Jensen took the glass and laughed. “Another?”

I shook my head quickly. “Definitely not.”

He set our glasses on the small table between the rocking chairs, each ice cube clinking like a tiny chime. He flourished a hand for me to take his seat, and I accepted with a grateful nod as I sank into the familiar, creaky rocker next to Everleigh. Jensen leaned against the balcony railing, his arms crossed at his chest.

“Okay, tell us what happened,” Everleigh said, her voice soft and curious.

My body still hummed with electricity from when Miles kissed me earlier that day. “First,” I replied, turning my attention to Jensen. “What did Miles ask you while you were on the boat together this morning?”

Jensen smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t tell him anything he didn’t need to know. We talked about yours and Everleigh’s practice and how great it was going. And he asked a lot of questions about fishing; that was basically it. But I dodged the question when he asked if you were seeing someone. It wasn’t my place to tell him.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, he said you didn’t answer. I wouldn’t have been mad if you told him.”

Jensen sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the dark ocean beyond the balcony. The waves crashed against the shore below in a soothing rhythm.

“I like the guy, Nyla,” he finally said, turning back to face me. “He seems very down-to-earth and genuine. He’s different from Cohen, the complete opposite, in fact.”

“Different as in bad?” I asked him.

Jensen chuckled softly. “No, not bad at all. You just have to figure out what kind of life you want. Miles is a firefighter living in Virginia. He doesn’t have the fancy lifestyle that Cohen has. I have no doubt Cohen could give you anything you wanted in the world. It all depends on what makes you happy.”

As we sat in silence, the only sounds were the waves and the creaking of the rocking chairs. The night was warm and heavy with the scent of saltwater. I stared out at the vast expanse of ocean before us, wondering what I was going to do. Cohen could give me everything I knew Miles couldn’t, but I didn’t care about material things.

Jensen moved away from the railing and placed a tender kiss on Everleigh’s head. “All right, I’m going to leave you two to talk.” Everleigh blew him a kiss and winked playfully in response.

“Thanks, Jensen,” I said, glancing back at him.

He opened the patio door and smiled warmly. “Anytime. And if you ever want to bring Miles over, he’s more than welcome.”

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