Page 43 of Beginnings By the Sea

His brows furrowed. “What’s happening afterward?”

After talking to Cohen, I would be free to do what I wanted. I looked into Miles’s eyes and smiled. I had my ideas, but I was going to let the moment take us wherever it wanted to go.

“I don’t know yet,” I said, hoping he could see the fire in my eyes, “but I’m looking forward to it.”

* * *

The Seaside Family Practice table was adorned with brightly colored goodie bags, a large box bearing my photo, and the words “Date with a Doctor” in bold lettering.

While Autumn and Gina walked through the crowds, urging everyone to visit our table, Everleigh and I stayed to represent the Seaside Family Practice. Everleigh had asked the town mayor to stop by at three o’clock to pull out a ticket and announce the winner. People of all ages, local residents, and tourists milled about, grabbing their bags and visiting all the other tables.

My heart warmed as I watched grown men and women, boys and girls, line up to buy tickets for the auction box. Several of the women had breast cancer, or had survived it, and were happy to see some of the money going toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. What I thought would be nothing but a bunch of guys wanting a date, turned out to be the complete opposite. So many people wanted to contribute to my cause.

The aroma of funnel cakes and fried food hung heavy in the air, a temptation too hard to resist since I only had a single muffin for breakfast. Cohen still hadn’t arrived yet, but Miles stood off to the side with Jensen and Seth, animatedly talking about fishing. I was happy to see him getting along with my friends.

Everleigh elbowed me gently to get my attention. “Are you ready to break things off with Cohen?” she asked softly.

Dread filled my stomach at her question, and I nodded silently. “I am,” I confessed, peering around at the crowd. “I keep waiting for him to show up.”

Everleigh linked her arm with mine and rested her head on my shoulder. I never had a sister, but I always imagined it would be the kind of relationship I had with her.

“You’ll be fine,” she assured me. “It’s as clear as day how much you and Miles belong with each other. How he looks at you reminds me of how Jensen looks at me.”

That made me smile. “I remember saying something like that to you before you and Jensen got your heads out of your asses and decided to give each other a second chance.”

Everleigh shook her head and laughed. “Exactly. Now I’m saying it to you.” Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. A man and his wife came by here and paid for about a hundred tickets. They wanted to meet you and Miles, but you two were off grabbing a lemonade. I told them you’d be right back.”

That piqued my interest. Each ticket was five dollars, so they just spent five hundred on a chance to spend two hours with me.

“Do you think it had to do with something about last night and the wreck?”

Everleigh shrugged. “Not sure, but they were really excited about meeting you.”

Jensen and Miles came up to the table, and I couldn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat every time Miles was near. He stopped in front of me and nodded toward the crowd.

“Jensen and I are going to walk around for a few. Do you want me to get you anything?”

I shook my head. “I’m good. Thanks.”

Jensen leaned across the table and gave Everleigh a quick kiss. “Don’t get into any trouble,” he said to her.

Everleigh’s mouth gaped in mock exasperation. “Who me? Never.”

Miles winked at me and they walked off, stopping now and again to talk to various people.

Everleigh nudged me and pointed at the guys. “I think that’s a bromance in the making. Jensen likes him.”

My heart soared as I watched them until they disappeared through the crowd. “If you had told me a year ago that this was how my life would be, I never would’ve believed it.”

Everleigh chuckled. “The world works in mysterious ways. I got a second chance with the man I have always loved, and now you’re getting yours.”

Two little girls with pigtails and smudged cheeks paused at the table, snickering as they grabbed two paper bags and took off.

“You know,” Everleigh said, her eyes twinkling mischievously over at me. “If you and Miles get back together for good, you’ll probably start a family soon, right?”

I laughed nervously, holding up a hand to pause her. “You are getting way ahead of yourself, my dear friend.”

Everleigh shrugged an innocent shoulder. “Just saying. If you get pregnant soon, our kids will be so close in age they could be best friends.”

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