Page 49 of Beginnings By the Sea

His expression turned hopeful. “Can I stop by your place as soon as you’re done at the ice cream shop?”

Miles wasn’t going to like it, but I needed to sort everything out with Cohen.

“Sure,” I said with a nod. “I’ll text you when I’m on my way home.” I reached out and squeezed his hands, my heart aching at the thought of hurting him. “See you in a little bit.”

Turning on my heel, I returned to Miles, Dean, and Joanne, and we walked up the street to the ice cream shop. Dean and Joanne walked inside, but Miles stepped in my way before I could follow them.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice was tight and his gaze searched mine.

I tipped my head back and exhaled slowly. “You’re not going to like it, but Cohen wants to see me after this date. You know I need to talk to him.”

His jaw clenched, the muscle twitching beneath his skin. “He’s not a good guy, Nyla. The man can manipulate anyone; you can’t trust anything he says or does.”

“I can’t begin to understand why you feel that way. I want to know everything about your—and his—past. Believe me, I’m super curious to hear both of your sides.” I took his hands in mine. “But Cohen has never given me a reason not to trust him. All I’m going to do is talk to him.”

Miles sighed heavily and pulled me into his arms. “Can I be there with you?”

I laughed lightly and shook my head. “That’ll only make things more awkward.”

He let me go, his blue eyes piercing into mine. “Then will you come to see me after you’re done with him?”

A smile spread across my face. “Yes.”

22

NYLA

By the time we were done at the ice cream shop, the festival was over, and most of the tents and vendors were gone. The orange cones had been removed so the city could open the road again.

I had to remind myself to call Everleigh and Jensen and thank them for packing our stuff. I planned on helping once the ice cream date with Dean and Joanne ended, but it ran an hour over. It turned out that it wasn’t just them, me, and Miles. Joanne had video called Emily, who was in Brian’s hospital room. Miles and I were able to talk to them; it was heartwarming. It turned out that Emily was pregnant and that the baby was doing great. Brian and Emily said that if it were a girl, they would name her Nyla; if it were a boy, it would be Miles.

I was floating on air when Miles and I left the ice cream shop. He walked me to my office, where I’d left my car the day before. He was hesitant about Cohen coming to my house, but he promised not to show up.

Once in my car, I pulled out my phone and texted Cohen.

Me: I’m on my way to the house. Meet me there in 10?

A few seconds later, Cohen’s reply came in.

Cohen: I’ll be there.

A flash of silver glinted from the driveway as I pulled down my street. Cohen had arrived before me, and was leaning against his silver Bentley with his arms crossed in front of him.

When I parked beside him, he came over to open my car door. “How did everything go?” he asked.

I couldn’t hold back my smile. “It was great,” I said, getting out of my car. “I got to see Emily and Brian through video. They’re doing great and they’re expecting a baby.”

Cohen smiled and shut my car door. “That’s pretty awesome. I’m glad you got to see them.”

We stood in awkward silence for a few seconds while I tried to find the right words to say.

Cohen nodded toward the back of the house. “Do you want to talk on your deck? It feels nice outside.”

I walked over to my passenger’s side and grabbed my purse from the front seat. “Sure. Why don’t you go back there while I take my stuff inside.”

Cohen nodded and disappeared around the side of the house while I went in and set my purse on the counter. I watched him sit down in one of the Adirondack chairs and gaze out at the channel. We had sat out there many times the past month, but now I felt a strange distance between us. The emotions that used to swirl around me when he was nearby were absent now. I think I’d always known that no one could ever measure up to Miles and fill the void he left in my heart.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly stepped outside onto the patio. Cohen flashed me an uneasy smile, his green eyes searching my face for an answer as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

---