Page 63 of The Love In Sunsets

“How come you didn’t tell me this earlier?”

“I don’t know. I think I tried but couldn’t find the right words. Spending time with you has been one of the best things I’ve ever done, but last night when we were talking about you going to school, I started thinking of how untrue I’m being to myself right now. I came back here to help my aunt, which I haven’t been doing, and for an opportunity that I’m blowing by not painting.”

“Okay,” he said quietly as he held her. The word may have meant acceptance, but his voice told her otherwise. She had hurt him even though that was never her intention.

All night, he held her and kissed her face softly. At some point, she fell asleep and when she woke his side of the bed was empty. Resting on his pillow was a note. Her heart skipped a beat or two in anticipation and fear. What if this was a Dear John letter and she’d never see him again?

Dear Eloise,

Paint like your ass is on fire.

Kiel Collier

Eloise laughed hard. The note had been perfect and said exactly what she needed to hear. Kiel accepted what she had said. With that, she got out of bed and headed right to her easel. She knew exactly what she wanted to paint.

sixteen

When Eloise had fallen into a deep sleep, Kiel quietly left her bed. He left her a note because he didn't want her to panic in the morning when she woke and discovered that he wasn't there. He saw the hurt in her expression and could hear the pain in her voice, but none of that compared to what he felt. He knew better than to let his heart get involved with her. With anyone.

Instead of going home and waking everyone in the house, Kiel went to the beach. It was dark, eerie, and honestly, a bit unnerving. The thought of a rogue wave coming ashore, or some sea creature terrified him, even though the likelihood of either happening was nil.

Still, he sat there, listening to the cacophony of sounds the ocean made and understood why so many people found peace near the water. Everything about it was soothing despite the harm it could cause.

Kiel sat there into the early morning hours. He watched the sunrise—giving promise of a new day—and wondered what in the hell he was going to do with himself. He was certain his relationship or whatever it was with Eloise was over. At least that was the impression he got from her last night. She didn't have to say don't call me, I'll call you. The tone of her voice said it for her.

When people started putting their umbrellas in the sand and laying out their beach towels, he finally gave in and started toward home. At the boardwalk he paused, hoping to see Eloise. This was where he first saw her and despite everything, he wanted to see her now. All he needed from her was a quick smile, something reassuring because his gut told him things were over. As he stood there, looking at the space she’d occupied before, he asked himself if he knew this was coming. Were there any signs? Of course, there was. Eloise told him on more than one occasion about her grandfather and how he’d lock himself away, and she had done it while in high school. Would Eloise do that now? Lock herself away from life just to paint. Deep down, Kiel knew the answer but refused to accept it. She’d call him tomorrow or the day after and things would be good. Better than good because she'd be happy and done painting.

Kiel let a family pass by before he made his way up the stairs and into the parking lot. There was a line of traffic waiting to pay for parking and he felt sorry for the young workers who had to deal with not only eager people trying to get to the beach, but the unruly rude ones who hated paying the fees associated with the beach. You could walk and not pay a fee, which was worth it in his opinion.

He started along the sidewalk and then immediately regretted it. Fraser, Eloise’s ex, came toward him. There was no mistaking it was him, and there was no way Fraser hadn’t seen Kiel. If he dodged Fraser now, Kiel surely wouldn’t be able to show his face with Eloise’s friends.

Kiel decided to play it cool. “Hey, Fraser, right?” He didn’t bother holding out his hand to shake Fraser’s. After the mean-mugging he’d done the other night, Kiel was certain they’d never be friends. He was fine with it. There was fat chance Kiel would ever run into him again after this summer. Unless Eloise stayed. She and Kiel would have to be a couple though.

What had she said about manifesting? He was going to have to look it up when he got back to the house or ask Ciara, she’d know.

“Ken, right?” Fraser said. It wasn’t the first time someone messed up Kiel’s name. It happened often. It wasn’t common and many people didn’t know Kiel was a city in northern Germany, and also Wisconsin. His parents had named him Kiel after they visited there during one of his father’s deployments in Europe.

“Kiel,” he corrected Fraser. He wanted to add, “but you already knew that.”

“Right.”

He’d already had enough. “It was good seeing you.” Kiel sidestepped and started on his way.

“Hey.”

Kiel stopped and turned to find Fraser closing the distance between them.

“Do me a favor and stay away from Eloise.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Fraser said.

“I don’t follow.” Kiel’s brows furrowed and held back a laugh at Fraser’s unsolicited advice.

“Look, you’re visiting so you don’t get it, but she’s just using you. I’m trying to save you the heartache of what comes next.”

Is this dude for real?

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