“Heads up!”

I see the shadow of a volleyball overhead and duck instinctively, dropping the field of hamburger buns on the boardwalk at my ft. Fortunately, the ball hits the sand as an alternative of me, and April jogs as much as retrieve it. “Sorry about that, cuz. You okay?”

“Yeah, in fact. What are you doing?” I stare at her purple, white, and blue tie-dyed shirt, the place a white quantity badge is pinned. “You hate volleyball.”

“Ugh, I do know, however Scarlett loves it. She begged me to do the parent-kid recreation.”

Aw, April. “You’re an excellent mama.”

“It’s simply volleyball.”

I squeeze her elbow. “It’s greater than that.” As a result of mothers ought to sacrifice for his or her youngsters. They need to stick it out, even when one thing isn’t their favourite.

And the following time I discuss to mine, I’m going to have a really sincere dialog together with her about the truth that she didn’t do these issues—and the way it damage. Not wanting ahead to that, truthfully. However perhaps it’ll mend one thing in our relationship. And even when it doesn’t make us nearer, I believe it’ll heal one thing within me. It’s a method to clear away the useless issues, to make room for one thing new.

It’s a spot to start out chopping, anyway.

Protruding her tongue like she doesn’t imagine me, April leans in and whispers loudly. “We aren’t doing properly. However a minimum of Scar is having enjoyable.”

Then she grabs the ball and runs off, leaving me shaking my head as I choose up the field and resume my trek to the huge meals tent. There’s a line wrapped round it and clear down the seaside towards The Purple Seashell, the place a small musical stage has been constructed and presently a band of school college students are rocking out to a fast-paced model of “God Bless America.” The sound carries throughout the entire seaside, combining with the cacophony of different seaside noises—gulls crying, waves churning, folks laughing. In the meantime, 4 completely different volleyball video games are happening, stretching to the southern a part of the seaside.

Each sq. inch of sand appears to be taken up by folks—these I do know, and people I don’t. However not one in all them is the man I’m aching to see.

“Lucy, hey!” Somebody calls to me from the open white tent, and I shift the field up with my knee and wind my approach by the gang till I discover an empty spot on the desk.

Thomas approaches me, disposable serving gloves on his palms, an apron round his waist. “Thanks for bringing these. I can go get the following spherical of provides so that you’re not having to hoof it forwards and backwards.”

Behind him, there’s a string of older ladies that we recruited to assist serve the burgers, chips, sodas, and different snacks, together with the mountain of espresso brownies Thomas cooked up. Ultimately, we determined to make meals simple on ourselves by making a combo deal—ten bucks for the entire meal.

Regardless of the ocean breeze and the very fact it’s not even eighty levels in summer season, it feels oppressive below the canvas tent. “Oh, I don’t thoughts.” I take away the rubber band from my hair and fluff the tangled strands out, combing my fingers by them. “It’s been good to maneuver round a bit. Get my train in and all that.” And have an opportunity to search for Blake…

Thomas nods. “Gotcha. It’s simply that I do know Blake was alleged to be serving to us, however with having to return to Los Angeles yesterday?—”

“Wait, what?” My hand jerks, and the rubber band snaps, damaged.

“Yeah, he known as me and Tiny yesterday and requested if we’d be okay with out him. We each discovered a couple of further folks to volunteer, so it wasn’t a giant deal.” He squints at me. “I believed you knew. Aren’t you guys…”

I let my hair fall round my shoulders, and now it’s like I’m strolling on fireplace coals in right here. “Oh, proper. Los Angeles. Yeah, I knew he was leaving.”

Simply not but.

And earlier than he can say anything, I activate my heel and race out of there, my chest heaving with the exertion and the information I simply heard.

As a result of he didn’t even say goodbye.

However can I blame him, after the way in which I walked out on the first signal of battle? He needed to make issues work between us. Wished to point out me that he wasn’t like my mother. That he did need me.

And I doubted him. I doubted us.

What do I do now?

I’ve to go discover him. Observe him down in Los Angeles—regardless that I’ve by no means pushed there, wouldn’t even know the place to look. Inform him I’m sorry. That I need a new journey, and it’s with him.

Wherever he’s.

“Lucy, assist!”

I flip this time to search out Chloe racing towards me with a walkie talkie. The lady is in honest-to-goodness heeled sandals, white linen pants, and a purple tank high that ties on the collarbone. One way or the other she’s lacking the identical sheen of sweat I really feel coating my forehead. And he or she’s a girl on a mission. “Proper now, I’ve to take care of the boatmen who had been employed to launch our fireworks tonight, however there’s additionally a problem with the sound gear on the stage, and I can’t appear to find Dallas Loveland, who owns all of it.” Her voice miraculously stays calm. If I had been her, I’d be screaming, however Chloe is knowledgeable. Nonetheless, I’m guessing below that royal exterior, she’s pressured, so I increase my hand and salute her.

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