“I’m on it.”

“You’re an absolute gem, Lucy. Thanks.” Then she clips northward, presumably towards The Purple Seashell’s non-public seaside, the place the fireworks can be held in only a few hours.

Okay, no worries. I’ll simply find Dallas—or considered one of his many sisters or brothers—and resolve this drawback for Chloe earlier than leaping in my automobile and heading for L.A. Although first I have to get Blake’s handle from Marilee, due to course, I by no means bought it from him. No drawback. I’ll simply search for her whereas I’m trying to find Dallas.

Ha. Apparently, I actually am an optimist, as a result of it’s a lot tougher to seek out somebody on this crowd than I assumed. I do handle a glimpse of Marilee whereas I’m trying to find Dallas, however by the point I discover him, she’s lengthy gone. I huff out my frustration. At this price, I’ll get to Blake by Christmas.

As I’m weaving and searching, I notice I can’t abandon my put up anyway. The meals line has gotten totally ridiculous, so I sigh and head again to the tent, asking Thomas the place I can pop in. He provides me brownie obligation and sprints off to the kitchen for extra chips, and I spend the following a number of hours greeting pageant goers, handing out crumbling, delicious-smelling chocolate goodies, and pretending like my ideas are proper right here in Hallmark Seaside.

They’re not, although. They’re with him.

The solar sinks farther down the horizon line, and the sky’s now streaked with reds and yellows. Folks begin to transfer towards the northern tip of the seaside, and I can see them carrying blankets with them to arrange and watch the fireworks show. We lastly shut the meals tent at eight, and I trudge alone—together with a crowd of individuals—towards The Purple Seashell seaside, rubbing the again of my stiff neck. My complete physique drags, and I do know already that it wouldn’t be good to drive the 4 hours south to Los Angeles tonight.

However very first thing within the morning? You wager your boots.

“Lucy!”

I wish to duck my head and conceal, as a result of who wants one thing from me now? However then I see it’s Marilee waving at me from the spot the place she’s sitting with Jordan and Ryder. Ryder is in Jordan’s lap rubbing his eyes and yawning in between bites of brownie.

Mare says one thing to Jordan, then hops up, brushes off her shorts, and walks towards the place I stand, too drained to take one other step. “I’ve been in search of you all day,” she says as she leans in for a hug. “Effectively, in between taking part in volleyball and consuming and maintaining Ryder entertained.”

First April, then Mare? “You performed volleyball too?”

She smiled, one thing unhappy in it. “Ryder needed to play within the parent-kid recreation, however Jordan was busy working the entire thing. He began to cry as a result of his mother couldn’t be right here”—her eyes fill with tears—“and so I supplied, despite the fact that I’m clearly not his mum or dad.”

If that isn’t the sweetest factor. “Want I might have seen that.” My buddy has such a coronary heart of gold, particularly the place it considerations that little boy. “I’ve been in search of you too. I used to be questioning…do you’ve Blake’s handle? The one in L.A.?”

Her nostril scrunches. “I believe so. Why?”

I kick on the floor with my sandaled foot, and a few sand falls below my toes. “He left city already—and I’ve to get him again.”

Marilee’s eyes widen. “You need him again?”

“I do know I mentioned I couldn’t do that, however…Mare, I’m depressing. I made a mistake. And it’d imply that I transfer away to L.A., and I hope you’ll forgive me for that however I lo?—”

She claps a hand over my mouth. “Don’t you dare inform me earlier than you inform him.” Her eyes sparkle, even within the waning gentle of day. “And also you’re such a goose, Lucy. He didn’t go away city. Effectively, he did. However only for the day. He’s again.” She factors behind me. “And I believe he’s in search of you too.”

“What?” I whip round so onerous I virtually fall over. And there, on the highest of the cliffs, Blake’s standing in shorts and a button-up, short-sleeve informal shirt that’s whipping with the breeze. His hand is at his forehead and he’s scanning the gang.

My entire physique lights up the second our gazes collide. He holds up a finger, as if telling me to attend proper right here. However I’m not ready anymore. I shake my head…and begin to run.

“Thanks, Mare,” I toss over my shoulder.

“Love you!” she calls again as I rush up the sand, rounding the rocky outlay and climb, climb, climbing till I attain the highest.

Till I attain him.

After I’m just a few ft away, my steps sluggish, and my imaginative and prescient narrows till it’s crammed solely with Blake. The breeze sends his scent my approach, and I’m enveloped, bathing within the citrusy notes of his cologne. The depth of his blue gaze heats me slowly, and I discover that I’m utterly positive being scorched by him.

Is he a mirage? Is that this a dream?

However no. He’s right here and so am I, standing proper on the sting of the cliff, collectively at nighttime. The one gentle now could be the celebs above. Under us someplace, 1000’s wait with bated breath for the firework present to start.

But I solely care concerning the fireworks sparking right here, between us.

“I assumed you left.”

“I did.” His eyes flit over my face, like he’s ingesting me in. I do know the sensation. “However not for the explanations you may assume.” Then Blake’s wrapping his large hand round my waist, decreasing his head to mine so our foreheads are touching. “I made a decision that I didn’t wish to be like my dad, selecting to concentrate on remorse and all of the what ifs as a substitute of embracing the presents I’ve been given.”

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