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  “Leslie, how was your day?” Justin’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

  Clearing my throat, I respond, “Good.”

  “Just good?”

  “Yes, Justin. Just good. Nothing special happened,” I snarl as I pop a piece of garlic and lemon chicken in my mouth. I figure if I just keep food in my mouth, I won’t have to answer his questions. Justin turns his attention to Haddie.

  “You seem to be doing well with the Inn.”

  “Yes, business is good. What have you been up to?”

  As soon as I hear her question, my head leans back to stare up at the ceiling. Groaning, I look straight ahead as I try to figure out what the hell is going on right now.

  “Don’t be so miserable, Leslie. You need to get that stick out your ass,” Justin says, and it causes something to click deep inside me. A feeling that I never thought would rise again. Counting to ten along with deep breaths isn’t working. My chest rises and falls as I remind myself that I’m inside the Inn and shouldn’t make a scene. When I notice the smug look on Justin’s face, I lose it.

  Tossing my napkin to my plate, I lean closer to him so I know he won’t miss my words.

  “The only stick up my ass is you and your fake personality, coming back here like you belong. This island is the last place that needs the bigger than life Justin Albott. So excuse me if I don’t roll out the red carpet for you. Whatever you’re here for, I don’t trust you. So let me say this as I will only say it once. Stay the hell out of my way, Justin.” Pushing my chair back, I stand. “Haddie, thanks for dinner, but all of a sudden I’ve lost my appetite,” I say before walking away.

  My face feels flushed, but I’m sure if I took a good look at myself in the mirror I’d be as red as blood. I tried to not make a scene, but I know at the end of it all, I did. I can’t help myself when it comes to Justin. He drives me mad! When I look at him, I want to smack that smug look off his face. Then immediately, I want to take it all back and rewind the years that got away from us. I want to curl up on the porch swing and listen to what’s been going on in his life. If I was to give into that need, I’d be broken in the end once again. Justin is only here for him and whatever he has to get done. He might say that it’s to write, but I don’t trust that, that’s the sole reason. I can’t allow him to mess with my head. There’s no chance of becoming friends with him again. Even as I tell myself this, I don’t believe it.

  Entering the bookstore, I lock up the front and head toward the back stairs that lead to my home. Tossing my cardigan over the chair, I enter my tiny kitchen. The knots that are forming in my neck from the events today will keep me from going right to sleep. Instead of tossing and turning, I decide that I need tea and a book. Filling the kettle with water, I place it on the stove before turning the gas on. While I wait for it to boil, I search through my laundry basket for a pair of pajamas. Tonight, I want a certain pair. I know it’s stupid, but these give me comfort. The soft cotton material of the shirt and capris snug against me as if I was wrapped in a blanket. It’s not cold outside, but there’s a chill in the air. Just enough that by wearing this set I can handle my light throw against my legs when I curl up in the corner with a book and cup of tea.

  Satisfied that I’ve put enough honey in the chamomile tea, I fold my body up in the lounge chair near the upstairs window. This spot is one of my favorite areas to read in. I’ll crack the window to allow the cool breeze to filter in sometimes while I lose myself in the words on the pages in my lap. Tonight, my thoughts drift to another time and place as I sit here. I can’t help but repeat one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quotes as I stare at the wall across from me. “The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” Is this what I’ve allowed my world to become? Am I just a passenger in life, letting it all happen around me as I watch from the sidelines? Twenty-four hours ago, before Justin stepped foot on this island, I thought I was happy. I thought I was living life as I was supposed to.

  Tonight, I can’t help but wonder what life I’m living. I’ve hidden myself up here in my loft like an old lady. Shying away from the world as I don’t want to be hurt again. This isn’t the life that my nan would’ve wanted for me. She’d always wished that I would find a love like her and my grandfather had shared. Someone who knows your secrets, someone who would stand right beside you through it all. The only problem is I’ve not met that person yet. Even though there was a time that I thought Justin was my person, he proved me wrong in the end. Then there was Jack, and if I have to be honest, I used him to forget about Justin. Is there someone on this planet who’s meant for me? Is there a person that my whole heart can belong to? I don’t have that answer, and I don’t think it will ever come to light. Shifting my body, I allow myself to sink down further in the chair as I pull my blanket up to my chin.

  Chapter Six

  Justin

  “Well, that went well, don’t you think?” I ask Haddie as I lean back in my chair and watch Leslie storm out the front door.

  “Justin, why are you here? She doesn’t need you here to mess up her head.”

  “I’m not here to mess with her, I’m only here to write. Once I’m done, I’m going back home,” I answer Haddie, but I can’t help but wonder what she means by messing with Leslie’s head.

  “Don’t think she’s going to get cozy with you. I’d suggest you stay away if you want to return with all body parts intact. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on the kitchen.”

  I nod in Haddie’s direction as she leaves me sitting alone at the table. A part of me is shocked at how Leslie went off. There was a time in our past that she would’ve just sat there and taken in what was happening. Tonight, there was a fire in her eyes, a flame that ignited something in me. I thought about following her and apologizing, but that quickly changed because I knew I’d not be able to resist her lips.

  It’s a little past eight in the evening, and there’s no way I can go to sleep this early. Instead of going up to my room, I figure I could head down to the local bar on at the waterfront for a nightcap. Stepping out, I notice the light on in the upstairs apartment across the street where Leslie lives. I stand here and watch her for a moment. The way her fingers are twirling the loose strands of hair around her face. The way she’s glaring at what I assume is a book in her lap. When her other hand raises the cup to her lips, I let a smile display across my face. She’s still a creature of habit. A cup of tea before bed to wash away the day’s events. I break away, turning to stroll along the sidewalk. Reaching the end of Main Street, I turn left, going down a block until I reach Skipper’s. It’s a local restaurant and bar in one. It’s been here for as long as I can remember. Entering, I’m taken back to a time when things were simple. A time when I wasn’t me and Leslie was still in love with me—instead of wanting to kill me with her bare hands.

  Sitting on the barstool, I wave over the bartender who, from a distance, looks like my old best friend, Elliott.

  “What brings the famous Justin Albott to this neck of the woods?” I stare at the once familiar face, and it’s then that I recognize my old pal Elliott.

  Reaching my hand out, I say, “Elliott, man, it’s good to see you. How ya been?”

  “Good. It’s good to see you too. I thought it was just a rumor that you were in town.”

  “Nope, here I am in the flesh.”

  “Leslie didn’t say you were speaking, so I thought it was just a rumor. What can I get you?”

  “Jack and Coke, and she wouldn’t have because I’m just here to work. No tour this time.”

  “Work huh?”

  “All work this time. So you working here now?”

  “Yeah, you can say that. I bought the place from Skipper and have been running it for almost six years now. Tonight, I’m filling in as my bartender’s sick.”

  “Congrats, seems like everyone is doing well.”

  “Not as well as you, but we manage. Have you seen Lesl
ie yet?”

  “Seen her, exchanged words, and I think I need a bodyguard from her.”

  “Ah, she’s harmless.” Elliott waves me off like I just cracked a joke. The thing he doesn’t know is, this new Leslie seems like she wants to murder me.

  “You say that, but you weren’t at dinner.”

  “She’s a spitfire, that one. Dude, you should’ve been here when she was divorcing Jack. You remember him, don’t you?”

  “What happened between them, do you know?” I ask as this is one of the many things I’ve wondered since hearing about them separating.

  “You know he never knew how to keep it in his pants in high school; we all warned her, but she didn’t listen. Seems the past was always his present. He had, I think, three girlfriends that he would visit when away, while she stayed here taking care of the bookstore and their home. She finally opened her eyes and saw it. That was all it took for her to put her plan into action. But you didn’t hear this from me.”

  “She deserved better than that,” is the only thing I can say as I let his words sink in. Jack was a dumbass for doing that to her. If I was lucky enough to still have Leslie in my life like he did, I’d never have messed things up like that.

  “Yeah, she did. How long you in town for?”

  “A few weeks, I should be gone before the tourists fill the town.”

  “That’s a good call. Once that happens, you’ll never get any work done.” He lets out a laugh, and I know it’s true. Once word gets out that I’m here, this place will be crawling with fans. Just the thought of it has me searching the room for unfamiliar faces. Not one person within these walls is paying attention to me. A relief comes over me as I don’t need that kind of distraction. Taking the last sip from my glass, I toss down some cash on the bar top and stand.

  “Leaving already?”

  “Yeah, but I’ll see you soon.”

  “Sounds good, man.” And with that, Elliott takes off to tend to the other customers. I can’t help but think what my life would be like if I had stayed here and never chased my dream. Would I have become the person I am today? Did moving create me? I shake the thought from my head and leave. Moving to California didn’t create me, I created me. I put me first and fought for what I wanted out of life. I’ve worked my ass off to have the things I have today. The location didn’t have a thing to do with it. However, I couldn’t see myself fighting as hard if I had stayed. I would have just settled on being another local in this town.

  Heading back toward the Inn, I slow my stride as I notice the light is still on upstairs and Leslie is still in the window. At a complete stop, I notice the stairs on the side of the building. My feet betray me, taking me on a tour that I should stop before I even get started. Taking them one at a time until I reach the top deck. My hand has grown its own mind and knocks before I can stop it. When I don’t hear anything, I knock again but this time a little louder. The door flies open. “What?!” she practically screams at me.

  “Can I come in?” is the only thing that I can think of saying.

  “No.”

  “Why not? Just for a minute and I’ll leave.”

  “You have one minute,” Leslie states as she opens the door a little wider to welcome me inside. I can’t help the smirk that washes over my face. I take in the way she’s redone the place. The way she’s made it hers.

  “I like what you’ve done here,” I say as I turn around and face her.

  “Thanks, I guess,” she responds as she moves toward the kitchen. I watch as she grabs a glass from the cabinet, filling it with water. When the glass touches her lips, I can’t help but dart my tongue out to wet mine. Leslie places it down on the counter then looks me square in the face. “Are you thirsty?” She must have noticed, but I don’t care. The truth is I’m thirsty, but not for water. I want to drink her in like I did before. Only I know this can’t happen. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.

  “No, thanks though,” I state as I go to sit on her sofa.

  “One-minute visits do not gain you the right to make yourself comfortable, Justin.”

  “Can you lose the attitude?”

  “No, I like it. And since I don’t like you, that’s what you get.”

  “I’m not the enemy, Leslie. You do know this, right?”

  “Actually, yes, Justin, you are. You’re the last person I want to come back in my life. What was before is never going to happen.”

  “What do you mean? We can’t be friends? I thought that we could… Make peace of things.”

  “Why are you here? I understand you need to work, but I have nothing to do with that. This”—she motions between the two of us—“is not happening. We will not share dinner, we will not share old stories; nothing that used to be us is a thing.”

  “See, I think you’re being stubborn like always. I’m not saying let’s jump in that bed and have sex, Leslie. What I’m trying to do here is be a friend, an old high school buddy who’s come to visit.”

  “Justin, you need to leave.”

  “Not until you agree to be friendly,” I say as I rest my left leg up on the other. I shift my body in the cushions of her sofa, making myself as comfortable as I possibly can. I know I’m crossing a line here that I swore I wouldn’t. Hell, I just lied by saying that I don’t want to jump into her bed and devour her. If I was being honest, I’d tell her exactly what I want to do to her. The way her sassy demeanor is a complete turn on. Leslie thinks acting this way will push me away, but this is the third time today that I’ve wanted to shut her up with my lips on hers. It’s when I glance over to her bookshelf that I notice it. She still has the picture of her, Nan, and me before I left for school. She must realize that I’ve noticed it. Her eyes filter toward the same spot that I’m focused on before she glances back over at me.

  “Justin, I’m tired and think it’s time for you to leave,” she says, but this time her voice is flat, no emotion or sass laced in her words. It’s as if she pleading for me to agree with her. I take a few seconds to let it sink in, for reality to set in before I stand. Stepping in front of her, I lift my hand, pushing the hair out from her face before I respond, “I’ll leave, but just know this, Leslie, we will be friends again before I leave.”

  “Justin, we can’t. That was a long time ago. What we are now… is… What we are… Is acquaintances. You and I are two very different people now.”

  “Maybe, but I know you feel it just like I do. I felt it as soon as I walked through your door today. Our connection, it’s still there.”

  “What you felt was a dream, or maybe it was just emotions from being back in your hometown. We’re different, you’re different.”

  “I might be, but I’m still me and still believe in the same things that I once did.”

  “Good night, Justin,” she says as I step away.

  Before walking out, I turn back toward her and say, “Good Night Leslie, get some rest.”

  I make my way back to the Inn, where Haddie is waiting for me.

  “You know you shouldn’t push her.”

  “Push who?” I shoot back, pretending that I don’t know what she’s talking about.

  “You know who, and don’t play with me, Justin. I can reserve you a room off this island just as fast as I reserved your room here.”

  “Calm down, Haddie. It’s fine. I just want to know how she’s been doing; you know, catch up.”

  “Sure looked like it from where I was sitting.”

  I don’t respond to her. Instead, I turn and head upstairs to my room where I need to get my shit together. I don’t know what’s come over me. I don’t normally do this cat and mouse game that Leslie and I are playing. I didn’t lie to her this evening when I said I wanted to be friends. The only thing that I did lie about was taking her to bed. But you can’t blame me for that. She’s beautiful. Always has been, and that’s one thing that’s not changed over the years. I’ll need to tone it down as I remember that she’s not like the women I’m accustomed to.

&nb
sp; Chapter Seven

  Leslie

  Who knew that I could lock myself in the store for two days… I sure the heck didn’t, but I found a way to make this happen. I’ve avoided the outside world, only focusing on customers who come and go. I’ve also changed my reading spot. No longer am I sitting in the upstairs window before bed. No need for Justin to think this is an open invitation for another visit. The further I keep him away from me, the better I am. However, I need food. Like real food to eat. Flipping over the Be Back Soon sign in the window, I grab my keys and lock up behind me. I pause for a moment as I decide if I’m going across the street for lunch or down to Skipper’s. Choosing to ignore Haddie, my traitor friend, I head down the sidewalk.

  I’ve not seen Justin since he barged into my place the other night. It could be that he either got the hint or for the fact that I’ve not seen the outside world. Either way, I’m braving it today. Walking through the door, I spot him immediately off to the corner of the room. His table is covered with papers, mugs, a tall glass of water and his laptop. Ignoring him, I slid up on the stool at the bar where Elliott, the owner and friend, is stocking the shelves.

  “Hey,” I say, alerting him that I’m here.

  “Hey, what brings you down today?”

  “Food, I’m starving.”

  “Usual?” he asks, and I shake my head in response. Elliott knows that I’m in love with his French Dip sandwich and home fries.

  “Coming right up,” Elliott responds and heads over to the computer to place my order. Before I can ask, a can of Cherry Dr. Pepper is placed in front of me.

  “You always know what I want,” I say as I pop the top and take a swig. It’s heaven to my lips and one of my addictions. I love the sweet, carbonated flavor it provides me. In the past, I’ve been known to drink around six of them a day. Now, I limit myself to two. All the caffeine was making me jittery and, not to mention, a little clumsier than I ever was.