The Coast is Clear (Breakaway Shores #1)

Zander

Baby in the Corner

“Okay, what about the girl in the corner?” Luke asked, pointing to a woman with long blonde hair and a tight black shirt. She sat alone at the bar, nursing a drink with her head on a swivel. She was here for an obvious reason.

I shook my head. “Not interested.”

Luke rolled his eyes, “You’ve gotta get back out there. Natalie’s moved on, like four times over now.”

“Gross,” I scoffed, even though it was true. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now. I’m moving.”

“Do you have any of that figured out yet?” Luke asked, taking a sip of his diet soda. He didn’t drink. We talked about it once. He had an addictive personality, and alcohol was his addiction. He’d been sober for five years. I admired him for it.

“Not at all. I’m glad your sister was willing to wait to move until the end of summer, though.” And my cheeks burned because the feeling of her pressed into me echoed through my body. Our conversation on my back deck made me want to know more about her, which was exactly what I needed not to do.

Luke tore a part of his napkin off. “She is the best. She’s been through so freaking much, and I just don’t know how she does it.”

“Kids are good motivators.”

“Oh, look at this group. They’re tourists for sure.” Luke gestured to the door, where six women walked in, fiddling with their scarves and coats. They all looked slightly different, but you could tell they were trying to emulate the same style.

“Just your type.”

Luke downed the rest of his drink and stood, slapping his hand down on my shoulder. “I’ll be back.” But I knew he wouldn’t be. I watched Luke approach the group, and they all exchanged glances before smiles filled their faces.

I had to give it to him. He was dedicated to the lifestyle. He did not want to be tied down. I pulled out my phone and clicked on Dee’s name. It rang, buzzing against my face, and she answered quickly. Too quick for a freshman in college.

“Hey, Pops!”

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to be casual .

There was chatter in the background. “I’m out getting some dinner with friends. How are you?”

“I’m good. You go, I don’t want to bug you.” Even though I did. It was strange not to have Dee home anymore. She was off to college and beginning her own life. I was so proud of her and knew her dad would be too. But it didn’t mean I didn’t want to check up on her now and again.

“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow!” Dee said loudly through the phone before ending the call. I flipped my phone around in my hand and met Luke’s gaze. He smiled and gave me a quick wave.

But nothing was appealing about going over and conversing with a group of random women. Not when my head replayed how it felt to be so close to Izzy. The fresh citrus smell of her hair and the softness of her curves. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I gave Luke a quick shake of my head and weaved around the tables, reaching the exit.

I can still remember the conversation that led us to move to the Oregon coast. It had really been all Dee. She’d been doing school remotely and had been killing it. She wanted to get out of LA, which I totally understood. I had too. And Dee had read a book set in Oregon, so we’d visited and felt right at home in this tiny little town.

Luke had been my first friend and biggest encourager of returning to the dating scene. I had been on a few dates, maybe six or seven. But nothing had fit quite right. No one had made me as excited or interested as Izzy.

And I wasn’t sure what to do with that.