When our eyes meet and I realize I’ve been shouting nonsense for the past several minutes, I instantly feel my cheeks blaze with heat.
God, I’m a dork.
Chase doesn’t look like he minds, though. In fact, he’s grinning wider than I’ve ever seen.
“Your mom was right.”
“Huh?” I ask, brilliant as ever.
“You really do hate surprises.”
He’s not at all apologetic, when he says this. In fact, he sounds downright pleased with himself as he closes the distance between us, so he’s fully invading my space, his front plastered against mine.
“Because they never end well,” I whisper, craning my neck to keep eye contact and trying not to melt at his proximity.
His eyes flicker down to my lips. “This one could.”
Danger!
I force myself to step away and keep walking down the beach in resolute silence, determined to hold out until I’ve gotten some answers from him. Specifically about the smoking hot blonde who may or may not be his fiancée.
And this time, I’m absolutelynotgoing to be the one who caves first.
(Seriously, this time.)
We walk for a few more minutes, long enough for my blood to cool and my embarrassment to fade away. We’re nearly at the end of the beach, when he finally speaks.
“It’s beautiful, here.”
Chase stops, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jacket, and looks out over the inlet.
“Yeah,” I agree, bending to pick up a small, flat stone. I test its weight in my hand before flinging it toward the water, and watch with satisfaction as it skips across the surface,one-two-three-four-five-six, before plunking through the waves and plunging to the bottom of the harbor.
“You look like you’ve done that before.”
“More times than I can count.” I shrug. “There’s not a heck of a lot to do in Rocky Neck, especially for a kid.”
“Did you like growing up, here?”
I don’t look at him when I answer. “It was quiet. Beautiful. The kind of place where no one ever reallyleaves. Kids grow up, get married, buy a house down the street from the one they grew up in, and the cycle restarts.”
“You left.”
I nod. “That life… it wasn’t for me. I knew that before I was old enough to put it into words.”
“None of the boys in town caught your eye?” he asks, his tone playful. “No high school sweethearts tempted you to stay?”
I know he’s trying to keep things light, but I can’t. Looking at him just reminds me of the fact that no one’severtemped me… not like he has, at least.
“No,” I whisper to the waves. “I’ve never been in love.”
He’s silent, absorbing my heavy words like the sea did my stone, and I continue before he can speak.
“I mean, sure, I’ve known love. I’veloved— my mom, my friends, my work. And they’ve loved me in return. But I’ve never beeninlove.” My voice drops so low, I doubt he can hear my next words. “I’m not even sure I believe in it.”
Chase is silent for so long, I don’t think he’s going to speak at all. When he finally responds, he says something I’m not expecting.
“I have.” He clears his throat. “Been in love, that is.”