Page 76 of Shades of You

“You better!” someone hollered from the back. It sounded like Stella and sparked a round of cheers and laughter. As excitement rippled through us, Evan’s arm found its way around my shoulders, pulling me close in a brotherly embrace. I leaned into him, the weight of years lifting with each shared breath.

“Feels like we’re finally getting things right, huh?” I asked quietly.

Evan nodded, his grip tightening for a moment. “Yeah, we are.”

It was a moment I had never truly allowed myself toimagine—Evan’s arm around my shoulders, a connection deeper than happiness coursing between us. As he held me close, a sense of belonging enveloped me, forgiveness that transcended mere words. And looking around at our family gathered around us, tears in their eyes, I realized this celebration was not complete yet.

One person was missing.

If Evan and I could finally be fully reconciled, brothers again, then the Markhams and the Coleridges could bury the hatchet too. I’d do whatever Brenna needed me to. I’d loved her since I was in high school, and my own demons had nearly drowned us both. All she’d asked for was patience, but I’d been too locked in my head to give it to her. Too damn scared to admit to her that she was the great love of my life. It was time to step up to the plate one last time, and I couldn’t wait. My heart filled with determination as I turned to the bleachers.

Brenna was gone.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Brenna

I forcedmyself to walk away from the stands, and my heart squeezed tight as the cheers for the Stingrays’ victory faded behind me. The sun kissed the horizon, casting long shadows across the baseball diamond where Hunter and his brother shared a moment that might have healed years of damage.

After the thrilling game ended, I’d watched them embrace from the stands as I sat next to April. I felt like an intruder. Theirs was a private celebration, one that made my chest ache. Because even though Hunter and Evan appeared to have completely reconciled, the Markhams and Coleridges were still estranged.

And that was my fault.

Hunter had done everything possible to make up with Evan, and mended bridges in a way that brought tears to my eyes. And yet here I stood, too scared to even start that journey between him and my own family.

So when April went to join them, I left too. As I slippedinto my car, I couldn’t shake the image of Hunter’s face. The vulnerability in his eyes when he looked at Evan had made me long to comfort him, to tell him how incredibly proud I was.

But what about us?

How did he feel about me?

Even though I loved him, I’d never said the words out loud. And neither had he. My mind turned once again to his lost love. The one he never wanted to talk about. Was she part of why he had such a hard time moving out of the past? My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white as uncertainty filled me. Maybe he still mourned her. Maybe I was just a stand-in for what he once had.

Sighing, I rolled down the window to clear my head. The sea breeze whipping through was bracing as I drove away from Big Pine Key. And I knew where I had to go.

I headed west on Main Street, which led directly to Siesta Sunset.

When I got there, Harper was ready to close up shop. The two of us headed toward the beach and Tidal Hops. The comforting hum of lively conversation and the soft clinking of glasses greeted me as I nudged open the door. The brewpub’s beachy charm, a blend of laid-back comfort and pale turquoise walls, somewhat soothed my restless spirit. A smattering of tables spilled out from the indoor space to an inviting canopy-covered outdoor area with the sand as a floor. My brother Braden’s great passion was a casual, welcoming place. Harper and I sat outside, enjoying the warm air now that the sunset was just a faint line on the horizon.

“Well?” She laid both hands on the wooden tabletop,pressing them into the surface. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Who won the championship?”

I forced a cheerfulness I didn’t quite feel. “The Stingrays. Yay!”

“Good for them!” Harper’s eyes lit up as she leaned forward. “How did Hunter play?”

“Good. Well, more than good. He hit the game-winning home run.”

Harper cocked her head, her forehead growing lined. “So why are you here instead of celebrating with him? Haven’t the two of you made up? You went to the game, after all.”

But before I could elaborate, Braden appeared at our table, wiping his hands with a cloth. Two years younger, my brother was the epitome of beachy charm, with tousled Coleridge-colored light hair that caught the overhead light like spun gold. His casual attire accentuated a toned physique earned from years of rolling kegs and tending bar. But it wasn’t just his good looks that drew people in. His infectious energy and genuine warmth made everyone feel at ease in his presence. “Hey there, ladies. What can I get you tonight?”

“How about shrimp baskets and some beer?” I asked.

He nodded. “You got it. Is this private girl talk, or can I join you?”

Harper remained quiet, so I smiled at my brother. “Nothing private at all. Please do.” Since I was here to talk about mending feuds, I needed him here. After placing our order, he returned to the table with three frosted pint glasses and a pitcher of his signature IPA.

Harper gave him a quick rundown of the Stingrays game. “And she was just about to inform me why she’s here instead of celebrating with the victors. So spill, sis.”

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