Page 34 of Chasing Sunsets

I nod because he’s right.

He studies me for a moment before clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Well, have fun. And, uh … don’t do anything stupid.”

I huff a laugh, shaking my head as I climb into the truck. “No promises.”

As I pull out of the driveway, I check the time.

Tabby will be waiting.

And for some reason, the thought of spending the whole day on the water with her makes my pulse race.

Just a friend, my ass.

Tabby

“Where are we going?” I call over the humming of the boat’s engine.

He picked me up at noon and drove us to the public boat ramp at the wharf, where I helped him offload the navy-and-white Sea Hunt Ultra.

“The old Sandcastle Cove Lighthouse. It’s one of the island’s treasures. I thought you might like to paint it,” he says.

A thrill shoots through me. The lighthouse was on my list of places to visit, but it’s on the other side of the island and not easy to reach by bike or skates. Last night, he told me to bring what I needed, so I packed a bag with my painting supplies and grabbed a fresh canvas.

The salt air whips through my hair as he steers the boat toward the eastern tip of Sandcastle Cove, the old lighthouse rising in the distance like a ghost from another time. The late afternoon sun glows golden over the water, turning the ripples to liquid light. I breathe it all in—the ocean, the sky, the endless horizon stretching beyond us. It’s perfect.

“You’re awfully quiet over there, Trouble.” Anson leans against the console, giving me a crooked grin that makes my stomach flip. “Regretting letting me kidnap you for the day?”

I smirk, adjusting the strap of the tank that covers my bikini top as the wind tugs at it. “Well, you did promise adventure. If this turns into some kind of horror-movie scenario where we get stranded, just know that I will not hesitate to throw you to the killer seagulls first.”

He clutches his chest dramatically. “Wow. Not even there yet, and you’re already planning my demise. You wound me, Tabitha.”

“Call me that again, and I actually might throw you overboard.”

My parents and Quenton are the only people who ever call me by my full name.

Anson laughs, the sound ringing through the air as he cuts the engine. The lighthouse stands just ahead, perched on a rocky outcrop at the northern edge of the island, its white stone tower streaked by time and weather. The place looks like it’s been forgotten by the world, but there’s something almost magical about it, like it belongs to the sea more than the land.

He jumps onto the dock first, tying the boat off with a practiced ease, then turns to me, offering his hand.

I toss my bag over my shoulder and grab the canvas before letting him help me down. The warmth of his palm against mine sends an unexpected thrill through me. He steadies me as I step onto the dock, but he doesn’t let go right away. For a second, we just stand there, hands clasped, the sea breeze tangling in our hair. Then, he clears his throat and tugs me forward.

“Come on,” he says. “Let’s go explore before the sun sets and we have to fight off ghost pirates or whatever lurks in abandoned lighthouses.”

I follow him up the weathered wooden steps, my sandals clacking against the boards. The lighthouse is even taller up close, the white bricks rough beneath my fingertips as I trail my hand along the outer wall. The old iron door is slightly ajar, its rusted hinges groaning as Anson pushes it open.

Inside, the air is cool and smells like aged wood and salt. A winding staircase spirals up toward the top, disappearing into the shadows. I shrug off my bag and set it and the canvas aside.

“You ready?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows. “Hope you didn’t skip leg day.”

I laugh. “I don’t even have a leg day, but I’ll race you to the top anyway.”

His grin widens. “You’re on, Trouble.”

I take off first, bolting up the narrow stairs two at a time. The iron railing is cold beneath my fingers, and the sound of our footsteps echoes through the tower. Anson is right behind me, and I can hear him laughing as he tries to catch up.

“Don’t trip!” he calls.

“Don’t distract me!” I counter breathlessly.

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