Page 82 of Chasing Sunsets

I rub the back of my neck. “And … after that, we had dinner at the campground with Pete and Freda. Hung out at the bonfire. And then I stayed over.”

Sebastian lifts a brow. “Not exactly breaking news, man.”

I clench my jaw, then sigh. “Yeah, well … after we … you know … I told her I loved her.”

Silence.

The kind that stretches just long enough to make me regret saying anything at all.

“Holy shit,” Parker cries, shaking his head like he can’t believe it. “You actually said it?”

I nod.

“Was it in the heat of the moment?” he asks.

“After. Once we settled in to go to sleep.”

He whistles. “That’s different. She’s going to think you meant that.”

I shrug. “I did mean it.”

Sebastian stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “You? Told a woman you loved her? And meant it?”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to act so damn shocked.”

“No, no, we do,” Parker says, grinning. “This is a shocking moment if there ever was one.”

Sebastian folds his arms, expression shifting into something more thoughtful. “But also … not that shocking.”

I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smirks. “It means we’ve seen it coming.”

Parker nods. “Dude, you’ve been different with her since day one. And don’t try to deny it.”

I don’t. Because they’re not wrong.

Tabby is different. She always has been. The minute she walked through the doors of my mother’s shop, all desperate but proud, I was a goner. Everything changed that day. I changed—at least when I’m with her.

Sebastian shakes his head, smiling now. “Man, I gotta admit … I didn’t think we’d see the day.”

Parker claps a hand on my shoulder. “Proud of you, buddy. Our little Anson’s all grown up.”

I groan, shoving his hand off. “All right, enough. Just … don’t make a big deal out of it, okay? And don’t tell your women. You know how they get.”

Sebastian snorts. “Them? Make a big deal out of romance? Never.”

Parker grins. “Your secret’s safe with us.”

For about two seconds.

Then, Sebastian pulls his phone out, holds it up, and grins wide.

“Too late,” he says. “I already texted Avie.”

My stomach drops. “You what?”

He laughs. “Dude, this is the biggest news to hit Sandcastle Cove in forever. I couldn’t hold it in.”

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