Page 13 of Searching for Sunshine

Stella: Okay, I’ve gotta get started on packing but I’ll see you Wednesday evening before the wedding.

Wyatt: That sounds good. I'll see you then, Stella.

“Oh my god, Wyatt, are you seriously smiling at your phone screen right now?” Trent asks, staring at me from across the table.

“He definitely doesn’t look that happy when he’s texting us,” Bennett jokes.

“Fuck off,” I mutter, flipping them off as I tuck my phone in my pocket.

“Yeah, I feel like this summer just got a whole hell of a lot more interesting,” Trent says, and I try to ignore the feeling that he might be right.

CHAPTER 8

STELLA

“All right, I think that’s everything,” I say, looking around the apartment Avery and I have shared for the last three years.

“I think so too. Thank god this place came partially furnished or we never would have managed to get all of our shit in our cars.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that,” I agree before looking down where Duke is lying at my feet. “You ready for a new adventure, buddy? You’re gonna be the cutest little beach pup Crestbrook’s ever seen, aren’t ya?”

His tail thumps against the floor as he rolls over for me to lean down and pat his stomach. “I know, it’s gonna be so good, sweet Duke.”

He licks my hand in agreement, and I stand, turning back to Avery. “I guess we’re really doing this, huh?”

“Hell yeah, we are,” Avery says, reaching over to grab Duke’s leash from the counter and handing it out to me. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah, I guess it’s time. God, this is getting so real. I feel like I’m going to throw up,” I mutter, taking a deep breath.

“Hey, hey, hey, Stels. Calm down,” Avery says, reaching out to give me a hug. “It’s all gonna be great. We’re going to get in the car and we’re going to start this new life in Crestbrook.”

“I know, you’re right. I just cannot believe I’m getting married tomorrow, Aves. I mean I know people get married all the time, but I always imagined my wedding day would be something special—not something thrown together in less than a week. And certainly not to someone who remembers all of my awkward phases or who I haven’t seen since we were teenagers. Don’t get me wrong, I know none of this is real, but it just feels like so much to take in.”

“I think that’s completely valid, babes. But just remember, you’re doing what you have to in order to keep the hotel. And you’re getting married to someone who you apparently used to be great friends with. Which, by the way, if you weren’t already dealing with a lot of shit this week, I’d be totally pissed that you never told me you had some hot beach bestie growing up.”

I roll my eyes at her and laugh, momentarily distracted from my anxiety over the move. “Aves, you’re being ridiculous. Are you forgetting the part where I haven’t seen him in literally forever?”

“Fine, fine. I’ll give you a pass this time, but if I find out there are any other sexy singles in your past you haven’t told me about, I’m never going to let you hear the end of it.”

“Avery, you haven’t even seen him yet. How do you know he’s hot?” I tease, clipping Duke’s leash onto his collar.

“Babes, let’s be real. You thought I was going to let you marry someone I haven’t fully vetted? I spent at least four hours this week looking through his grandmother’s second cousin’s best friend’s social media. And I can attest to the fact that your future hubby is a complete hottie.”

“Okay, great. You caught me. He’s definitely attractive, but it doesn’t matter. We’re just friends, and this wedding isn’t evenreal. It’s just a year of our lives and then we part ways on good terms,” I remind her, leading Duke toward the door and waiting for Avery to follow me out.

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly how it’s gonna go,” Avery mutters skeptically, pulling the door to our apartment closed behind her. “But with that, we’re officially out of here.”

“I guess so. I know this isn’t what we planned, but I’m kinda excited to spend the summer at the beach again,” I admit as we make our way to the parking lot.

“Same. I mean we may be broke bitches for the foreseeable future, but as sad as we are about losing our teaching jobs, I’m already less stressed knowing I don’t have to step back into a classroom for at least a year.”

I nod in agreement, knowing exactly what she means. “Yeah, here’s to trading grading papers for helping hotel guests,” I say as we make it to our cars. After opening the door and letting Duke into his spot in the back seat, I turn back to my best friend.

“Let’s do this.”

“All right,Duke, we’ve made it to our new home,” I tell him, pulling into the parking lot of the High Tide Hideaway. I’m embarrassed by how long it’s been since I was here. As I got older and busier with school, Memaw insisted on coming to Smith’s Valley to visit, and when her health started to decline four months ago, I moved her to the local assisted living facility so I could check in on her. Within a month she was gone, and she’d demanded that we cremate her and save the “fuss” of a funeral. I never intended to spend this many years away from aplace that was so special to me, but as I look at the Hideaway, I realize I might have more work cut out for me than I originally thought. The once vibrant pink siding is patchy and spots are almost white thanks to sun damage, and the bushes and plants out front are overgrown and wilting.

Reaching over to pull out my phone, I send a quick text to Wyatt.

---