Page 18 of Summer Escape
We'd spend the summer carefully dancing around each other.
"What are your plans for the summer?" Blaire asked me.
I cleared my throat. "I want to spend time with my family."
Blaire glanced at Saylor. "Oh, how nice. Surely, Saylor can tag along to those get-togethers."
"Why would I want to do that?" Saylor asked her grandmother.
Blaire patted her hand. "You need to get out more. That ex-boyfriend did a number on you, but you're not dead yet. You have a lot of life left to live."
Saylor rolled her eyes. "I'm living my life."
"Not really," Blaire said simply.
Saylor shook her head. "Don't listen to her. I'm happy."
Saylor had seemed fine the last day or two. I hadn't noticed that she was down about her ex. But I wondered what he'd done to make her grandmother mention him.
"The island is magical. It's healing, just the remedy you need for what ails you."
"That's what I'm counting on." I wanted to connect with Hayden again, and I hoped the salt air would be able to close that gap.
"I hope you can fix things with your family. The Kingstons are a big name around here. The only contractors on the island."
"It's a big responsibility," I said.
Blaire's expression turned serious. "You know the Kingston brothers were named the most eligible bachelors on the island not too long ago, and now a few of them are in serious relationships."
I laughed uncomfortably. "You're not saying that will happen to me?—"
She inclined her head. "You're making a lot of changes in your life, and you came home for a reason."
"Grandma, he came home to be with his family, not to settle down and get married."
I hadn't thought much about a relationship. My focus had been my military career and Hayden. But now that I'd seen more of my brothers settle down, I was starting to think about what it would be like for me. I'd always have someone to come home to.
Some time had passed since the summer Saylor and I were eighteen. We'd both been through a lot. Seeing each other again didn't mean we were destined for anything. "I'm planning to stay on the island, and Saylor is going home."
"I believe the magic of the island will work on all of you," Blaire said cryptically, and Hayden exchanged a confused look with me.
I shrugged, pleased that we were connecting on anything.
Chapter Six
Saylor
Grandma kept up a steady stream of conversation about the best restaurants on the island, then delved into who owned which business and everything she knew about each one of them. She was friendly with everyone and prided herself on knowing what was going on around the island.
I had a feeling Hayden and Marshall had tuned her out. I was just happy she'd dropped the subject of us being roommates.
When our meals were cleared, Marshall handed the waitress a credit card for the meal.
"I like a gentleman," Grandma said when the waitress walked away with his card.
"I pay when I'm out," Marshall said simply.
"I can treat next time," I offered.
