Page 117 of The Beach Shack Summer
Tyler looked between them—his daughter who’d chosen him, his best friend who’d chosen his sister. His family, expanding and shifting and becoming something new.
“I need everyone to stop changing things for like, five minutes,” he said finally.
“No can do.” Stella stole his toast. “Oh, by the way, I’m thinking about getting my nose pierced.”
“WHAT?”
“Kidding! God, you’re easy today.” She grinned. “But I am going to add some Australian menu items to the Beach Shack board. Fairy bread. Lamingtons. Real coffee.”
“Our coffee is real!”
“Sure, Tyler.” She patted his shoulder condescendingly. “Luke, congrats on finally using your words. Only took two decades.”
“Thanks, I think.”
She wandered out, typing rapidly.
Tyler and Luke stood in the morning quiet, the crisis—such as it was—deflated.
“You really okay with this?” Luke asked after a moment.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Always.”
Tyler thought about it. Really thought about it. Luke had been there through everything—Sam leaving, Stella arriving, every Walsh family drama in between. He’d waited twenty years without pushing, without demanding, just... being there.
“You love her,” Tyler said. It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah.”
“And she loves you.”
“Apparently.” Luke’s smile was pure wonder. “Still getting used to that part.”
“Just... don’t hurt each other, okay?”
“We won’t.”
“Because if you do, I’ll have to pick sides, and that’ll be weird, and?—“
“Tyler.” Luke gripped his shoulder. “We’re good. All of us. It’s all good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Though I probably should move my truck before Bernie starts taking photos for evidence.”
“Bernie doesn’t know about... you and Meg. The history.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Bernie knows everything. He’s probably already adjusting his betting pools.”
As Luke headed for the door, Tyler called after him. “Hey, Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m happy for you. Both of you. Just... processing.”
“I know.” Luke’s grin was vintage Luke—steady, sure, amused by Tyler’s dramatics. “Thanks for the coffee. And the mini-crisis. Felt like old times.”
