Page 14 of Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
I pour my coffee, then add a healthy dose of flavored creamer, for once not caring about the added calories. Oakley Island doesn’t feel like the kind of place where anyone needs to worry about calories.
My phone vibrates from the counter, and I scoop it up, coffee in my other hand, and head to the front porch. I wasn’t outside enough when I lived in New York. Other than running or getting to and from work.
That’s at least one thing I can appreciate about Oakley Island. Maybe not the running on the beach part, but the fresh air and the lack of car horns and sirens and people elbowing you out of the way on a crowded sidewalk.
Is it weird that I sort of miss the smell of exhaust and hot pretzels?
A cool ocean breeze brushes across my face, as if in response.Okay.Point taken. Trading city smells for this isn’tallbad.
I sink down on the steps and answer Sadie’s video call just in time.
“Hey-ay,” she sing-songs. “How are things—oh my gosh, Mer. What happened to you? You look like the squirrel I ran over yesterday.”
I frown. “What? I do not. Also, ew.”
“You do,” Sadie says, pointing her finger at the camera. “The circles under your eyes look like literal vortexes into purgatory.”
I pull my phone a little closer, switching my view so my face fills the screen, reducing Sadie to a tiny thumbnail in the corner.Oh dang.The low light in the bathroom this morning was a lot more forgiving than this natural sunlight. A roadkill squirrel from purgatory is just about right.
“Are you hungover?” Sadie asks, with a little too much glee. “Did you learn nothing from your youngest sister’s mistake?”
“What mistake?”Change the subject. Good plan.
“The one where she got tipsy on two glasses of wine—sucha lightweight—and lawyer Jake had to carry her home from the bar?”
IknewI was right about my sister and Jake! “Pretty sure that mistake set them on the path to falling in love.” I pause. “Or on the path to heartbreak? Know anything about that?”
Sadie scoffs. “Lo has told me very little. But I can tell she likes him. Alot. It’s like she’s got googly eyes, but in her voice. Googly voice—it’s gross.”
“You’re too jaded to have a fair opinion,” I say, glancing toward Jake’s front door. I slept late enough that he’s probably at work, but I definitely don’t want him to overhear our conversation.
It’s weird to be right here, living next to the man my baby sister might or might not be dating and not have ANY of the important details. I’m slightly hurt that Sadie knows more than me. Then again, she’s always been the one who pushes her nose into everyone’s business, while I … well. If I’m going to examine all my poor life choices this morning, I can admit I’m better at pushing people away. My sisters have been no exception.
They’re more the rule, actually.
Maybe I should make more of an effort to keep up with my sisters.
I’ll make that priority number one. Or two—right after avoiding Hunter.
“Not all of us can be like you, Mer. All happy and content. How’s the long distance working?”
Maybe I’ll make keeping up with my sisters priority numberthree. Or five. Or twenty-seven. Because the last thing I want to talk about with either sister is the overly dramatic end to my most recent relationship.
“I’m not done talking about our sister,” I say, deflecting like the pro that I am. “Did Lo tell you anything about a breakup?” I lower my voice. “She was cagey when I drove her to the airport, but she didn’t say anything specific.”
“A breakup? No. We’ve texted about her program and how much she loves it. Though, maybe that should have given me a clue—no mention of Jake. I’ll find out. Hashesaid anything?”
“Nothing. But he seems extra broody? I don’t know him well enough to tell, but I swear the man runs a thousand miles a day. Maybe he’s running out his angst?”
“Sounds like someone else I know. Let me see what I can needle out of Lo.”
Perfect. Sadie will absolutely get info out of Eloise. And it will give her something to focus on other than me. Mission accomplished.
The sound of a saw cuts through the air, and I look toward Gran’s house, wondering if it’s Hunter. If he’s around somewhere … sawing things. With his new, man-sized body I couldn’t help but notice when he was carrying me over his shoulder like a Costco-sized bag of flour.
“How areyouholding up? How’s taking over all the reno stuff?” Sadie asks.
“Today is the first day the contractor”—I’m very careful not to mention Hunter’s name—“is working. So, we’ll see. I’ve already identified some changes I can make to keep us more on budget and on a faster timeline.”
