Page 12 of Always a Roommate
“Sure.”
I took a cue from him and sat directly on the brick. “I’m sorry about the stuff I said.”
One of his shoulders lifted toward his ear. “I should have told you about Drew, but really, it wouldn’t have helped. I knew him twenty years ago, and not even very well since he’s younger than me.”
“I know.” My entire body sagged as I sighed. “This entire thing, working on such an important wedding with so little time, really has me on edge. I’m nervous I’m going to mess it up.” I hadn’t admitted that to anyone and didn’t know why I did now.
His lips curved up, and it was so rare I couldn’t take my eyes from the smile. “You won’t mess it up.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’ve known you for too long to think anything else.”
I should have taken comfort in that, but instead, I cringed. He had known me for entirely too long, that was for sure. He still saw me as the kid trailing along after him, the teenager who wasn’t able to hide her crush on the older boy.
After a few beats of silence, Shane sat up. “Rae, we need to talk.”
“Sounds like you’re breaking up with me.”
He smiled weakly at that, and I knew without a doubt that, in a way, he was. “This isn’t working.”
“No.” I rubbed the back of my neck, just needing something to do with my hands. “It’s not.”
“Was my mom wrong that you needed someone to take Finley’s lease?”
“Not then, but now, with this big account, I can afford this place.” I just hated the thought of living alone. I always had.
He nodded. “Then, it’s settled. I’ll look for an apartment in town.” He held out his hand like this was the end of a business arrangement. “Okay?”
I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand in mine. It was surprisingly soft, but I don’t know what I’d been expecting. He was a teacher, it wasn’t like he worked with his hands.
When he let go, I missed his touch immediately. But I had to tamp down on that feeling, I had to forget it.
He was not a man I could ever have.
I’d been wrong all those years ago when I was a young, naïve girl.
Shane Kelly was not my happy ending.
“He better find a new place.” Finley pulled herself onto the checkout counter at the Surf Hut. “He’s not staying with me and Knox.”
I suppressed a laugh. The Kelly siblings loved each other, but they also knew themselves well. Shane and Finley would kill each other if they had to share a house.
Tanner rounded a rack of wetsuits and stopped when he saw his sister. “Do I come into your place of work and climb on the counters?”
“Well, I work in an office with lots of other people, so that would be kind of weird.”
He grabbed a snorkel and swatted her with it. “Get off before a customer sees.”
“What customer?” I couldn’t help scanning the store.
“It’s the slow season.” Tanner’s tone was defensive, but I knew it was true. Once summer ended, there was a lull in tourism until the snowbirds arrived. It was also called hurricane season. No one wanted to be here for that, not even us.
We’d had a series of storms the last few months, but no direct hits in Gulf City. In only another week or two, hurricane season would be officially over.
Finley hopped off the counter and walked toward the ice cream case. Tanner cut her off. “No, you don’t. If you want ice cream, work for it.” He pointed toward where boxes of merchandise were stacked along a far wall, waiting to be unpacked.
Finley grumbled under her breath as she walked to the back. “How many boxes per scoop?” she called back.
