Page 82 of Love At The Shore
A glimmer of pride shone in those hazel eyes she knew so well. “I kinda learned a lot this summer.”
“Yeah. Like what?” Jenna settled herself onto the arm of an easy chair, and Nick did the same opposite her.
“Like chocolate doesn’t go with everything,” he said with a grin.
“Very true.” She nodded and tried her best not to think about Lucas choking down his arugula-chocolate chip salad like a trooper. His enthusiasm had been downright heroic.
“Bunk beds are super uncomfortable,” Nick added. Lesson learned.
Jenna laughed. “I totally agree.”
“And…” Nick’s voice drifted off as his attention snagged on something he saw out the window.
Jenna followed his gaze and spotted Lucas in the gravel driveway, loading boxes into the back of a large black SUV. She blinked hard and looked away. “And?”
“And…” Nick turned to face her again, and his smile seemed lit from within. “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you never take.”
His words made Jenna feel numb all over. It sounded like something Maureen might have said all those times she’d tried to convince her to take a chance on dating.
On Lucas.
Onlife.
Instinct told her to change the subject and stick to something less painful, something safe. But how long was she going to keep trying to guard her heart? Even when she kept herself tucked safely behind walls, shestillmanaged to get her heart broken.
She’d been doing her level best to get through the remaining few hours until Lucas was gone and she could leave this summer behind for good. She knew she should tell him goodbye—she owed him that much—but she couldn’t seem to do it. And deep, deep down, she knew it wasn’t what she wanted. Not now, and maybe not ever.
So maybe playing it safe really wasn’t the answer. Maybe living her life meant joining the game instead of watching from the sidelines, hoping not to get caught up in the fray.
Maybe rather than protecting herself and her kids, all this time she’d simply been too afraid to take the shot.
“Who told you that?” she said softly.
Nick’s eyes danced. “Lucas.”
Of course it had been him. He’d done his best to be a friend to Nick. A role model. He’d also tried to give her the same exact advice, and she’d thrown the precious act of kindness back in his face.
I’ve been so wrong.
But perhaps it wasn’t too late to make things right.
“See?” Her chest felt light all of a sudden, flush with hope. “This was averygrown-up conversation.”
She smiled and nodded toward the bedroom he shared with Ally and the two loathsome bunk beds. “Now go finish packing.”
He hopped off the chair as Jenna stood to sneak a glance at Lucas out on the driveway, still loading things into the car. The sight of him filled her like warm sunshine.
“Nick?” she said.
He walked back toward her carrying a Mason jar filled with the seashells he’d found on his morning beachcombing adventures with his sister.
Jenna took a deep breath. “I think I need to go talk to him.”
“You do?”
Butterflies beat nervous wings against her insides as she stepped away from the window. “Yeah. I think so.”
“Then go.” Nick smiled his new grown-up smile and pointed toward the door. “Like now!”
