Page 23 of Bayside Heat
She felt her heart slicing down the middle.
“So, yeah, I fucked up twice by almost kissing you,” he said apologetically. “But I realized my mistake, and I hope it’s not too late to salvage our friendship.”
She didn’t even know how to respond and stood dumbfounded, swiping at her tears. Even with his feelings for her, he was playing the part of her protector, and the worst part about it was that he was right. Every damn thing he said was probably what would have happened if they had kissed—all those years ago, or last night.
“I’m sorry, Serena.” He gently touched her arm, his voice thick with regret. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.” Just an idiot. “I’d better go.” She stumbled toward the door in a haze. “I’ll write this stuff up and have it on your desk in the morning.”
Chapter Five
SERENA STARED ABSENTLY at the chocolate chip pancakes on her plate Friday morning, listening to the girls laughing at Emery’s ridiculous yoga jokes. This was Serena’s last breakfast with her friends before she moved. They’d helped her pack last night, and she’d been so upset over what had happened with Drake, she’d refused to talk about her new job at all. If she talked about work, her mind raced right back to him, and she was afraid she’d tell them everything. Packing had taken only two hours, but the girls had hung out on the patio with her until almost two o’clock in the morning. By the time they’d gone home, she was feeling a little better.
Then came the silence.
And the sight of her life boxed up and ready to move.
She’d thought she might hear from Drake, but he hadn’t reached out. Reality had crashed down on her again, bringing with it more tears. She wasn’t sure which was worse. Wondering if he’d never felt the heat between them, or knowing he’d chosen not to act on it, regardless of his reasons.
“Are we allowed to talk about work today?” Mira asked carefully, bringing Serena’s mind back to the present.
“Sure,” she said blandly. She could handle a conversation about work, couldn’t she? Soon the guys would be back from their run and Violet would come barging in with her racy comments, and the world would be right again.
Except her world was too upside down to ever feel right again. She knew she’d have to get used to a new normal.
Ugh. New normal.
The term made her feel like a divorced woman.
“Do you think the guys will hire someone today?” Mira said.
“Are you kidding? I thought this was going to be easy. I’ve brought in six people I thought were perfect, but according to Drake, they were either too young, not strong enough communicators, or maybe they just breathed too heavy. Who knows.” Serena sighed, remembering how thankful she’d been that she’d found so many qualified candidates so quickly and how deflated she’d felt after Drake had interviewed each one. “You know the daughter of the lady who runs the mini golf in Orleans?”
“Diane?” Chloe set down her juice glass. “Her grandmother lives at LOCAL. I see her all the time.”
Chloe rarely joined them for breakfast, but Serena was glad she was there today.
“Hagen loves Diane. Matt takes him there on the weekends when I’m working.” Mira worked for Matt’s father at their family’s hardware store. “If Diane is there, she always gives him free ice cream.”
“Her daughter Daphne moved back to Eastham last fall from Wilmington, North Carolina, where she ran a small resort like Bayside. She’d gone through a divorce after having her little girl and wanted to be closer to her family. It must have been a bad divorce, because she changed her name back to Zablonski. Anyway, she’s been working for Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, and she doesn’t like how big and impersonal it is, so Diane gave her my name. She’s ideal for the job, but Drake said she would probably get overwhelmed.” Serena rolled her eyes. “She worked at Ocean Edge, only the biggest, most glamorous resort on the Cape. That place has way more rooms and cottages than we do. She was unflappable. I think he’s making it difficult on purpose. But that doesn’t make sense, because he’s never been like that.”
