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I expected him to walk out, but he sat in his usual spot. I could only guess so he could torture me.

“Did you need something else?” I raised my eyebrows.

He scratched his head. “Yeah, see I can’t figure all this out.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

He paused. “I don’t get it. You. Cole. This shitty motel. The way everyone on the island loves it. What am I missing, Kaitlyn?”

I cut the bullshit and the banter we usually carried out, and stripped it down to the truth. “It’s home, Aiden.”

“This isn’t your home, and Cole is holding on to a place owned and run by a man who was dishonest with him his entire life. You’d think he’d want to burn it to the ground.”

“Is this about Pops?” I asked carefully.

“Depends on what you mean.”

“Are you after the Dunes for revenge? Tell me that that is not what you want.” In my heart, it felt better if he was interested in the millions he could make.

“I’m not after Cole.” He hung his head.

“Then what? Why are you doing this? He’s just trying to do something good for his son. Can’t you see that?”

“His son.” He paused. “Can you imagine what my childhood was like?” His piercing eyes were sharper than usual. “I saw my dad maybe a few times a year. Maybe. And the crazy thing is, I knew where he was. I knew there was another family. I knew he was raising his parentless grandson, and I knew the grandson and I were the same age. Do you know what that does to a boy?”

I shook my head. I had known about Aiden’s existence for over a month and still hadn’t reconciled the Pops Cole told me about with the Pops who fathered Aiden. It didn’t seem like the same man could devote so much of his life to Cole, while Aiden was a secret.

“After his wife died, he could have lived with us. I know he could have. He could have moved us here. My mother would have done anything to have that happen. So would I. What boy doesn’t want to live with his father? Play catch in the yard? See him in the stands at his ballgames? Who doesn’t want that?” I saw a slight mist cover his otherwise bright eyes. “But no, Dad said he couldn’t do that to Cole. He said he had responsibilities with his business, with the island, with his grandson. He broke our hearts.”

“I don’t know what to say.” I felt terrible. “Did you ever talk to him about it?”

“Talk?” Aiden scoffed. “I never saw him.”

“Then how do you know all of this? Maybe there was more going on.”

His eyes cut through me. “My mom told me everything. I believe her.”

I had entered dangerous territory, but Aiden was the one who had brought it up. “I’m sorry you went through all of that. What about her? Where is your mother now? Maybe you could get some more answers.”

“She died right before Dad did. Her funeral was the last time I saw him. He stayed just long enough for the service and then left right after. He didn’t even stay for the church dinner.” He shook his head. “I didn’t even know he was sick. Imagine finding out your father died in a newspaper article.”

“Oh my God. I-I can’t even begin to think how you must have felt. No one should have to go through that.”

His eyes lifted toward mine. “Cole thinks he needs to hold on to this place because it’s all he has of his Pops.” He sighed. “That’s exactly why I need it gone. I don’t need reminders of my dad.”

My jaw dropped as Aiden hustled out the door and jumped over the side door of his convertible. For the first time, I knew exactly what his angle was.

The next day Cole received the manila envelope we had both been dreading. Aiden wasn’t kidding about the lawsuit. There it was in black and white.

Aiden Thomas v. Cole Thomas.

“I guess my idea didn’t work.”

I peeked around Cole’s shoulder while he read the legal documents. No amount of Dunes hospitality, shrimp dinners, or double chocolate brownies could have stopped that man.

“He was going to do it regardless of how nice you were, Kaitlyn.” Cole threw the envelope on the counter. “I’m going to have to hire a lawyer.” He hung his head. I could see that telltale vein throbbing on the side of his neck.

I didn’t want to say it, but there was always another option. “Have you thought about not fighting it?”