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“She was trolling me like she always does. The year before she bought me a Bigfoot hood ornament for the salt truck.”

“You underestimate our sister’s desire to see you happy.” Zach arched his brows, as if he couldn’t believe I was that thick.

“Vi said I needed to relax.”

“You do.”

“It wasn’t a green light.” I didn’t know why I was arguing. Maybe because I could never admit I was wrong. I put too damn much stock in being right. Doing things right the first time. The curse of the eldest child.

And then there were Anya’s yellow lights. Maybe red. She seemed to be warming to me, but tolerating her roommate’s brother and romantic interest weren’t the same thing.

While we’d been bickering quietly in the corner of the kitchen, everyone else had donned jackets. Rae and Lucy waited patiently for Zach to walk back to town with them. Lee and Clay carried the last few glasses to the sink and slipped into their shoes.

“You coming, Zach?” Rae asked. “Otherwise, I’ll walk Lucy home and see you tomorrow.”

“I’m coming.” Zach scrambled into his jacket, wiggling his brows suggestively. “Maybe it’s time you used that yoga certificate, Drew. Goodnight, Vi. Thanks for dinner, Anya!” he called, ushering the women out. Lee and Clay called their goodbyes.

I bumped Anya gently with my hip, nudging her away from the last few dishes in the sink. Violet tidied up the counters, putting away the leftovers and unused utensils.

“I’ll wash. You cooked. Go sit. Rest.”

She sighed, avoiding my gaze. “Staying busy keeps me from thinking too much about this morning.”

I picked up a towel, holding out my hand to dry as she finished washing the pasta strainer. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She shook her head ruefully. “I can’t complain. I didn’t have to hike down there and haul back a dead man like you did.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting he wasn’t a stranger to most of you. Did you know Jordan well?”

“We weren’t close. He was nearer our brother Cole’s age in school. But I feel for his family. For Rae.”

Anya shivered. “It’s easy to forget how deadly the ocean is when I spend most of my time in town. It’s only when we’re hiking Turn Island or kayaking that I remember how brutal an accident can be here. And we have medical care. I can’t imagine living on one of the more remote islands.”

“We’re a resourceful lot,” I said.

“You are. Which makes me curious. How did you get involved in search and rescue? It isn’t exactly the hobby I pictured for a salt farmer.”

“My dad had us out in nature since we were little. We know every inch of this island and have a passing familiarity with the others in the county. He volunteered with SAR, and it was only natural that we joined him when we were old enough. Though I’ve gotta tell you, it’s not all high-stakes rescues and glamor. It’s mostly combing a grid for stray trash that might be evidence or searching for lost hikers.”

“You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Downplay yourself. You make the rest of us mere mortals look like braggarts.”

I snorted. “My ego is just fine, thank you. I’m very proud of everything we’ve built at Island Salts.”

She grinned. “There you go again.We.”

“What? It’s a family business. I didn’t even start it.”

She laughed. “Clearly, you don’t know how much Vi brags about her brilliant older brother and his business sense, diversifying and increasing distribution channels.”

I dried the last dish, not sure what to say. Maybe there was something to Zach’s claim that Vi wouldn’t object if I asked Anya out. Speaking of my sister, I turned, expecting to see her snuggled on the couch reading or puttering around the kitchen behind us, but she was nowhere to be found.

Anya covered her mouth, but I caught the yawn she tried to hide.

“You’ve got to be exhausted. I’ll say goodnight.”

Anya’s gentle smile reached into my chest and squeezed. “Goodnight, Drew.”