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“I’m not a loner. I’m by myself. There’s a difference,” she says, peering up at me with her pastel blue eyes.

“True. How’s your leg?”

“Good. Harper said it should be healed up by tomorrow.”

When we turn around, our friends have shifted around their seating arrangements, leaving two open spaces, side by side, for Becca and me. I gesture for her to sit first, then I swing my leg over the bench of the picnic table.

Food is the great equalizer. We’re all so hungry, no one says a word except, “Mmmm,” or “So good.”

The chatter begins when everyone is full, and Logan says, “Do you all remember how Harper and Hagan’s family have pajama parties for game night?”

“Yes! We should have one this week. Although they aren’t the same without Hagan and Adalee. I thought they were coming,” Brooke says as she pops one more blueberry into her mouth.

Harper perks up, “They’ll be here in two days. They’re presenting their idea for the renovation of Kodiak Stadium today to the management team. You should see the architectural drawing. It’s high tech but somehow, it resembles an old-time baseball park. I’m getting tingles.”

Hagan, Harper’s twin brother, played baseball for the Stallions and lived with Logan, Pearse, and Mac his first year. Then Pearse went to the NFL, and Mac moved into the baseball house, making room for Harper to move in with her brother and Logan, which is why this isn’tonlya Stallions Hockey reunion. It encompasses many from different sports.

We partied at the hockey plex during baseball season, at Logan’s house during hockey season, and at the Home Run House during football season. Everyone knows everyone.

Reed throws his arm around Harper. “Remember when this guy hated me?” He hooks his thumb at Logan. Harper and Reed are besties. They were all roommates, then when Brooke and Reed became a couple, they bought a house next door to Harper and Logan, then the next house down was Hagan and Adalee’s.

“Still do,” Logan jokes.

“You love me.” Reed ruffles his hair, then hops up, slapping him with his beach towel, and Logan takes off chasing Reed.

“Boys will be boys, even when they’re men.” Becca chuckles as our friends follow them from the cabana, watching Logan chase Reed into the ocean.

But I hang back with Becca. “We’ll always be young boys at heart. At least when we’re all together.”

“Now that everyone is gone, you can tell me if you’re hurting.”

“Well, if you mean am I mad that my dad was fucking my girlfriend… I’m mad at him, but I could care less what she does.”

Her hair is in a bun on top of her head with two tendrils brushing over her temples. I wrap a piece around my finger, holding it steady without looking her in the eyes. “She was just a fill-in for the woman I’ve been waiting for.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Becca

After taking an outdoor shower, I lie on my bed with the memory of John’s touch caressing my face. When John insinuated that he’s been waiting for me, all this time, his hand dropped to my cheek, his thumb swiped over my skin, and I wanted to lean into his touch. I didn’t, but oh, it took everything I had. But no matter how strong our connection, it doesn’t change the fact that John and I can never be a thing.

Just as I’m dozing off for a little nap, my phone rings with a video call from Madison.

“Hey. Bad news. It will be at least late tomorrow before I can get there. Why is there no good way to this island?”

“I knew you should have come to Nashville and flown with me.”

“Believe me, I wish I could have. There’s a crick in my neck from trying to sleep in these airport chairs.”

Madison gasps when I fill her in on what happened today. Her hands fly over her mouth in surprise. “You’re kidding me.”

I explain that John didn’t clarify whether his dad sleeping with Stella was a one-off, a mistake in the throes of the moment, or whether Stella and his dad are still sleeping together. Stunned, her mouth hangs open.

“I know. I can’t imagine having a parent like John’s dad. To my knowledge, Mr. Basilio is the only family John has.” That statement hangs in the air as I chew on it. “Well, I need to get ready for dinner.”

And I need to stop thinking about John and allow myself to have fun in each moment.

“Ooh, wear something revealing. Or something form fitting. Who knows, you may meet a man tonight.”