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Emberly waves, and we slowly close the space between us. When we’re all together, I put Coco on her feet. “What are you doing out here?” I ask.

Emberly’s smile is a little sad, and she looks out at the breaking waves. “I try to get out here at least once a month.” Something wistful is in her tone. “It’s sort of a special place for me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.” I don’t know her story or why this place might be special, but I understand going somewhere to feel safe or to remember.

“You don’t have to apologize. I don’t own this beach,” she laughs. She studies my face a second. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I try to laugh, but it comes out weird.

Emberly’s too smart for that. “I’ve seen you every day for almost a year now, Chad Tucker. You look like you’re about to rip somebody’s throat out or put your fist through a wall. Which is it?”

“Am I that transparent?” Her mouth presses into a frown, and I know I’m not getting out of this.

Coco takes off after a tiny sandpiper, and the two of us walk along the shore behind her. “I hate going out on limbs,” Emberly starts. “So stop me if I’m going too far. Is this about Tabby?”

“So the answer is yes, I am that transparent.” She gives me an empathetic smile, and I do a little shrug. “Things were going pretty great. At least I thought they were.”

“From what I could tell they were… then her uncle dropped by the store today.” She sighs, crossing her arms over her chest. “I never can tell if the man is really that clueless or if he likes pressing her buttons.”

“What does that mean?”

“Oh, he just basically told her how proud he was of her for finally making good life choices and getting her life right and how much he approves of you.”

“Jesus.” It’s like a punch in the gut. My jaw tightens, and I shake my head. “Why the hell did he say all that?”

Emberly starts to laugh, but I feel sick. I know my girl, and I bet that was like rubbing a cat’s fur backwards.

“Yeah, he really fucked everything up.”

I rub the back of my neck trying to figure this one out. “What am I going to do?”

The waves swirl in around our bare feet, and the water is getting colder. Fall is coming.

She exhales a heavy sigh. “Bob Green approving of you is just about the kiss of death. But… I think you still have a really good chance.”

Tilting my head, I give her a little frustrated smile. “You think so? Why?”

“For starters, that right there.” She points at my face, and I don’t understand.

“What do you mean?”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re a good-looking man, Chad Tucker, and that dimple. Shew.” The wind swirls her hair around, and she grabs it, wrapping it into a coil at her neck. “I’m pretty sure my best friend has fallen for you. Tabby doesn’t get emotionally involved… Seriously, I can’t even remember the last time I saw her sacrificing work for a guy.”

I think about what she’s saying for a few steps. If anybody knows Tabby, it’s Emberly. “So what do suggest I do?”

“What did she say the last time you talked to her?”

“She said she wanted space. She said I thought of her as a booty call… she said she’d call me later.”

“That’s good.” Emberly nods quickly. “If she said she’d call you, she will. Tabby’s not shitty. She won’t ghost you out.”

I’m not sure I like the sound of that. “So the next time I hear from her, she’s going to break it off?”

“I don’t think so.” She keeps walking, looking down at her feet, watching the waves swirl around them. “I think if you’re really interested, you’ll wait.”

“I don’t know about waiting.” I don’t like being put off.

“You waited a year. What’s a little while longer?”