Page 100 of Beach Cottage Kisses

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Sage called Scott late Sunday afternoon, asking him to come down. He didn’t answer right away. Wasn’t sure if he was going to go or not. He had work inside his home office, waiting for him. Briefs to go through, some case law to verify. All needing to be done before morning.

And work was an excuse Sage would take without question.

Unless it was a matter of life and death, or Leigh had an immediate need for which Sage couldn’t provide, his work always came first.

The big question was, would Iris be there?

He didn’t ask.

He did take Morgan back out for another opportunity to do her business, though, as he considered Sage’s invitation.

Looking, again, for Angel on the beach. If she showed up, problem solved.

But Angel didn’t show.

But in the end, the possibility of seeing Iris, within the safety of the small group they’d existed in since they’d met, was too much to pass up, and when Morgan had done her business Scott headed down to the end of the beach.

He took it slow. Not waiting, exactly, but watching for Angel to come bounding up to greet them. And made it all the way to Sage and Gray’s back porch without encountering either the dog, or her owner.

The newlyweds were waiting for him outside. In two of the really nice chairs they’d picked out as part of the cushioned furniture they’d bought for the space. Making it more an outdoor living room than a beach porch.

His twin handed him a beer as he stepped up on the newly built expanded deck.

He could hear the television going inside. Emitting childish, cartoon voices.

Computed that Leigh had been told to stay put, as he opened his beer. Sat. Raised the can to his mouth, looking over the rim of it at his best friend.

He’d barely taken his first sip, when Sage, whose gaze he’d probably been subconsciously avoiding blurted, “Iris is moving.” Her tone stopped short of accusation, but not by much.

He frowned. Shook his head.

And Sage just kept spewing in his direction. “She put her place up for sale this morning. Is already packing. She offered me all the things she’s collected over the years to entertain Leigh when she’s visiting. Even the little toddler bed she uses when she spends the night. Said I could use it for the new baby…”

He took the hits hard. Probably more so than his sister had intended. Sage was upset. A bit panicky. She wasn’t mean-spirited.

And… Iris was moving? Just like that?

She’d already put her place on the market? She loved Ocean Breeze. The cottage.

Love.Iris didn’t lovelove.

She couldn’t allow herself.

And was refusing to let herself have any of it in her life from others,apparently. He hurt for her. Significantly. More than he’d ever imagined. Took a sip of his beer. Then another, and said, “I’m sorry to hear that.”

He shouldn’t have come down. The conversation he’d inadvertently walked into would have been much better coming over the phone.

“I know you’re in love with her,” Sage said. “That you two have had a thing going for months.”

Iris hadn’t contacted him at all, but she’d told Sage about them? Blaming him?

He couldn’t wrap his mind around that, either.

“She told you?” he asked, still trying to catch up. Iris wasmoving?

He hadn’t seen that coming.