Page 162 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“Hey,” I said. “You okay?”

“Sherry left yesterday, thank God. And my dad is okay. We’re okay.”

“I’m so glad.” And I meant it.

“He’s a little sad. He feels like he’s been had.”

I felt the same way.

“He’s pressing charges against the guy who grabbed me,” Brie continued, “and maybe he’ll flip on Sherry.”

“You never told me what happened.”

“You had a lot going on,” she said. “I can’t believe I missed it.”

“I don’t want to think about it. What happened that afternoon?”

“I was waiting for the ferry so I could show my dad the video when that creepy guy docked his boat. I told him the ferry would be back in a few minutes. He said he wouldn’t be long. I kind of recognized him, but didn’t realize it was from your photo until it was too late. He hit me and put me on the boat. Tied me up, but not very well. I pretended I was unconscious, then jumped overboard. It took me a while to swim to shore.”

“That’s dangerous.”

“I wasn’t really thinking. By the time I got back, I realized he had my phone, my dad had already returned on the ferry, and I thought they were already married. I was frantic. I’m just so glad I made it in time, and you were there to help me stop her.”

“I’m really glad you’re okay,” I said, and meant it. For everything that had happened this week—the good and the bad—I’d made a great friend in Brie Locke.

“Sherry literally flew from St. John to Atlanta, where she was arm candy for a basketball player at a charity function last night,” Brie said. “She had to have been working him like she was working my dad.”

“He’ll find someone who loves him for him.”

“Yeah. I think so. I just want him to be happy. If it’s not going to be with a woman, it’ll be with baseball, his second love. He’s taking a coaching job for U of A. I’ll live on campus. He’s going to get a house. I’ll have my own space... but I can see him whenever I want.”

“That’s great,” I said. “Maybe he’ll find someone when he least expects it.”

“I’m going to miss you, Mia. Do you think I can come visit sometime? I love New York.”

“Anytime. I mean it, okay? You have all my social media profiles, email, phone number.” I smiled. “I’m going to miss you too. You’re the little sister I never knew I wanted.”

She laughed, then glanced around and said quietly, “You’re going to forgive him, right?”

“I don’t know. I’m too raw right now.”

“Stay.”

“What?”

“He told me he asked you to stay for a few days.”

“That was before I knew he was Ethan Valentine.”

“If you stay, maybe you can figure it all out.”

I shook my head. “I have work. Responsibilities. So does Ja—Ethan.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, he’s really sad.”

I wished I could just forget everything and forgive him. I wanted to. But there would always be that tingle in the back of my mind wondering who Ethan Valentine really was. Until he knew who he was, I couldn’t know him.

“When Ethan figures himself out, then, maybe, we can talk,” I said. “I fell in love with Jason Mallory. I don’t even know who Ethan Valentine is.”