Page 163 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

Brie said, “Did you hear what happened to Parker Briggs?”

“Just that he and Amber left early yesterday.”

She pulled out her phone, brought up an article from a gossip rag. “This literally came out first thing this morning.”

Parker Briggs ousted from family company after accusations he stole intellectual property and passed it off as his own.

“Good,” I said. “He’s an ass.”

“Definitely.”

I hugged Brie again and climbed into the shuttle. Henry chatted about a variety of things but thankfully didn’t bring up Ethan.

I thanked Henry and headed to the dock. Anja and Nelson were there as the ferry pulled into port.

“Are you leaving, Ms. Crawford?” Nelson asked in his deep, commanding voice.

“Yes. My vacation is over.”

Anja hugged me tightly. She was shaking. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She glanced at the boat. “My daughter—she’s agreed to meet me. And—my ex-boyfriend. He, they, um.” Tears welled in her eyes.

“They’re on the ferry,” Nelson said. “We thought having a couple of days to get to know each other here, without fear of paparazzi and rumors, would help everyone.”

“I’m so happy for you,” I said to Anja.

“I want her to like me. But I need her to forgive me.”

“Today, or tomorrow, or next year, she’ll understand why you did what you did. It’s hard to walk in other people’s shoes.”

I thought of Ethan. Should I give him a chance? Maybe... no. Yes. Damn. I didn’t know. I had too many things going on in my own life. I couldn’t help him navigate his personal crisis.

I watched a pretty young woman exit the ferry, followed by a man larger than Nelson. I walked away and let the family work things out together.

The captain came up to me. “Ten minutes, Ms. Crawford?”

“Thank you.”

I walked along the beach next to the dock. Breathed in the last of the scents of St. Claire. This was it. I was going home. To my job, my Grams, my friends, my cats.

My name was going to be on the door. I would get a raise and more responsibility. And that was going to have to be enough.

I was walking up the beach toward the dock when a shiny seashell caught my eye. I squatted and picked it up. It was a pink conch shell that looked exactly like the one I had tossed into the lagoon my first night here. It couldn’t be the same. That was silly. I stared at it and remembered why I’d thrown it in.

I’d tossed it in because I knew my dream was just a fantasy.

And yet, here it was.

I put the shell in my pocket. I’d keep it as a memory of what might have been.

I heard Anja laugh, and when I turned, I realized that it was her daughter laughing at something as they climbed into the shuttle. I was happy for them.

I boarded the ferry. I was the only one going home today. I stood at the bow of the ship and didn’t look back. I didn’t want to. Leaving had suddenly become bittersweet.

Then I saw him, Jason—Ethan!—sitting on a Jet Ski in the middle of the ocean. I stared as we passed. The ferry wasn’t going fast, but Ethan rocked in the wake.

He blew me a kiss.