Page 109 of Chasing the Sun

“Helen came to tell me today that the Keepers have come to a decision.” The gravel in his voice pricked my skin as tears burned behind my eyelids. I didn’t think I could look at him without falling apart. He gently cleared his throat. “The preservation easement went through, meaning the land itself is protected from outside developers.”

The knot in my chest eased the tiniest bit.

“But,” he continued, looking at his boots, “that doesn’t keep just anyone from bidding on the property.”

My chin lifted. “Bidding?”

His jaw flexed, and he dipped his chin with a nod. “They put it to a vote. Since Stan’s wishes were for any proceeds of sale to go back to Star Harbor’s public works and education systems, an auction would garner the highest profit.”

Panic rose, burning my throat and causing my words to come out choked. “Isee.”

Cal paused, the dunes at his back and a breeze ruffling his dark hair. “We’re all so proud of what you and Stan have done here. It’s just?—”

My hand flew up to stop him. I wiped under my nose in an effort to hold myself together. “No, I get it.”

I could feel Cal’s gaze on my face, but I focused my attention on the farmland that stretched in front of me.So much potential. So much more I wanted to do.

“I asked Helen to let me be the one to tell you.”

A man who could communicate should have been a dream, but what no one tells you is that sometimes you don’t want to hear it.

I gathered the courage to finally look at him. “So you’re bidding on it then?”

His expression was tortured, but he didn’t lie. “Yes.”

My lip trembled, but I nodded.

Cal exhaled. “Look, if I don’t, anyone can take it for themselves. Sure, the easement helps, but if I don’t purchase it, there’s no telling who will and what they’ll do with it.”

My eyes whipped to him. “Please don’t do that. Don’t lie to me now. I know you’ve wanted it since the beginning. Just admit it.”

His warm, brown eyes bore into mine. “I’ve wanted it from the beginning. I still want it.”

His brutal honesty sucked the air from my lungs. Deep down, I had always known it, but finally hearing it out loud made itreal. Cal wanted the land for his restaurant, and a part of me knew he deserved that.

I was certain I could never outbid Cal, but stubborn pride bubbled inside me as my chin lifted. “But what if I still want it too?”

I started to walk away. I was too afraid to hear hisanswer. My boots crunched on the freshly laid walking paths, defeat echoing in my ears.

“El, please don’t walk away,” he called after me. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

I turned to face him, not bothering to wipe away the fat tears that streaked down my face. “I know, Cal, and I don’t want to hurt you either ... but no matter who wins here, someone is getting hurt. Neither of us can get what we want without hurting the other. How is that fair?”

Cal’s arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “It isn’t, but if someone else—some corporation or greedy businessman swoops in—” Cal dragged a hand through his hair before gesturing at the barn. Frustration seeped from his every pore.

“What?” I demanded, my voice rising into the evening air.

“You sold them all the dream, El!” he shouted. “Everyone knows exactly how magical this place could be. You documented every step, shared every plan you had. Now all someone has to do is buy the land and profit offyourideas! You handed it to them on a silver fucking platter!”

Realization was a sucker punch.

Hurt laced with shame as I fired back. “Well excuse the fuck out of me! I washappyand having fun and, and—did you think I knew Stan was going todie?” My voice broke on the last word, and I swayed on my feet.

In all my enthusiastic oversharing on social media, I never imagined that I was detailing all the plans to anyone who was paying attention. I had never dreamed that the plans Stan and I were creating wouldn’t happen or that someone could come in and take that dream for themselves.

Instantly Cal’s strong arms wrapped around me, holding me steady.

Grounding me.