Page 95 of From the Start

“I need to clean up.” Good excuse. It’ll get me a few moments away from Kai’s presence.

He kisses my nose. “I’ll get some water for us.”

I force myself to smile. To act as if nothing’s wrong. Judging by the way his eyes narrow, Kai isn’t buying it. But he doesn’t say anything. He fixes his jeans and strolls out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Escape! The word pounds in my mind. I need to get out of here.

I use the facilities before donning my clothes as fast as possible. My t-shirt rips but I don’t stop to check how bad it is. I can’t stop now.

I fly out of the bathroom, down the hallway, and out the door. Thank the smugglers I drove today.

I’m backing out of the driveway when Kai rushes out the door. “Harper!”

I don’t answer. I whip the car around and floor it.

When I’m five minutes away from Kai’s house and have checked the mirrors about a dozen times to make sure he didn’t follow me, I pull to the side of the road. I don’t know where to go. I don’t want to go home. Dad will hit me with five thousand questions. None of which I can answer.

AndRumrunneris out. Sloane can sniff out a secret at twenty yards.

There’s only one place I can go.

I park my car near the boardwalk and make my way to the beach.Prohibition Beachis the place Mom loved most on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Even when she was sick and could no longer walk, Dad would carry her onto the sand.

The beach is practically deserted since it’s getting dark. Besides, the high season is over. It’s still warm enough to swim and surf, but the crowds of tourists have returned to their homes.

I sit on the sand and hug my knees to my chest. Kai loves me? Is this puppy love or is he serious? And, if he’s serious, what am I going to do?

“Is this seat taken?” Jessica asks.

I startle. I didn’t hear her approach since I was lost in my thoughts.

“Hi,” I greet Kai’s mother.

“How are you, my dear?”

I frown at her. “Did Kai phone you?” She nods. “How did he know where I’d be?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. All I know is my son is worried about you and freaking out.”

“Freaking out?”

“He’s worried he’s ruined his relationship with you.”

I blow out a breath. “He didn’t ruin anything.”

She lifts her brows. “But he does have reason to worry?”

“He said he loved me,” I confess instead of answering her question.

She smiles. “I could see his love for you at the barbecue.”

My brow wrinkles. “You could?”

She sighs. “Kai is my baby. His older brothers and I have protected him to give him the youth they missed out on when their dad left.”

I cringe. “I’m sorry your husband left you.”

“I’m not going to lie and say it’s not a big deal. It was a big deal. Raising six boys while working two full-time jobs was tough. I was lucky Eli and Rhett stepped up. But I’m also extremely sad my baby boys had to grow up earlier than they should of. Instead of playing football, Eli worked odd jobs while Rhett stayed at home and missed prom to help keep Jaxon, Miles, Zane, and Kai on track.”