Page 16 of Hidden Harbor (Evergreen Rescue #1)

L aying my cards on the table with Anya was either brilliance or madness. I’d all but admitted I was a fool for her. She’d been the one to set the friendship boundary, then break it. Then again, maybe I’d nudged it first, calling her gorgeous.

In the week that followed our kiss, I decided to make myself scarce, only showing up for dinner twice.

Each time, Vi hung out with us to watch TV afterward, providing a welcome buffer.

Under Vi’s watchful eye, it was easier to laugh and chat like the friend I was trying so hard to be.

Keeping things light and easy. But even then, something about Anya felt…

off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what had changed. Other than her kissing me.

I wasn’t impulsive, but once I made up my mind, I was a rock. Immovable as a barnacle. I came by my stubborn streak naturally. You only had to meet my mom or gran to see the family resemblance.

Since Gran kicked me out of the house, I needed a new place to live. As fun as it was hanging out with Vi and Anya, honoring my promise to her meant giving us some actual space. Something the couch couldn’t offer.

My feelers for a rental hadn’t paid off yet, but I’d had plenty of time to plan my revenge on Gran.

If she was going to play dirty, so was I.

She’d burned me, but she hadn’t demanded my keys back.

Her fatal mistake. Mom and Dad wouldn’t be home for a few more weeks, leaving me enough time to implement my plan.

I flopped on my back, clasping my hands behind my head.

Staring at the ceiling with its mottled bumps.

The gentle sounds of the house settled around me.

Vi or Anya softly closed the bathroom door.

Headlights from a passing car filtered through the living room curtains.

I closed my eyes, wishing myself back at Lime Kiln.

Meditating on the memory of waves lapping. Of Anya, warm and sweet, in my arms.

I woke with a crick in my neck and a bad attitude.

“Hey, freeloader,” Vi greeted me, hoisting her coffee mug. “I made coffee. You got any leads on an apartment yet?”

“Hmph.” I poured myself a cup, downing half of my coffee in a single, scorching swallow. The pain helped me wake up, and I blinked. Vi was already dressed for the shop. “Where’s Anya?”

My sister rolled her eyes. “She left hours ago, hotshot. Probably while you were snoring like a drunken sailor.”

“I was not.” I glowered.

“Before you get grumpy with me, you might ask yourself: who would Uncle Bob text if he caught you making out at the park last week?”

There it was. The fatal flaw in my plan to take it slow with Anya: my family. I covered my face with my hands. I thought since there were no immediate fireworks, Bob decided to let my transgression slide. I should have known he was just storing ammunition for greater impact.

“Does Anya know?”

Vi’s eyes sparkled. Dammit. She had only suspected who I’d been with. I’d confirmed it. I should have taken my coffee and escaped, instead of staying to trade barbs.

“Who did he tell?”

She patted my cheek. “Check your phone, hotshot. I’m heading to work. Something you should think about too.”

I took my coffee to the living room, pulling my phone off its charger and scrolling through my messages.

Uncle Bob: Vanessa, I thought you taught your kids better than to be sucking face at LK.

Uncle Bob: But you helped me win the Monthly Mayhem Pool at work. Cha-ching.

I groaned. My folks had been safely out of it thanks to their trip. But no way my mom was ignoring that message, international texting fees be damned.

Zach: Wasn’t me. Your perfect angel was tucked up in bed.

Vi: Not it.

Gran: Wish it were me.

Mom: Drew?!?

Gran: My plan is working…

Mom: What plan?

Gran: Nunya.

Mom: Nunya what?

Gran: Nunya business.

How long before my mom calculated the time difference and called me? I pulled fresh clothes from my duffel, showered and changed for work. Turning off my phone was tempting, but I wanted to respond if Anya texted me.

I checked on the evaporation houses at the farm, then worked on processing my last batch of salt into our signature blends.

We’d started out with only a few basic products: a plain sea salt, a madrona smoked, and a garlic blend, but we’d been experimenting with more and more varieties, including my new personal favorite, a dill pickle salt.

Our partnerships with other local farms brought in any herbs and spices we didn’t grow.

Gran was nowhere to be seen when I swung by the house to pick up more clothes.

Probably out back smoking in the garden.

Keeping my distance was the smart move until I was ready to enact my revenge.

I’d paid for expedited shipping, which meant I had two to twenty business days before my purchase would arrive.

Most carriers didn’t deliver to the island, so we were subject to the gentle whims of our post office, bless their hearts.

Letting Anya come to me still seemed like the best approach, which meant avoiding Vi’s house until she’d be home as buffer. Instead of driving to Vi and Anya’s after work, I stopped off at Harbor Brews.

Zach shifted to his evening menu after four, which included a few local beers and ciders and fresh popcorn. He sold a ton of Island Salts because he used our popcorn blend with nutritional yeast. It sounded weird, but it was delicious, and once customers tried it, they were hooked.

He was busy with orders, so I scooped a paper boat full of popcorn, then helped myself to one of the island beers and a table overlooking the marina. I could just make out Zach’s boat at the end of the dock, bobbing gently next to Rae’s.

“I’m surprised to see you here, freeloader.”

“What, did you and Vi brainstorm nicknames together?” I asked my brother, grimacing.

He shrugged, his charming smile making his dimples flash. I glanced around. Sure enough, there were a couple of twenty-somethings sipping drinks in the back corner. No way that grin was for me.

“The truth hurts, brother dear. Pay for your beer, and I’ll stop.”

“Pay for your popcorn topping, and maybe I will.”

He flapped a hand, ignoring my jibe. “Uncle Bob says he caught you getting busy in the madronas last week. Is that your idea of a romantic date since you’re couch-surfing these days?”

Arguing that Anya was the one who kissed me, not the other way around, wouldn’t be very gentlemanly. And I’d take teasing from every town resident age two to two hundred if it meant she’d do it again, so I kept my mouth shut. Zach tsked, shaking his head slowly, his eyes dancing.

“How the mighty have fallen. You used to be Gran’s favorite. What did you do to fall from grace?”

“Nothing.”

He arched a brow. “Did she give you a new family motto?”

“How did you know?” I asked.

“She gave me one too. I thought the original Fenwick one was just fine, but she claimed I had more to learn before I could have that one. Mine is now wake up and open your eyes .”

I squinted at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hell if I know. Eyeglasses keep showing up at the boat though. In the weirdest fucking places. Last week, she put a pair on the husky mascot perched over my microwave. Creepy as shit when I woke up to that sucker in the middle of the night. It’s gotta be her idea of a prank, implying that I need my eyes checked. ”

“At least she can’t toss you off your boat.”

“Speaking of which, have you found a new place to live yet?”

“Nope.”

“And how hard are you looking, now that you’ve nestled in Anya’s sweet arms?”

I grimaced. I’d hoped he missed the bulletin about who I was with at Lime Kiln.

“I’m not staying with Vi to hit on Anya,” I grumbled. It was at least partially true. It might be a happy coincidence, but it wasn’t my intent. “I’ve got feelers out for a new place.”

Zach snorted. “I’ve met you. You take forever to make a decision. Have you even looked at any apartments yet?”

“No,” I said sullenly.

“I don’t think Gran’s taking you back,” Zach warned.

I threw up my hands. “And I don’t want her to. I’m on board with moving out. I just need to find a decent rental. Do you have any ideas for me?”

Zach grinned. “Now that you mention it, yes.”

“If you say a park bench, I’m going to smack you.”

He held up his hands. “Calm down. I’m serious. I talked with Deb at the bed and breakfast, and she said her caretaker had to move back to the mainland unexpectedly. She’s got an apartment free, if you’ll help out for the season.”

“Deb at the Anchor?” I perked up. I hadn’t planned on taking on more responsibility, but it might get me through the busy season.

Zach grinned triumphantly. “Yep. The Anchor. Across the street from Vi and Anya.”

“Do you have her number?”

“For the price of your beer, yes, I do.”

I fished out my wallet, grumbling about him being a hard-nosed businessman, but I wasn’t mad. I took as much pride in my profit statements as he did, and the cost of a beer was a small price to pay for housing so close to town. I snorted. Sure. Town. I wasn’t fooling anyone with that story.

Zach handed over Deb’s number, and I called her on my way to my truck, planning to check out the apartment in the morning.

I whistled as I parked in front of Vi and Anya’s.

Finding my own place was the first step to independence and giving Anya the space she needed.

The second step was probably not getting caught kissing her in public places by stray relatives.

She seemed preoccupied the few times I’d seen her since she kissed me, her eyes shadowed by something I couldn’t quite name.

Whatever it was, it settled between us like an unwanted visitor.

I’d chosen not to confront her. Maybe she was embarrassed.

Or had regrets. Either way, I was moving forward in the best way I knew how — by moving out.