Page 44 of In Case You Didn't Know

It’s quiet in the café. The tail end of tourist season means most people are off exploring the island or drifting on one of the new charter boats the hotel runs. Or maybe they just have better things to do than loiter in a coffee shop. Unlike me.

“If you’re here to make me go on another carousel,” Mylene says, eyeing me from behind the counter, “you can go spin alone. I never want to see one of those again.”

I hold up my hands. “No carousels. No fairground attractions. You’re officially off duty.”

Her shoulders visibly relax. “Thank God. What’ll it be?”

“Iced matcha, please,” I tell her, then drift over to the big picture window overlooking the dock and a sliver of the Atlantic beyond it.

Between here and the water, Eileen’s By the Sea stands primly next to Mylene’s coffee shop, their owners still locked in a blood feud that’s lasted decades. They live and work within spitting distance of each other – and somehow the island hasn’t exploded yet.

Right past that is The Salty Dog, run by Skyler, who has fallen in love with Hudson Fitzgerald. The last time I was here, that whole whirlwind was still unfolding.

It feels weird being here without Autumn. I’ve never done Liberty solo before. And now I’m moving into the lighthouse like some reclusive author trying to outrun the world.

Maybe that’s why I’m glad the cab hasn’t arrived yet. Maybe that’s why I’m still standing here.

Procrastinating. It’s my real talent.

“Hey!” Jesse walks in, grinning when he spots me. “I heard you were coming.”

I lift a brow. The last time I saw Jesse was during our chaotic ladies’ night. The one Asher had to drive us home from. Since then, he’s had a bit of a life change, too, building a relationship with Skyler – the sister who had no idea he existed until a few months ago.

I blink away the memories of that night as Jesse pulls me into a hug. He smells of sea air.

“Let me guess,” I say as he lets me go. “Autumn told you to babysit me?”

He smirks. “If she did, I’ll never admit it. Not that you need me looking after you. Her big brother’s got that covered.”

“Hudson?” I ask. “He’s too busy being loved up with Skyler and planning world domination to worry about me.”

Jesse shakes his head. “Not Hudson.Asher.”

Even hearing his name sends a shiver down my spine. I force a shrug.

“I know he’s a security genius, but even he can’t monitor me from New York.”

“He’s not in New York,” Jesse says casually. “He’s here.”

My stomach drops. “Here, like… on Liberty?”

Now Autumn’s joining Charlie on my imaginary murder list. I’m not sure who ranks higher.

Below, I decide. Because at least Autumn doesn’t know there’s… something between me and her brother. Or there was. But it’s over. Done. History. God, I wish my brain would shut up.

“Here, as in walking into the coffee shop,” Jesse says, right as the bell above the door jingles.

My skin prickles as a warm gust of air hits my back.

No. No no no.

The last time I saw Asher Fitzgerald, I was stomping out of Myles’ club, muttering something about a boyfriend I don’t have and trying to hang on to the last shred of my dignity.

What the hell is he doing on the island?

I turn slowly, like I’m in a horror movie where the killer is wearing tailored slacks and smells of cedarwood and sin.

His dark eyes meet mine and his unflinching gaze sends a shiver down my spine.