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“That would be amazing. I’d love to see the house once it’s done.”

“She said she’ll put in a request, but since it will be the first summer season with it being done, she’s not sure how much time we’ll get because her extended family reserves time too.” I hear her sigh. “I kind of hate that we only have a little more than a week here. I don’t want it to end.”

“How’s everything been going now that it’s just the four of you?”

Her first response is a very satisfied hum. “I hate to say it because I know it’s going to make you feel bad, but…it’s been positively divine. Everyone’s getting along, and we’ve even done a lot of stuff separately. This is the vacation I thought we were going to have.”

“What kind of stuff is everyone doing? I know you’re probably working on book stuff, but what’s everyone else doing?”

“Oh, it’s not like we’ve all scattered, I just meant that we’re not moving around as a quartet.

I’ve spent a couple of hours a day trying to plot this book, but nothing’s sticking yet.

The girls have been wonderful talking through ideas with me, and then I go into the den and see if anything takes hold.

Roxie’s been out walking along the beach with the dogs a lot and she found a yarn shop in town and decided she’d like to take up knitting.

Or maybe it’s crocheting. Hmm…I know it’s one of them.

She’s been going back every day to learn a little more. ”

“That’s interesting.”

“Loren went for a massage the other day. She invited all of us, but we couldn’t get appointments for everyone, and she was the one who wanted to go the most.”

“And what about Vanessa?”

“She has been making a scrapbook for her family. Apparently there are tons of old pictures and photo albums all around the house and she went to a craft store and got supplies to make a scrapbook to gift to her parents when the house is finished.”

“Wow! You’ve all been busy!”

“Oh! And we started a book club!”

“A book club? Seriously?”

“Well, maybe I can’t call it that, but we picked a book that we all thought sounded good and we are reading it and discussing it.

We’re all voracious readers, so I can see us getting in at least one more book before we leave and then we promised to keep it going once we all got home. How cool is that?”

“That sounds very fitting. I’m impressed!”

“We’ve also spent a lot of time together sitting out by the pool or preparing meals together—we haven’t gone out to eat since you and the guys left.

And honestly, I’ve enjoyed that time together the most. We eat outside and…

” She sighs happily. “I’ve missed this part of my life, Ash!

I’ve missed just taking time to relax with friends and enjoy the little things. ”

“Don’t you have friends in Seattle?”

“Not really. I was always so focused on writing that I didn’t put much effort into socializing. Plus, I always knew I wasn’t staying, so I didn’t want to make friends and then have to say goodbye to them.”

I want to wrap her in my arms because her life sounds so very solitary and…

Familiar.

I mean, I have friends, but…not a lot of them. And I don’t actively look to make more because I’m always traveling.

Who knew that I needed Olivia to shine a light on all that was missing in my life?

“How are things going in Dallas?” she asks. “Your hotel looks amazing!”

“It’s a Gaylord hotel and it’s massive, practically like its own city. I like it for the convenience—it’s super close to the job—but also the amenities. They have several great restaurants here and the rooms are very nice. It’s a step up from the chain hotels I usually stay in.”

“When you sent me those pictures this morning, I almost couldn’t believe it was a hotel! It looks very unique.”

“That it is. I think I’m going to have a hard time going back to my basic home away from home after this.”

She sighs again. “When do you think you’ll be back?”

“Probably Tuesday of next week. Wednesday, the latest. And then I’ll spend the rest of the week in the office before I leave on the next trip.”

“Oh,” she says miserably. “So…you won’t make it back for one last weekend here with me.”

“If I could, Liv, you know I would. I wish I could just ditch work and come back, but I’ve used up all my vacation time, and…”

“It’s okay, Ash. Really. We knew this might happen and…it is what it is. It’s going to be okay. Really.” After a shaky sigh, she asks, “Where will you be heading to next?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

That’s a lie. I actually know, but I don’t want to tell her.

My boss sent me my potential itinerary for the next three months and I’m pretty much going to be sent all over the country—San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, and Boston.

In my heart, I know Olivia is going to make the move, but I’m also a realist and know it’s going to take some time.

And I want to keep myself busy while I wait.

I’m about to say more when another call beeps in.

“Hey, um…can I call you back? My dad’s beeping in. ”

“You know what? It’s late, so let’s just plan on talking tomorrow,” she assures me. “Go and talk to your dad.”

“Okay, but…” I sigh. “Have a good night, Liv. Sweet dreams.”

“Mmm…sweet dreams, Ash.”

We hang up and I know I have to change my tone immediately for my dad. “Hey, Dad!” I say jovially. “Isn’t this a bit late for you?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, well…your mother and I had dinner with the Andersons, and I am way too full to go to bed yet. Your mother’s already upstairs, curled up with a good book, so I decided to take a chance and call you.

I know we missed out on our cookout with your grandparents, but I wanted to see how you’re doing. ”

“Sorry about that. We left the beach later than originally planned, and I had a lot to do before leaving for Dallas.”

“So the beach was good, huh? Where exactly did you go?”

“Cape Breeze. It’s a super small town that’s not touristy at all. But one of our friends has a house there—well, her family does—and we stayed there.”

“How nice! Did you do anything fun?”

I tell him about all the surfing, fishing, and jet skiing I did, and realize I never mentioned Olivia.

Until now.

“And…I met someone.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, so…funny story…” And then I tell him about meeting Olivia on the plane, seeing her at Matt’s funeral, and ultimately spending my vacation with her.

“Sebastian…wow! What a whirlwind! But she lives all the way in Denver?”

“Seattle, actually, but she’s moving back to North Carolina.”

I’m expecting him to be pleased, but he’s suspiciously silent.

“Dad?”

“Oh, sorry. I had to just take a minute before I said anything.”

“Because…?”

“Because…that’s a tremendous step for someone you just met.”

“Well, it’s not like she’s moving in with me. She’s just moving back to her hometown.”

“So her family’s still here?”

“Um…no. Her parents live in Arizona now and her brother’s in Maryland.”

“I see.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and mentally count to ten before I say anything.

“Olivia doesn’t have a great relationship with her family.

They don’t approve of her career and don’t sound very warm and fuzzy.

But her friends are all there and they’re her family.

She’s been living this nomadic lifestyle—which she claims is for book research—but I have a feeling it’s more about not having a place to call home anymore because of her folks.

It broke my heart to hear her talk about it because I couldn’t imagine you and Mom ever treating me like that. ”

“Why are they against her being an author? Is she successful at it?”

“She is! She’s written ten books. They’re cozy mysteries and…”

“What’s her name?”

“Olivia Ashley.”

“No!”

“Excuse me?”

“Is that really her name?”

I hesitate before saying, “Yes…”

“Your mother loves her books! She’s reading one right now! Her book club assigned it this month and she was talking about it over dinner! She is going to be so excited when I tell her that our son is dating Olivia Ashley!”

“Well, that’s…”

“Do you think she’d come and speak at the book club?” he asks, and I think he’s possibly more excited about this than my mother is going to be. “We could take you both out to dinner beforehand and then you and I can find something to do while our girls talk books! It will be so much fun!”

“Okay, sure. That does sound fun, but I think we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves, don’t you? This could take a few months to happen.”

“You’re right, you’re right. But it’s still going to be awesome.” He pauses. “And…why don’t her parents approve again?”

“They’re both doctors. Orthopedic surgeons, actually. Olivia can’t stand the sight of blood so…”

“Ah. Got it. They wanted her to follow in the family's footsteps. Did her brother?”

“Yup.”

“Yikes. Poor girl didn’t stand a chance. That’s really too bad. I hear her books are fantastic. Do you know what she’s working on now?”

I don’t feel like it’s my place to say anything, especially since she’s kind of struggling with it, so I kindly fib. “No. Not really. She was on vacation and wasn’t working.”

“Well, drats. Your mother would have loved getting some secret information.”

I really feel like I’ve opened a can of worms here.

“Okay, so Olivia’s moving back to North Carolina. Does that mean you’re going to be traveling less? Is your boss finally going to give you a break?”

Ugh…

“I just got my potential travel itinerary for the next three months,” I say.

“And?”

“And…it’s a lot.”

“Sebastian,” he whines. “Why don’t you stand up for yourself? There are plenty of other guys who can take some of these trips. Why is it always you?”

“I never really minded before. The traveling didn’t bother me. And, to be fair, this whole thing with Olivia really just happened, so I haven’t had time to talk to my boss about it.”

“Where are they sending you to this time?”

“After I get back from Dallas, I’ll possibly be going to San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, and Boston.”

“Ho-ly. I’m hoping there are breaks in between.”

“There are, and this is just a potential schedule. No one’s saying it’s all going to happen.”

“Son, can I say something without you getting too upset?”

“If you’re going to tell me I should speak up to my boss, then no,” I tease.

Luckily, he doesn’t take offense.

“No, I was going to say that…I’m not a whimsical person. I never have been. I know I’m more of a left-brained kind of guy. I’m more logical and analytical. You take after me. But this whole situation feels like…like there’s something bigger at work here.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“You meet this woman on a plane, you connect with her, you unknowingly help her write the eulogy for one of your best friends, you both show up for the same funeral, and end up on vacation together? Sebastian, things like that just don’t happen every day.

That is like…” He sighs loudly. “I almost can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s like fate or karma.

Like there’s a greater force out there who clearly wants the two of you together. ”

I relax a bit. “Dad, we feel that way too, and we’re not mad about it. It’s one of the first things we commented on when I showed up at the beach house. But I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”

“I’ve often said how you travel too much. Maybe this is also the universe’s sign for you to slow down. Maybe this is the nudge you need to talk to your boss.”

“Not until Olivia has a plan in place. For all I know, once she gets back to Seattle, she’ll change her mind or…or…things won’t fall into place as easily as she thought they would. I don’t want to make waves to change up my schedule and…”

End up alone.

Shit.

“Sebastian? Are you still there?”

I let out a long breath. “I’m here. Sorry. I just…I had a moment there.”

“What kind of moment?”

“A moment where I don’t believe in myself,” I gruffly admit, and hate how I instantly reverted to that shy kid with no self-esteem.

Matt would smack me in the head and tell me to get over myself, but there’s no one here to do that right now.

“Damn,” Dad says quietly. “I hate that you feel that way.”

“Me too.”

“How do you feel about Olivia?”

“Honestly? I’m in love with her. I swear I think I fell a little in love with her that day on the plane when that crazy old lady started filming her and she got up and posed for her.

I remember looking at her and just marveling at her confidence and the way she stood up for herself.

Then every conversation after that—every time I watched her overcome something like the eulogy and the change of vacation plans—I was in awe of her.

There was this magnetic pull that I couldn’t have denied, even if I wanted to. ”

“Can I give you a little advice?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Does she feel the same way?”

“I think she does. She’s a little gun-shy about her feelings, but we talked enough that I’d like to believe she feels it too.”

“Then believe that she’s going to make this move.

Believe enough in it that you fly home next week and tell your boss that you’re not taking these trips.

But most importantly, believe enough that you found your person and that you’re going to overcome all the obstacles.

People don’t come into your life that many times, in that many situations, in that short of an amount of time for no reason, Sebastian. ”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He yawns loudly before apologizing. “Sorry about that. Keep me posted on how things are going and maybe you can come for dinner one night next week while you’re in town.

Just you. I won’t invite your grandparents or anyone and we can just have a night to catch up—just the three of us. Is that okay?”

“That sounds perfect, Dad.”

We wish each other a goodnight and I put the phone down and suddenly feel restless.

Telling my boss that I want to cut back on travel? I’m not sure how that’s going to go.

Telling Olivia that I’m in love with her? Yeah, I’m not sure how that’s going to go either.

But I have a feeling I’m going to find out sooner rather than later.