Page 47 of Only for the Season

“You can try,” I sing as I make my way out of the kitchen to the street. My brow wrinkles when I notice the fancy car waiting at the curb. “We don’t need to drive. Everything in Smuggler’s Rest is within walking distance.”

He opens the car door and ushers me inside. “We’re not staying in Smuggler’s Rest.”

“Where are we going?” I ask once he’s situated behind the driver’s seat.

“Hideaway Haven Resort.”

“Hudson’s resort?”

“You know Hudson Clark?”

“Don’t get excited, Scrooge. Hudson and I grew up on the island together. All islanders know each other.”

He growls. “You didn’t date, did you?”

“Ha! Me date Hudson, the high school quarterback? Not in a million years. Besides, he’s been in love with Nova forever.”

“They just had a baby, right?”

“Yep. Iliana. Do you know Hudson?”

I’m convinced there’s a secret club that all billionaires and famous sportspeople and movie stars and pop idols belong to. I bet all of them were the cool kids in high school, too. Not me.

I was usually sneaking into the school kitchens to study how they cooked. The principal was not amused when I missed my AP English exam because I was in the middle of stuffing a turkey and couldn’t stop without ruining the meal.

“I met him at Thanksgiving at Eli’s house.”

“I should have known. Paisley and Nova are two of the terrible five.”

“The terrible five?”

“Sophia, Chloe, Maya, Nova, and Paisley. The five women ownFive Fathoms Brewingnow. But I remember when they were running around the island causing havoc and mayhem.”

“They’re still causing havoc and mayhem. They made us play musical chairs during dinner. Whoever lost had to wear a turkey hat and tell an amusing family secret. If no one laughed, they lost the next round as well.”

“Sounds better than my Thanksgiving dinner.”

“What did you do for the holiday?”

I had to open my big fat mouth? Too bad I don’t have a cookie to stuff in it.

“Nothing much.”

“Nothing much?” Unfortunately, we’ve arrived at the resort and he parks before switching his full attention to me. “What is nothing much?”

Color me shipwrecked. Me and my big mouth will now be retiring for the evening. No more speaking whatsoever.

Jeremy reaches across the console to pinch my chin. “Parker,” he grumbles. “Answer my question.”

“Fine. I worked all morning and then went home and slept all afternoon. Happy now?”

He scowls. “No, I’m not happy. I should have invited you to spend Thanksgiving with me and Eli’s family.”

I roll my eyes. “We barely knew each other then.”

“And you hated me.”

I sigh. “I don’t hate you.”