Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
For the first time, my stomach settles into something resembling peace or maybe conciliation. It’s better than nothing. “Suppose it does.”
He pushes open the door and steps out. “See you around.”
21
AARON
The lump in my throat won’t lessen the entire way back to the inn. Seeing Jack that vulnerable about a goodbye affected me in ways I can’t puzzle out right now.
Rocco is awake when I come into the room.
“Where the hell have you been? I can only guess, but you had me worried.”
“Sorry about that. I was watching turtles hatch on the beach.”
I give him the highlights of our night, from Beth to Cain this morning.
“Damn, that must’ve been a sight.”
“It was.” Guilt creeps in again about not including him. “Jack took plenty of shots, so once he develops the film, I’ll ask if he’ll share them. He’s a great photographer.”
Rocco blinks and stares at me.
“What?”
“You’ve fallen for the grumpy service station owner.”
“No.” Ah shit, is that what he thinks? “I haven’t even known him that long.”
He smirks. “Stranger things have happened.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”
“Which is why coming at him from a different angle might help convince him that selling to us—”
“Enough. Don’t you ever quit?” I throw him a severe look that stops him dead in his tracks. “And before you accuse me again of catching feelings, that’s not why I stopped the hard sell.”
“I believe you. I promise to shut off the business side of my brain the rest of the weekend.” He looks sheepish as he rolls out of bed. “Anywhere to get a decent breakfast?”
“I know just the place.”
Once showered and changed, we head into town on foot for breakfast at the diner. Rocco doesn’t complain since he’s regularly on the treadmill at the gym. And he seems to be enjoying the fresh air.
June greets us with a smile as we enter the Tie-Dye Diner.
“You must be Rocco,” June says, leading us to a booth. Rocco throws me a look that tells me he now understands how fast word travels around here.
We order coffee and breakfast and chat with June when she comes around to refill our cups. “So it’s your last night in Aqua Vista?”
My stomach sours. “Yeah, time for me to get back to my life in San Jose.”
“Well, it sounds like a nice one.” She offers me a sad smile that seems full of meaning. Maybe if I were alone, she might’ve shared her thoughts with me. And right then, I’m burning to know. “Meet us at Johnny’s bar later?” she asks.
“It’s his annual rib fest,” I tell Rocco, who shrugs. “Unless you were planning on heading out today?”
“I’d love to stick around for some barbecue.”
I try not to show my disappointment as I smile at June and tell her we’ll see her there. I consider giving Jack a heads-up, but why bother. We’ve established we’re friends, after all.
I reach for the bill, but Rocco jerks it out of my hand. “Allow me, for all the headaches I caused you by showing up.”
I silently study him as he digs out cash. “Why do I get the feeling you’re here for more than to check up on me?”
“Like I said, maybe I needed time away too.”
“I don’t doubt that, but normally, you’d head off somewhere more tropical.”
He sighs. “Corrine and I got in a fight.”
Ah, there it is.
“About what?”
“The wedding.”
“Plenty of couples argue about that.” Not that I’d know, but that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve never been anywhere close to the altar, nor have I wanted to be. A long-term commitment without the legal paper suits me just fine.
“Let’s just say she wants something much more lavish than I do. Been there, done that.”
I frown as we stand and head for the door. This will be Rocco’s second marriage. The first was after college and only lasted a year before they both decided they’d made a grave mistake. “If you had your say, what would you do?”
“A small, private ceremony on a remote beach.”
I nod because that’s what I thought. “Well, somehow, the two of you will work it out.”
“Yeah, I suppose.”
He’s only glum for a moment before he perks up and takes in the shops on Main Street.
“I just need to stop here to pick up a gift I bought for my mom.”
When we step into Spellbound, the bell above the door jingles.
“What could you possibly have bought in here?” he mutters as he takes in the shelves of books, essential oils, herbal remedies, and precious stones.
“Beth made Mom a bracelet with healing crystals.”
He opens his mouth to reply just as Beth’s enthusiastic voice booms over us. “There you are!”
“Hi there. I’d like you to meet—”
“Rocco. It’s a pleasure.”
“Wait, does everyone know my name?”
“We had lots of time to talk on the beach last night.” She looks at me. “I went to check this morning, and all looks good.”