23. Rosie

Chapter 23

Rosie

Think sisterly thoughts , I chanted to myself as I walked to the park to meet my team for the summer solstice picnic and softball game. Dylan was supposed to meet me down there after he finished up a call with his agent.

But my thoughts couldn’t be too sisterly, or Max would never believe that me and Dylan were actually dating.

Sisterly enough to keep Dylan at a distance.

Non-sisterly enough to make Max jealous and believe Dylan and I were in a real relationship.

Easy peasy.

Except, I couldn’t get the sight (or feel) of Dylan out of my mind, his face inches from mine as his body pressed me against a wall. That image would live rent free in my memory forever. Which wasn’t good.

I needed to replace it with an image of Max, stat.

Tonight, Dylan and I were making our couple debut. The entire town would be there, and we had to really sell it, though rumors of our paint escapade had started to swirl.

The morning and afternoon had been drizzly, but the sun had decided to make a presence this evening. I took my hoodie off and tied it around my waist. I was in my usual summer uniform, jean cut-offs and my bright orange Icy Asps jersey. I’d hung my largest one from the handle of the door to Dylan’s apartment, along with the note: I wore yours. Now it’s your turn to wear mine …

I heard the sound of the picnic—cheers, music, and chatting—before I rounded the corner and saw nearly everyone in town. The picnic was being held at the main park in Winterhaven, near the bookstore. The police had blocked off all the roads around it, meaning if you hadn’t planned ahead to stay home from work today, you had to drive around the entire island to get home, or park on Main Street and move your car after the festivities ended.

Like a magnet drawn to metal, I found Max and his nephew right away, playing a water balloon toss game. Watching Max cradle the water balloon and throw it as gently as he could to his nephew made my ovaries stand at attention.

What would it have been like to have a father who spent time with me like that? One who showed up whole-heartedly, even when he was busy. My earliest memory of my dad was seeing his back as he walked out the door for yet another adventure. I hadn’t even remembered what he’d looked like when he came back into town, strolled into my store, and told me who he was. He looked enough like Jules, though, it was clear that he was definitely my dad.

Max’s nephew reached out his arms to catch the water balloon, and it slid right between them to break open against his neck, water soaking his adorable pastel shorts and suspenders set. He gasped and looked at Max as if he wasn’t sure if he should cry or not. Then a mischievous smile crossed his face, and he raced toward Max to give him a soaking wet hug. Max dodged him a few times, then pretended to trip and fall, and his nephew launched at him, giggling.

I didn’t even realize I was smiling until Bennett poked my cheek. I swatted his hand away.

“You’ve got it baaaad,” he sang in a low voice.

My cheeks turned pink, which made his smile grow even more smug. He pulled me into one of his signature bear hugs, and he smelled like sunshine and salty ocean. I hadn’t seen him for a few days, and I missed him. I missed all my brothers. We’d forgone our last movie night because I had to work.

“Don’t you have fish to gut or something?”

“Already done. Ready for the big game?” He looped an arm around my shoulder and led me toward the field. Nerves wound through me. Oh my gosh. Maybe I was Mrs. Bennet, who talked endlessly of her nerves. I tabled the thought for later.

We were playing the Bookish Ballers—Max’s team.

“I was born ready.” We approached the field and headed toward the group of orange waiting for us. One of the men turned, and I squealed in excitement. “Hudson’s here?”

Bennett and I had double-teamed him a few years ago to get him to join our softball team. And with him in town, we were guaranteed to win.

I raced forward and gave him a tight hug. He lifted me off my feet and laughed. “No one else is ever as happy to see me as you.”

“Lies.” Everyone loved Hudson. We all worried about him too. His older brother, Shiloh, had been Hudson’s best friend, and since Shiloh had died, Hudson hadn’t been the same. He was always quiet and serious, but he’d drawn even more into his shell since the funeral.

He’d taken a leave of absence in his job as a physician and moved to Montana to live by Shiloh’s wife, Amelia, when it became clear at the funeral that she was not okay.

“I thought you were in Montana still,” I said as he let me down, and I stepped back to take him in. His eyes were drawn and tired, and his skin more pale than usual, but he was smiling.

“I got home late last night, just for this.”

“Really?”

He laughed. “No, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t care if it was for this or not. I’m glad you’re here.” With Hudson, we were going to wipe the floor with the Bookish Ballers.

“Amelia’s spending the next month in Hawaii with her parents, so I figured I’d come home while she was gone.”

“How’s she doing?”

He shrugged, and his expression turned grim. “Surviving. I think some extra sun will do her and Quinn good.”

“It’s good of you to help her,” I said.

“I’m not doing it for praise,” he said, looking uncomfortable.

“I know,” I assured him with a gentle squeeze to his arm. “You’re a good brother.”

“Thanks, but she’s—” He looked up and suddenly went very still.

I turned to see Dylan, who had come to a complete stop a few feet away, his gaze on Hudson. His face was pale. He wore my softball shirt, which was at least one size too small, but I couldn’t take the time to appreciate his chest. Not with the stricken expression on his face.

“Hey, Dylan,” Hudson said quietly.

Dylan swallowed, nodded, and then turned and walked away. I shared a concerned look with Bennett, and went to follow him, but Hudson’s hand on my arm stopped me.

“Let me,” Hudson said quietly as he jogged after Dylan.