Page 67 of Tell It To The Waves

“Thank you. Both of you, thank you.”

“While we're on this subject.” Kai stands up. “Hang on.” He disappears out the swinging door into the kitchen, reemerging before the swing could fully stop, taking a sip from a new can of beer. “All I saw today was that it needs fresh paint, in and out, and upgraded handles and faucets. And if you wanted to upgrade the ovens, I’d recommend that.”

I let out a loud sigh of relief, learning that it's in good shape. “I have paint colors already picked; I can send those to you tonight or tomorrow.”

“When do you think you want to open?” Baylee smiles at me, resting her hands under her chin.

Pursing my lips, the date hits me: “June twenty-first.” Saying it out loud feels so right.

Baylee’s eyes shoot at Kai and then back at me. I can see the sympathy oozing from her gaze. “I think that’s a perfect date.”

“I think it is too.” This year is my mom’s tenth anniversary of her death, and what better way to celebrate her and her life than to open my bakery on that day. It feels right.

Waving goodbye from my car, I drive with only one destination in mind: home.

Turning left, my mind spins from all the things that have to get done in a few short weeks. If I think too hard about it, I’ll spiral, so I try to make mental notes for each department. Painting, baking, signage, and everything else in between.

Pausing at the stop sign, I take off and then slam on my brakes when I come up to the bed-and-breakfast. Everything in me wants to stop and walk my ass in there, bang on every door until I find him and cuss him out. The look on his brother’s face said more than Kai could have voiced, or that he even intended to. He was hurt. And that makes me mad.

He’s not worth it, August,” I tell myself as I turn onto Main Street. My brain is saying that, while my eyes scan for him or his motorcycle, and neither is seen.

My mind spins on the way home, inching down the driveway. I throw my car into park, hop out, and instead of walking and unlocking the door, I take the back deck and let my feet lead me down the stairs to the beach.

The waves are loud and wild tonight; another storm is on the horizon.

I stand at the seashore, letting the waves wash up and over my feet, before the ocean takes them back to do it all over again.

I can’t count how many times I spent the night on this very beach, the waves lulling me to sleep. It was such a magical place to come here every summer, a place of safety and joy.

The breeze kicks up, sending a shiver through me as I wrap my arms around myself, the thin dress not helping to block the wind.

“You’re here. No matter what, there is no running again, August. No matter what,” I chant to myself over and over again, until lightning strikes in the distance. My cue to go inside.

Once inside and changed into a sleep shirt, I make myself a glass of hot tea, yank the sliding glass door open and lock the screen, before I sit in the middle of the floor, writing on my notepad everything I need to do starting tomorrow.

“Shit.” I almost forgot to send the colors to Kai. Hurrying and doing that, I decided on Coastal blue and white for the inside, light and inviting. And for the outside, I want to add some yellow, keeping the same blue and white as the inside. I smile, sending Kai the text, already imagining what it’s going to look like.

Sipping my tea, I write down all the baked goods I want to sell. And all the ingredients I will have to have delivered. “God, did I take on too much?” I tap my pen on my notepad, finally pushing it away from me when my phone chimes with a text message. Looking down, I expect to see Kai, but it’s Bohdi.

I’m sorry I didn’t get to make it tonight; something came up.

I read it, start typing, automatically delete it, and type again. “No,” I tell myself, turning my volume down. The last thing I want right now is an excuse. He should never have agreed to come. I want to tell him how much of a jerk ass he is, but he’s not my problem. Last night was a mental slip; this Bohdi isn’t like the man I used to know. He would have never stood his family up.

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I force myself off the floor, needing to get some sleep. Looking at the sofa, I decide against it, not needing his scent to invade my dreams.

“Luna, let's go to bed.” I call out, and hear her little scurry down the hallway to the bedroom, which makes me laugh.

Plugging my phone into the charger, I see the screen light up, showing numerous text messages Bohdi sent since the first one. Rolling my eyes, I place the phone screen down before turning over and cocooning under my quilt.

I lay there tossing and turning, my quilt acting like it’s trying to encase me. “Ugh!” I fight my way out of the bundled mess, kicking my feet on the bed. “Why?” I call to the dark room before I pick up my phone. The light is blinding me from the intense brightness, brightening up the small section of my bed and face. Squinting, I hover my finger over his name. Without giving myself time to think, I tap it, and his text appears.

I wanted to be there

I’ll apologize to him

There is so much shit going on that people don’t know about. Again, I’m sorry, August.

I roll my eyes and this time type out what I want to say, not deleting it, but sending it to him.