Page 41 of My Brother’s Best Friend

Deacon laughed, then apologized when he saw my look of consternation. “Sorry, sorry. You just remind me a lot of me, is all. I felt the same way when things started happening between Mal and me. But with the right guy, that won’t matter. The right guy won’t care at all.”

“That sounds overly optimistic.”

“Maybe,” he said with another kind smile. “But then again, maybe not.”

“I can’t just not respond to this other guy, though. Leaving him hanging would be rude.”

“So respond and tell him you’ve changed your mind.”

“Over text? That feels even shittier.”

“Cam, are you trying to make this hard for yourself?”

I frowned. Was I? “I’m just remembering how I felt when I got stood up last night. I feel like you owe it to someone to let them down in person.”

“Then do it,” Deacon said.

“And then what?”

He grinned. “I can’t tell you that. But I think if you listen to your heart, you just might figure it out.”

11

JORDAN

“Jordan Brooks? Is that you?”

I turned from cleaning the espresso machine to see Billie, owner of the Adair Superette, standing at the counter of The Roastery. We were only open for one more hour before the Founders’ Festival dance began, down at the harbor. Levi had asked me to watch the front while he checked inventory in the back.

I was a little surprised we had any customers at all at this hour, but of course, I had to be at the counter for the one who would recognize me.

“Hey, Billie.” I plastered a smile to my face. “How are you?”

“Nevermind me,” she said. “How are you? How’s it feel to be back?”

“Oh, I’m not really—”

“I always said you’d come back. Didn’t I always say that?” She beamed. “I knew you couldn’t stay away. Now, I know things are tough with your mama, but I always said you belonged here on Summersea, and look at that—I was right! I just can’t imagine Adair without the Brooks family around. Didn’t I always tell you you’d come home?”

By the time she let me get a word in edgewise, I realized I didn’t actually have the energy to explain that this was only temporary, or to point out that Levi hadn’t ever left, so it wasn’t like the town was completely bereft of us in any case.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you did.”

She would realize she was wrong once I was gone. Actions spoke louder than words, and all that.

My cheeks colored as I remembered my own actions back at Doris and Arthur’s. I’d made myself way too clear there. Completely transparent.

But with any luck, I wouldn’t have to see Cam again. Once I’d gotten back to The Roastery, I’d realized the only solution was to return to New York, and the sooner, the better. I just wished the thought didn’t fill me with so much dread.

I gave Billie her café au lait and waved goodbye, promising to stop by and visit her next week. I couldn’t decide if I hoped I’d break that promise or not.

On the one hand, I truly couldn’t bear the thought of running into Cam again. It was bad enough that I’d kissed him last night, but after this afternoon? I would evaporate in a cloud of pure shame if I saw him.

On the other hand, the more I thought about going back to New York, the sicker my stomach felt. When I’d left Summersea the first time, New York had been a refuge. A safe haven. But now? Now, it seemed more like a punishment.

With a sigh, I picked up my phone, figuring I might as well start looking for rooms to rent. I blinked when I saw a notification from GayBae, and that sick feeling only grew when I read a message from Quincy.

QUINCY: Hey, I would love to meet up if you’re still free. Should we say the bathroom at The Port Hole, for simplicity’s sake? At 7?