“So then, there seems to be a lot that you haven’t done, that you missed out on because of your fear.”
“Seems that way.”
She twists her lips to the side as she thinks. “You know, I happen to know a lot about this island,” she says. “And I happen to know a lot about the store.” Her eyes meet mine, our hands still connected. “What would you say to letting me show you around my childhood? You could experience everything from the smallest of things, like eating ice cream on the perfect rock, to going to Watchful Wanderers with an adventure planned.”
“It sounds like I’m in good hands.”
“Yeah?” she asks, hope blooming across her face.
“Yeah. I think that’s just what I need.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
DR. BEAU
Rain pelts my windshield as I navigate Marina Island’s narrow back roads.
I hate house calls.
It’s the one thing I can’t stand about being a doctor on an island. And yeah, that might make me look like an ass, but there’s something about not having all the things that I need when making a house call. This is my second time returning to town after having to drive back because I didn’t have all the right tools; thankfully this return is bringing me back home rather than having to make another trip. And because of that, I’m now stuck driving five miles per hour in a torrential downpour.
Using the controls on my steering wheel, I turn down my music, because that always seems to help people drive better during stressful situations. I keep my hands firmly placed at ten and two as I lean toward the windshield, hoping for any sort of visibility.
I’ve reduced my speed to barely moving when I catch a flash of teal and red off to the side. I brake and spot a lone figure wandering along the side of the road.
“What the . . .” I pull forward some more until I’m right next to the person.
Palmer.
Why the hell is she out here in the storm?
I roll down my window and shout, “Palmer, what are you doing?”
Startled, she jumps to the side, trips, and falls flat on her butt in a puddle of mud.
Thankfully no one is attempting to travel these roads besides me . . . and Palmer, apparently, so I put my car in park, throw on my hazards, and hop out.
Drenched, she has her cast arm cuddled into her chest, her short ponytail is clinging to the back of her neck, and her T-shirt is practically see-through.
“What are you doing out here?” I shout over the pounding of the storm.
“What does it look like?” she yells back, still on the ground. “Enjoying a lovely walk in the rain.”
“You’re not supposed to get your cast wet.”
“Well aware, Dr. Obvious.”
I open up the passenger door of my car and hold out my hand. “Let me help you up and get in.”
“I’m wet and muddy and you have a nice car.”
“That’s what car detailing is for!” I shout, yanking her up by her good arm.
Before she can protest, I guide her into my car, shut the door, and then quickly get in on the driver’s side. The rain pelts the metal of my car as I take a deep breath. “Christ, you’re really far from your parents’ house.”
“I know,” she answers.
“Well, let me get you back there.”
“No,” she says quickly, placing her hand on my arm. When my eyes meet hers, a flash of vulnerability crosses her expression, and I’m reminded of the text conversation I had with Larkin. Something bad happened between the Chance siblings. “Please don’t take me to my parents’ house. Anywhere but there.”
The pain in her voice. The sadness, desperation. It makes me say something I probably shouldn’t, something I’ll most likely regret, because I have feelings for this girl. I’ve always had feelings for her, and seeing her again has only made them resurface. And sure, she wanted to push my chin dimple and said I smelled good, but that doesn’t mean anything. The girl never stays in one place; she’s always moving around the world. Getting attached to her is a bad, bad idea, my logical brain reminds me, especially after the history we share. But that doesn’t stop me from saying, “You can come back to my place. We should change out your cast anyway.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No, not at all.” I swallow down the lie.
“I would be really grateful,” she says, squeezing my arm.
Good job, Beau. Now your heart is going to be tripping in your chest all night as you navigate around this girl.