Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
L una sat cross-legged on Serenity's deck with Janine after their morning yoga session. Everyone else had left, leaving them alone with their hot tea and the rhythm of the waves in the background.
"You're a bit quieter than usual," Janine said. "Still thinking about that romantic beach picnic with Archer?"
Luna looked up quickly. "Wait, how did you?—"
"Small town, remember? Besides, I saw you two out there," she said, smiling. "You looked very comfortable together."
"Yeah, too comfortable, maybe." Luna traced the rim of her cup with her index finger. "Janine, I can't afford to blur those lines. He's still technically my client. What if I get a reputation for getting romantically involved with clients? That's terrible."
"Is he your client, though? I mean, when was the last time he came to an actual, formal session?"
Luna thought about it. The movement classes had evolved into something less structured. Their conversations had shifted from therapeutic to something else entirely.
"It's too complicated," Luna said.
"Yeah, well, life usually is." Janine shifted and faced Luna. "Can I be honest with you?"
"Of course."
"I see the way you two look at each other. Like, both of you are afraid to take that first step and terrified of what happens if you don't."
"I came here to build something, Janine, to create a place of healing. I can't risk that for—for what? Love?"
The word hung between them like a weighted blanket.
"The last time I risked everything for love," Luna said quietly, "I ended up having to start over completely."
"Yeah, and look what happened when you started over. You found Seagrove. You found yourself. So maybe sometimes starting over isn't an ending. It's an opening."
Luna watched a pair of seagulls chasing each other across the morning sky. "I'm scared, Janine, not just of getting hurt, but of hurting him. He's been through so much already."
"You know what I think?" Janine said, leaning back. "I think you're both so used to taking care of everybody else that you've forgotten how to let someone take care of you."
She wasn't wrong. Luna thought about all her years of counseling and how the whole time she kept her own heart carefully guarded and didn't really let anyone in. And then Archer, who had pushed through the pain to maintain his image—neither one of them was very good at letting others in.
"But what if it doesn't work?" Luna asked. "What if we ruin everything? This friendship, this progress he's made, my place, and my name in Seagrove."
"And what if it does work?" Janine said. "What if it's exactly why you both ended up here? Sometimes the universe has a funny way of bringing people together at exactly the right moment. What if you waste that opportunity?"
Luna smiled. "Now you sound like Dixie."
"Worse people to sound like," Janine said, standing and gathering her yoga mat. "Look, just don't let fear make your decisions for you, Luna. You've spent your whole life teaching others to be brave. Maybe it's time to take some of your own advice."
* * *
A rcher stared at the email on his phone, reading it for the third time. He couldn't believe it. The prestigious Oakland Hills Golf Academy in California wanted him as their head junior coach. He would have full benefits, a huge salary, and the chance to work with some of the country's most promising young golfers. A month ago, he wouldn't have even considered something like this. He had only wanted to go back to professional golfing or sit around and sulk for the rest of his life, but working with the kids in Seagrove had made him open to the possibility. And now he thought of it as a way to stay connected to the game he loved without the pressure of competition.
But now, as he looked out the window of his room at the inn, he could see Serenity. Luna would be finishing her morning class about now. He pictured her moving through the space with the quiet grace that she always had. Luna was true serenity to him.
His phone buzzed, another email from Oakland Hills requesting a response or asking if he had any questions, wanting to meet with him. They needed an answer within the week. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
"Hey, got a minute?" Dawson asked, leaning against the doorframe. "Julie sent me up with coffee, but I really think she wanted me to check on you. She said you looked a little troubled at breakfast."
Archer held up his phone. "I got a job offer. Oakland Hills Golf Academy."
Dawson's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, is that in California?"
"Yeah, a long way from Seagrove," Archer said.
"Yeah. Have you told Luna?"
The question hit him like a physical blow. "Well, no, not yet. I mean, I don't know how to. She's got her whole life here now. She's just starting here. Serenity is thriving and she's making a real difference. I don't want to mess things up between us."
"Well, I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed, my friend. You have to tell her."
Archer stood and paced to the window. "You know, maybe it's better this way. It'll be a clean break before things get too complicated."
"I think it's too late for that," Dawson said. "Question is, what do you really want?"
Archer wished he knew the answer. "What do I want? I want to stay in the game. I want to make a difference. But I also want..." He trailed off, not finishing his sentence, the truth of all of it catching in his throat.
"Luna," Dawson finished.
"Yeah, well, it's not that simple."
"Actually, it is that simple. We just like to complicate things too much," Dawson said, sitting down in the armchair. "You know, when I met Julie, we were both scared. She had been hurt and I'd been alone for a long time. I had other opportunities that would have taken me out of Seagrove. Job offers."
"You never told me that."
"Because it wasn't important. The moment I got those job offers, I realized I couldn't imagine my life without Julie. And that decision made itself. I never even told her about them."
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "The thing is, Archer, you're not the same person who would have jumped at this offer six months ago."
"No, I'm not."
"Those kids that you're teaching here, that life you're building—you have to decide, is it worth it for you to give it up for some prestigious title and big salary all the way in California?"
"I need to think about it," he said finally.
"Well, just don't think so hard you miss what's right in front of you." Dawson stood and started walking toward the door, setting down a cup of coffee on his way. "And Archer, you know, you shouldn't wait too long to tell her. News gets around in Seagrove."
"Hey, please don't tell anybody, even Julie. I need some time to think."
"Of course, man, I would never tell anyone."
After Dawson left, Archer sat on his bed, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. His phone buzzed again—another email from Oakland Hills offering him some times to Zoom. They obviously wanted him. He understood why. He had a big reputation in the golf world. But did that even matter to him anymore? He needed to make a choice, but he just wished he knew which one was right.
* * *
A rcher walked toward Serenity, the the job offer weighing heavily in his pocket. He was going to tell her tonight, no matter what. She deserved to know before he made any decisions. When he reached her deck, the words seemed to wilt into his throat. She stood at the railing watching the sunset, wearing a white sundress and her hair loose around her shoulders. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, with bronzed skin and long black hair. He couldn't believe his luck that he'd found her. He felt like he’d spent his whole life searching for someone he didn’t know actually existed, and now he was considering leaving her?
She turned at his approach, and her smile hit him like a physical force. "Perfect timing," she said. "I was just thinking about how we talked the other day about finding joy in the simple moments."
He joined her at the railing, close enough to catch the scent of her perfume. "Oh yeah?"
"So I thought maybe," she hesitated, "well maybe you would like to have dinner with me tomorrow night. Not on the beach this time. There's a little place in town I've been wanting to try."
His heart thumped in his chest. Did she just ask him on a date? The job offer pressed against his leg, reminding him why he'd come there. He should tell her. He should tell her right now before things got too complicated. But instead, he heard himself say, "I'd love that."
She smiled and then turned back to the sunset. He found himself leaning closer, drawn to her by some invisible force. A car door slammed somewhere nearby, breaking the spell. Luna stepped back, but her smile remained. "So tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow," he said. Words about California burning in his throat. He would tell her at dinner. He promised himself. As he watched her walk back inside, he wondered if he was already in too deep.
* * *
L una stood in front of her mirror, smoothing her sundress. When she had asked Archer to dinner at The Blue Crab, she had tried to tell herself this couldn't really be a date, but the butterflies in her stomach suggested otherwise.
The knock at the door made her heart jump. She found Archer on her porch, wearing khakis and a pink button-down shirt that brought out the blue in his eyes. He looked different somehow, less guarded.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi." He cleared his throat. "You look beyond beautiful."
Luna felt warmth creep up into her cheeks. "Well, you clean up pretty good yourself."
They walked to the restaurant in the evening air. Luna was aware of Archer right beside her, and the way their arms brushed against each other with each step. The Blue Crab sat right on the water, its deck strung with twinkly lights. Their table overlooked the marsh, and they could see fishing boats off in the distance.
"I've been wanting to try this place since I got to town,” Luna said. "Julie says they have the best seafood in town."
"They do," Archer agreed. "They've been around since I was a kid, but don't tell SuAnn I said they have the best seafood. She swears her crab cakes are the best in town. SuAnn has quite a competitive streak when it comes to food.”
Luna laughed, feeling some of the nervousness ease. This was still Archer, the same man who had become her friend and an important part of her life, but tonight felt different.
Their conversation flowed easily over dinner, moving from stories about Archer's golf students to Luna's latest classes. She also talked a lot about growing up and visiting Puerto Rico, while Archer told some stories about Dawson and him that made her laugh. She found herself watching his face as he talked, noticing how the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
"Speaking of golf," he said, setting down his fork, "there was something I wanted to ask you."
"Oh?"
"Well, the Seagrove Golf Classic is coming up next weekend. I wasn't going to go, but I'm feeling a little better about it now and I'd like to attend. It's an annual charity tournament, pretty big deal around here." He paused and looked like he was gathering his courage. "I was wondering if you might be my date for the tournament and for the dinner dance after."
Luna felt a warmth in her chest. "A tournament and a dance? That's quite an invitation."
"Too much?"
"No," she said, "not too much at all. Actually, I'd love to come."
"Great, that's great," he said, a smile breaking across his face. "Though I should warn you, I'm not much of a dancer."
"Well, I'm not much of a golfer, so I guess we're even."
"Well, we could fix that, you know. I could teach you some basics before the tournament, if you want."
Luna thought about being close to him. "I'd like that."
The waiter appeared with dessert menus, breaking the moment between them.
"SuAnn will never forgive us if we don't try the key lime pie," Archer said. "It's the only dessert in town that she admits is better than her own."
"Well, we wouldn't want to disappoint SuAnn."
They shared a slice, and Luna found herself hyper-aware of his every movement—the way his fingers brushed against hers as he passed her a napkin, or how his eyes lingered on her face when she took her first bite.
"Verdict?" he asked.
"Amazing, though again, I don't think we should tell SuAnn that I said that."
He laughed, and it wrapped around her like a warm summer breeze.
When they finished dessert, the restaurant's lights dimmed slightly, and soft music drifted from the hidden speakers.
"You want to walk on the beach before heading back?" Archer asked. "It's beautiful at night, as you know."
She nodded.
They strolled along the beach, close, but not quite touching. The moon cast silver ribbons across the water.
"Thank you for dinner," Luna said. "I invited you, so you didn’t have to pay for it. And also, thanks for inviting me to the tournament."
"Well, thank you for saying yes," he said to both.
They walked back to Serenity, both aware that something had changed, even if neither one of them was ready to name it yet.
* * *
L una stood on the practice green right at sunrise, watching Archer as he set up for their impromptu lesson. The morning air was crisp, which was unusual in the Lowcountry, so she was enjoying it. It carried with it the scent of freshly cut grass.
"Okay, the first rule of golf," Archer said, handing her a club, "is grip. Everything else builds from there."
Luna took the club and tried to mimic the way she had seen him hold it. Archer shook his head, moving in to stand behind her.
"May I?" he asked softly.
She nodded, and he stepped closer, his chest barely brushing her back as he reached around to adjust her hands on the club. She couldn't help but feel her heart speed up at his proximity and the gentle way he positioned her fingers.
"Like this," he said, his breath warm against her ear. "Left hand here, right hand here. You feel how they work together?"
"Yes," Luna said, trying to make sure her voice didn’t shake. She was acutely aware of him, the solid warmth of his presence, and the faint scent of his aftershave.
"Now, for the stance." Archer stepped back slightly, and Luna felt a loss. "Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent."
She followed his instructions and tried to focus on the mechanics of what he was teaching her, rather than the way his eyes followed her every move.
"Good," he said. "Now we're ready for the swing. Remember how we talked about breathing in class? Well, it’s the same kind of thing here. It’s all about the rhythm and allowing your body to move naturally."
He demonstrated the motion, and Luna watched the fluid grace of his swing, the way his shoulders seemed to cooperate today instead of fighting him.
"Now your turn," he said, moving behind her again. "No pressure, nice and easy."
Luna took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the mechanics, but it was really hard. Archer was a very good-looking man, and he smelled like heaven. How was she supposed to figure out how to swing this golf club when she couldn’t stop thinking about his breath against her ear?
She drew the club back and attempted to mirror his fluid motion.
"Wait," he said softly. She hadn’t noticed that he was there because her eyes were closed. "You’re too tense right here." His hand moved over her shoulder. "Remember what we practice in class. Let the tension flow out. You’re a pro at this."
Luna closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on her breathing. When she opened them, Archer was now at her side.
"Try again," he said. "This time, feel the rhythm of it like the ocean. There’s power, but there’s also grace."
She swung again. This time, the club connected with the ball and sent it rolling across the practice green. It didn’t go very far, but it was straight.
"Beautiful," Archer said.
When she looked at him, she wasn’t sure if he was talking about the shot or something else.
"Well, I had a good teacher," she said.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, she felt like the early morning air was electrified. He cleared his throat and stepped back slightly.
"Are you ready to try another?"
Luna nodded, already missing how close he had been to her just moments before.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they worked through different shots. His instruction was focused but gentle, and she found herself stealing glances at him, noting how natural he looked out there, how at peace.
"You’re very different on the course," she said when they were taking a break.
"Different how?"
"More yourself, maybe? Like you can breathe here?"
His eyes met hers.
"I am. Breathing, I mean. For the first time in a long time."
She felt the weight of his words, understanding that they meant more than just the physical act of breathing. She’d seen such a transformation in him over the past weeks, from the angry, injured man who had first walked into Serenity to this version of Archer, who could find such joy in teaching children.
"Your turn again," he said, setting up another ball. "Now let’s work on that follow-through."
She took her stance, and he moved behind her again, his hands light on her hips.
"Now rotate here," he said softly. "Let your body follow the motion naturally."
She tried to focus on the technical aspects of the swing, but she just couldn’t help the way she felt like she needed to turn around and kiss him square on the lips. Probably inappropriate for a golf lesson.
"That’s it," he said as she completed another swing. "See? You’re a natural."
"Now you’re just being kind," she said, laughing and turning to face him.
"I’m being honest," he said.
He was close enough that she could see flecks of green in his eyes and the slight stubble on his jaw. For a moment, neither of them moved. All she could hear was the distant crashing of waves and the sound of birds overhead. She felt herself sway slightly toward him, drawn by some invisible force. But then a groundskeeper’s cart rumbled in the distance and broke the spell.
Archer stepped back, running his hand through his hair.
"You know, we should probably wrap up. You’ve got morning classes to teach."
She nodded, trying to push down the flutter of disappointment she felt.
"Thanks for the lesson."
"Thanks for letting me share this with you," he said softly.
As they walked back toward their cars, Luna realized that somewhere between the breathing exercises and the golf swings, something had shifted between them. She wasn’t sure either of them was ready to acknowledge it yet.