Chapter Fifteen
Mae
“Brad, why in the world do you think you should have a say in who I kiss?” My brows shot up as I stood in front of my brother and sisters.
We’d all gathered for coffee and to talk about the logistics of tonight’s dinner for my parents and who would do what while they were away.
But my frustration boiled over when Brad smirked in my direction, and I asked him what the look was for.
“I don’t have a say in who you kiss, obviously.” His smirk only grew.
“Wait a second,” Audrey piped up, looking between Brad and me. “What’s going on here?”
“I kissed Tyler yesterday when he came over for dinner.”
Audrey’s green eyes grew twice their size. “He came over for dinner and you kissed? How could you not tell me this?”
“Same,” Emily said, laughing. “Aren’t you supposed to tell your sisters these types of things?”
I cocked my head and noticed Amelia pretending to cool down her latte, but she didn’t say a word.
“I didn’t bother to say anything because it happened spontaneously.”
Amelia chuckled. “Right. Most kisses do.”
“And it’s not going anywhere,” I added. “The moment the kiss happened, we knew it was a mistake.”
Brad looked surprised. “So that part is true?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
My brother shrugged. “That’s what Tyler said too.”
“He did?” Disappointment pounded through me.
There I went again, hoping for the impossible.
“He said you both agreed you couldn’t move forward.”
“True. He has no intention of staying here, and I have no intention of moving.” I smiled as a customer came in. “Excuse me. I need to go help one of my regulars.”
The moment I stood behind the counter, I could feel that my siblings were all gossiping about the kiss. It was bound to happen, so might as well let them vent now.
“Hey, Mae. How is my favorite barista?” Shirley was the biggest supporter of my little endeavor, which was awesome since she also ran the town paper and plugged my coffee shop as often as she could. She also happened to be a really good gossiper, which made me a little nervous with Tyler being back in town.
“I’m doing good,” I said, reaching for a large paper cup. “Your usual? Mocha with salted caramel on top?”
“You know it. I need my dessert before dinner.” She leaned forward, and my heart stopped. She was going to mention Tyler.
“Is it true that your parents are handing over the store?” Relief spread through me as I grinned at her.
“Boy, does word travel fast. It sure is. In fact, they’re also headed to Europe for the summer.”
“Oh, fun.”
“It should be. I’m watching Dottie,” I informed her as I pulled her espresso shots.
She wandered along the counter and tapped the granite as I finished her drink.
“Is it true that Tyler is back in town?” Her eyes fastened on mine, and I knew she already knew the answer. I also wondered if she knew I’d had a crush on him back in the day.
“He is. I guess he’s helping his parents out and leaving in a day or so.”
She shuddered as she reached for the drink. “They’re wretched. You know I was in Tyler’s graduating class, right?”
I chuckled. “Actually, no. I never really thought about it.”
“Well, I was, and it was so sad…”
I cocked my head. “What was so sad?”
“They never came to anything that Paul or Tyler had been involved in. It wasn’t like they were out of town or busy. His parents just chose not to come.”
“That’s heartbreaking.” I shook my head.
“I just don’t know how parents could do that on purpose. There’s only so many monumental moments.”
My stomach clenched, and I nodded. “I just don’t know how I was so na?ve. My brother was his best friend, and I didn’t even know this stuff was going on.”
“Why would you? You weren’t in the same grade or anything.” She shrugged. “Did you hear, though?”
“What?”
I was almost afraid to find out.
“Bethany has the hots for Tyler.”
My brows shot up. “Bethany? As in his dad’s physical therapist?”
“Yup. I heard her devising some plan to make Tyler stay a little longer on the island.”
“So then why did you ask me if Tyler was really on the island when you knew he was here?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Never mind. I’m sure it’s only in the name of journalism.”
“Anyway, I thought that was interesting. Can you imagine that she’d want to date him after meeting his dad? That whole lot would scare me away.” She shivered. “Actually, they already did.”
I shook my head, trying to focus on Shirley, but all I could think about was Bethany setting her sights on Tyler.
It made perfect sense. He was extremely good-looking, kind, and available.
Available to everyone but me.
“So, what do you think?”
My eyes darted to Shirley’s. “About what?”
“Bethany and Tyler?”
“Whatever floats their boat.” I shrugged.
“You’re not still into him?”
I laughed and felt my cheeks flush. “That was so many years ago, Shirley.”
“I know… but you’re single, and…” Her lips twisted into a playful grin. “He’s easy on the eyes.”
“There are a lot of great-looking men in the world, Shirley. I don’t need to pounce on them all.”
Shirley smiled. “Right, but you don’t pounce on any of them.”
“True.” I chuckled.
“Have a great evening, and tell your parents congratulations,” Shirley said before spinning around and wandering out the coffee shop.
I walked back over to my siblings and Audrey’s right brow arched. “What’s that face for?”
“Nothing. Let’s get focused on the task at hand.” I rubbed my palms together, and Audrey whistled with a shrug.
“Whatever you say.”
“So, I have Dottie, and since I’m here with my coffee shop, I can help with all the early morning deliveries Mom usually stood in for.”
Brad smiled. “Really? That’s great.”
“Don’t get too excited. It’s just while you all find a groove.” I frowned. “I’m still mad at you for interfering in my nonexistent personal life.”
“The only week I can’t be here is the third week in August. I’m headed to Arizona,” Audrey said.
“Why in the world would you go to Arizona in August? You’ll turn into a pickle chip.”
“A pickle chip?” She chuckled.
“I don’t know. It’s just hot there.”
“I promised my friend that I’d go visit her family down there.” She shrugged. “And I’ll just stay in the air-conditioning or by the pool. Her family’s house is like eight million square feet or something. It would be nice to try out a mansion.”
Snickering, I glanced at Emily and Amelia trading a look. “What?”
“Did I hear that Bethany is trying to get with Tyler?”
My chest tightened at the thought, but I pushed the uneasiness away as best I could.
I nodded. “Sounds like it.”
“I’m sorry,” Amelia said, pushing her lips into a frown.
“You should be happy, though,” I told Brad, narrowing my eyes on him.
“It’s not like that, Mae.” Brad shook his head. “I’d love for you two to become a forever couple, but he has repeatedly told me that he’s not the settling-down type. Why would I want my sister’s heart to be broken when he decides to move on?”
Emily shook her head. “You can’t be sure he’d move on, Brad. That’s really conceited to think you know what’s best for your older sister.”
Brad groaned. “I’m not pretending to know what’s best for Mae.”
My brows shot up as I crossed my arms over my chest. “What would you call it, then?”
“I just… he seemed… I merely explained that you’ve been sheltered and—”
My gaze blazed with fiery daggers. “You said what? I’m not sheltered.”
“Well, you’re not experienced,” Brad tried again.
“What? Just because I don’t sleep with a ton of men, you think that makes me sheltered? Maybe that makes me smart.”
Brad held his forehead in his hand. “No, you’re right. It does make you smart. I have the smartest sisters in the world. Mae, you’re amazing. You’ve guided all of us to make great decisions over the years. You’ve always been there for us.”
“Then what’s the problem? Why can’t I be trusted when it comes to Tyler?”
“It’s not about you in this situation, Mae.” He shook his head.
“Who else would it be about?” We rarely disagreed in our family, but this just… hurt. “You already stopped us once from trying things out. Why do it again?”
My mind shifted to the incredible kiss I shared with Tyler and all the emotion that swam through me as he held me in his arms. When he looked into my eyes, it was like I saw the deepest part of his soul—the goodness. He wouldn’t hurt me, not on purpose.
Brad sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Listen, I know it’s not my business. But I also know that over the years, he hasn’t exactly been a saint.”
Laughter shot out of my mouth. “And you have?”
Audrey whistled again. “She has a point there, Bro.”
Brad stood and took his cup over to get a refill on coffee.
“Was the kiss incredible?” Audrey whispered.
I nodded, feeling my cheeks warm at the thought.
Everything about Tyler was incredible. That was the problem. Plus, Tyler and I already agreed to not pursue anything.
But that didn’t mean I liked Brad sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. It was my decision, not my brother’s.
Brad sat back down and avoided my stare.
“Guys, we can’t be arguing and in a fight on the night we’re celebrating our parents’ retiring. It will make them think they can’t leave. That they were wrong about trusting us,” Emily said, looking at each of us.
Guilt swam quickly through my veins. My sister was right. Our parents deserved peace of mind when they boarded their flight tomorrow, and this argument was pretty pointless since Tyler and I weren’t planning on getting romantically involved.
It didn’t matter what my heart wanted.
Tyler wasn’t really interested in moving forward, so there wasn’t any real point in arguing with my brother about things.
“Mae, I’m sorry. It’s just that Tyler has had a complicated past, his family is dysfunctional, he’s never been in a long-term relationship, and I just don’t want to see you get broken.”
My eyes stayed on Brad’s, and I let out a sigh. “I’m not a piece of porcelain, Brad. I can put the pieces back together again. But it’s a moot point anyway. He’s leaving Marigold and will probably never come back, and I’m certainly not giving up on this.” I waved my hands around my coffee shop.
“You’re right, and I’m sorry, Mae.” He shook his head.
“And maybe if he gets to know Bethany, things will work out. She’s obviously not turned off by his parents, and she can do her job just about anywhere.”
Just speaking the words made my stomach clench and tie into a million knots. The idea of Tyler kissing anyone but me made me want to get sick.
Yet, I knew the emotions threading through me weren’t based on logic or practicality. They were rooted in some fictional idea that I’d based off a teenage boy.
Sure, Tyler was kind, loyal, and far more compassionate than I’d ever imagined, but he was also a sworn bachelor by all accounts, and we’d both agreed not to move forward with anything.
He was free to go out with Bethany or anyone else who wanted to hang out with him.
With that last thought, I knew it was time to drop the idea of an unattainable man. I’d played pretend long enough, and it was time to start living my life in reality, not some fanciful version based on fate and whimsical notions planted by feelings.
“Just one thing, though,” Brad said, frowning.
“What now?” we all groaned.
“Tyler never knew the earrings you wore were mayflowers.”
I cocked my head slightly as my brows furrowed. “Then why does he call me his Mayflower?”
Brad clicked his tongue. “Beats me.”