Chapter 17
Jake
I sink into the sofa, the can cold in my hand, condensation beading up and trickling down the side. I take a sip and my mind drifts to Kelly. Of course. All these years gone by, and here she is, back in Harbor’s Edge at the very front and center of my life.
Kelly and I were so young last time we were together, but fuck if I didn’t love her more than anything or anyone in this world.
I remember those little things that made her... her. How she’d stand with hands on hips, chin jutted out when anyone tried to bulldoze her. Her quirks—a laugh that could either mean genuine amusement or watch out, world, you’re about to get it . She had this way of making everything seem more alive, vibrant. I’ve never met anyone more driven than her.
I let out a slow breath, the air thick with memories, each one dragging me back to a time when things felt easier—when love was simple and unbreakable, or at least that’s what we thought.
Now, with her back in Harbor’s Edge, the past seems as close as the present, like I’m living in two timelines at once, both of them pulling at me, memories slipping through, refusing to stay buried.
And this evening, there’s that one night that keeps coming back, the night when we were just kids with the whole world ahead of us, hearts wide open, Rolling in the Deep playing like it was written just for us.
Adele’s name was a link to my past, a way to punish myself, even if Jenny never quite knew the full story.
And that one night… I can still feel the sand under my feet, the warmth of the day still lingering in the evening air, the waves coming in soft and steady. I can recall every detail of that night even now.
We were sprawled out on this old blanket we’d found in the back of my Camaro—I’d loved that car almost as much as Kelly. Her head rested on my shoulder, her laughter soft as she looked up at the stars, pointing them out one by one.
The radio was playing and the ocean breeze tugged at her hair. There was a faint glow from the lighthouse overhead, casting just enough light to catch the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me.
“You ever think about getting out of here?” I asked her, more serious than I meant to be.
Kelly smiled, her fingers tracing little shapes on the back of my hand. “Only if you’re with me.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
“Look at that one,” she whispered, nudging me with her elbow, pointing at a star. “I swear, that one’s ours. It’s brighter than the others. You see it?”
I laughed, pretending to squint, even though I’d look anywhere she told me to, agree to anything she said. “Pretty sure you’re just seeing things, but yeah. That one’s ours.” I squeezed her hand, pulling her a little closer. “All of this is ours tonight.”
She smiled, and something moved deep inside my chest. It was more than a crush or a moment—I knew I’d never have this with anyone else. And then it happened—Adele’s Rolling in the Deep came on the radio, the song floating out into the night, mingling with the sound of the waves crashing below us.
I’d heard that song a hundred times—it was playing all summer—but right then, every lyric was written for us. It was somehow meant for that moment.
Except we did have it all. At least, we thought we did.
I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close, my lips brushing her forehead as her eyes closed. “You feel that too, right?” I whispered, barely even aware of the words as they came out. I just needed her to say it.
Her hand squeezed mine. “Every second of it.”
We stayed tangled up in each other, the music wrapping around us, the stars shining above. The whole world had shrunk down to just us, just that night. It was one of those moments that I wanted to last forever, one I knew I’d never forget.
As the song played on, she looked at me and leaned in close. We kissed, the kind of kiss that seemed to make time slow down, except for the beat of the song, which raced in time with my heart. I wanted to freeze that moment, keep it locked in some corner of my heart where it couldn’t get lost. But life doesn’t work that way, does it?
It was brutal today, being close enough to catch her scent, close enough to brush those stray locks from her eyes and take her in my arms.
No matter how much every part of me wants to pull her against me, claim her mouth like I did that night at the wedding, I’ll have to grin and bear it and wait for the right moment. Show her with time and patience.
I take another sip of my soda and swirl the can, as if it holds some kind of answer. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
My feelings for her are just as strong now as they were all those years ago. Maybe even stronger. But given our past, I’m going to need a cool head, a steady hand, and patience.
And I can wait. I’m a patient man.
Later that night, while Adele is at drama rehearsal, I walk down the boardwalk to meet Liam and Antonio for a quick drink. Boats bob gently in the marina as I push open the door to the Tidal Tavern, and music drifts out to meet me.
The vibe inside is laid-back—murmurs of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the low hum of a guitar coming from the speakers. It’s a slow night, which makes sense; the start of winter means the tourists have thinned out, leaving the locals to reclaim their usual seats.
I glance toward the bar and spot my sister, Lucy, in her element, making drinks and chatting to customers. She catches my eye and flashes a grin as I approach.
“Well, well, look who’s finally decided to join the living,” Lucy says, reaching for a glass. “What’ll it be?”
“Just a beer,” I say, leaning against the bar.
She pulls a beer from the tap and sets it in front of me. “I’ll put it on your tab. You look distracted. Everything okay?”
I shrug, trying not to show how close she’s hit to the mark. “Yeah. Long day. We got the contract for the Founder’s Day Festival, though.”
“I heard already. Congratulations. Blake’s got the night off with Ethan tonight, by the way. I’ll be closing. And the boys are upstairs on the terrace.”
“Thanks, and good luck,” I say, taking my beer and heading toward the stairs.
The roof terrace is dimly lit with string lights, and Liam and Antonio are at a corner table, beers in hand, deep in conversation. Liam looks up first, his grin stretching across his face. He’s always been a good-looking bastard. Women love him.
Beside Liam, Antonio leans back in his chair. There’s something steady about Antonio, despite everything his family has been through—he’s the guy you want next to you when things go south.
Liam lifts his beer in greeting. “You decided to join us. Thought you’d bail.”
I slide into the chair across from them, setting my beer down. “I don’t have long, fellas. Adele finishes up rehearsal in about forty-five minutes.” Taking a long sip of my beer, I hope it’ll dull the edge of everything swirling in my head.
Liam raises an eyebrow. “So we heard two things today. One, that you won the contract—congrats, by the way—and two, that the new event planner you’ll be working with is none other than Kelly Charleston.”
I shoot them both a warning glance, but it’s too late—Liam’s already grinning like a kid with a secret. “Come on. Spill. What happened today? Do you go for round two?”
Antonio shakes his head, laughing. “I still can’t believe Kelly’s back. It’s gotta be driving you crazy, especially after what happened at the wedding.”
I try to shrug it off, but it comes out weak. “We’re just working together on the festival. That’s it. Nothing more.”
Liam smirks, leaning his elbows on the table. “Is that what you’re telling yourself? Because I’d swear Jake and Kelly 2.0 was on the cards after that hookup.”
I rub a hand over my face, forcing a laugh. “No 2.0. Just business.”
Antonio raises an eyebrow, giving me that look—the one that says he’s onto me. “You sure about that? Because, man, you look as though you’re trying to convince yourself more than us.”
Liam leans back, crossing his arms. “Yeah, and honestly, you’re failing miserably.”
I stare at my beer, thoughts bubbling up—how much I still want her, how every time I see her, the years we were apart vanish. And yes, I want nothing more than to turn whatever spark we have left into something real. But giving these guys more ammo? Not a chance.
“You two ever think of minding your own business?” I lean back in my chair. “Maybe if you focused on your own dating lives, you wouldn’t be spending so much time poking at mine.”
They laugh, Antonio clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Touché. But don’t think we’re not watching.”
They steer the conversation toward Liam’s latest fling, and their voices fade as my thoughts turn back to Kelly. Just knowing she’s here in Harbor’s Edge makes it feel like the universe has set me back on track.
I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I’m willing to wait. She’s worth it.