16. Hallie
HALLIE
“ I t’s too bad Sawyer couldn’t make it tonight,” my mother says as we leave High Tide Tales, the local bookstore on Main Street, after grabbing barbeque with all the fixings.
My father had raised his eyebrows at me as I’d taken a bite of the cornbread. I’d narrowed mine because it was better than my mother’s, but I value my life a whole lot more than I care about picking sides over a square muffin.
“Maybe next time,” I appease her, my gut twisting because I hadn’t asked him.
I never even brought it up.
I tried, but he’d been in the outside shower and all I’d wanted to do was go down on him and watch him fall apart.
And he had—his face masked in pleasure as his body tensed and flexed, his lips parted as he groaned. It was obscene and I loved it.
I’d taken my stress and frustration out on his body—used him to make myself feel better—and while he’d certainly reciprocated, that hadn’t been my intention.
One of the other nurses had casually mentioned that there was a full-time position opening up once my contract is over. I’d gone straight to the charge nurse and then HR who’d both confirmed it.
I’d been told in no uncertain terms that I could have it if I wanted it.
But do I?
Do I want to stay in Starlight Bay? Make a home here?
What would happen with Sawyer? Would he be happy or does he like this temporary situation we have going?
I could have talked to him—been honest and discussed the options—but it all happened too fast. I’d developed actual feelings for him without even realizing it, and the idea that my path was no longer clear had the ground shifting under my feet.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” my mother says, pulling me to a stop, the back of her hand resting gently against my forehead. It’s a sweet gesture.
A motherly one.
When was the last time someone had cared for me?
The answer is simple. Sawyer had done nothing but care for me since the moment I landed in Starlight Bay. Between offering his home to me, cooking… Hell, he even let me take in a stray kitten without much of a fight.
But can I take the leap? Can I jump into this with him? And would he want to? He’s at least eight years older than I am. Does he want kids?
Do I?
The questions are never-ending and nothing I can solve tonight.
“I’m fine, just tired,” I tell her before thanking them both for dinner and saying good night.
I just hope things seem clearer in the morning.
SAWYER
I left Hallie sleeping in my bed with the kitten curled up on the pillow. They looked adorable, and it’d taken actual effort to force myself to move through the house and out the door.
Walker had messaged me that a big order had come in last night for some well-known children’s book author. I hadn’t recognized the name, but I could tell that this would be a big deal for us—for our business.
It’s easy navigating the streets of Starlight Bay this early, with only a handful of people typically even out yet. And if they are, they’re usually talking a walk on the beach rather than downtown.
Pulling my Jeep into the lot, I throw it in park and climb out, thumbing through my key ring to find the one for the shop. I’m almost to the door when a familiar voice stops me, my heart rate kicking up a notch as I turn to face him.
“Mornin’, Mr. McKinley,” I say, turning to Hallie’s father and nodding when I see he’s holding two coffees from Bayfront Beans.
"Please, it’s Nathan,” he says with a chuckle. “We missed you at dinner last night. Hallie said you were tied up and couldn’t make it.”
Hallie said you were tied up and couldn’t make it.
My heart sinks but I do my best to keep the disappointment from my face.
“Sorry to have missed it,” I tell him, knowing full well that the only thing Hallie had done yesterday was get down on her knees in my outside shower and suck me off like it made her feel better.
But not once had she mentioned anything other than she was meeting her parents for dinner.
“Well, next time,” he says with a smile that lights up his eyes. “I know Margot misses having you around and we’d love to catch up.”
“That would be great.”
He smiles again and then holds up the coffees. “I’ve got to get these home while they’re still hot.”
“Enjoy your day,” I reply before watching him move down the sidewalk to his car.
Hallie said you were tied up and couldn’t make it.
Fuck.
There’s a million reasons for her not wanting to invite me to dinner and it shouldn’t be a big deal, but I can’t deny the hurt that lances through me as I push open the door and close it behind me. Why didn’t she just tell me?
Because this thing between you is temporary.
Dragging my hands down my face, the reality of the last few weeks slams into me with a vengeance.
Hallie wouldn’t want to bring her roommate around to see her parents regardless of the fact that I know them.
We’d be crossing a line into something more but there isn’t more.
Hallie is leaving when her contract is up because she loves being a traveling nurse and this was just a stop on the map for her.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I type out a text to Walker.
SAWYER: She didn’t tell me her parents invited me along to dinner
SAWYER: Figure out when I can take a couple days off
WALKER: Shit, man, I’m sorry
SAWYER: It’s my fault—I broke my rule and now I gotta own it
I’d fallen for another McKinley sister.
But this time, my heart would never be the same.