Chapter 11
chapter eleven
Summer
present day
It’s the weekend of Marg Fest, which means next week is my birthday. I’m about to break up with my boyfriend and I’m going to spend my first birthday without my mother.
Maybe I need a life coach. This can’t be healthy.
I’m sitting in my car at the airport, waiting to pick up Axel and Savannah, when my phone pings with a text.
Jack
Looking forward to starting on the piece. Can we get together to go over the mock-ups?
Summer
Yes! So excited. I can do it on Monday.
Jack
Works for me. Should I meet you at the house? What time?
Summer
Yes. 10:30 a.m. Don’t forget, I can only have you here on the weekdays, and I need you to keep it covered on weekends.
Jack
I remember. I need to keep it covered for possible rain anyway.
Summer
Perfect! See you on Monday.
A knocking sound on the hood of my car makes me jump. I look up with a grin, expecting to see my copper-headed best friend. Instead, I’m met with a cold, disapproving glare. The smile melts off my face at the same time my heartbeat speeds up.
What? I mouth at him.
Dayton moves around to the driver’s side of my car. I roll my window down.
“You’re so thoughtful to come pick me up,” he drawls.
“I’m not here for you.”
He reaches through the open window and grabs the door handle, pulling it to make the locks lift up.
“Hey! I’m serious. I’m here to pick up Sav and Axel.”
He pulls the door open.
“What is your problem? Are you gonna take my car and leave me stranded here?” I try to pull the door closed, but I’m no match for his strength.
He chuckles before reaching for the back door, opening it and tossing his bag into the back. “I’m driving. Scoot over.”
I sigh, realizing I have no chance of getting rid of him.
Secretly, I’m relieved. Axel never wants to drive, and I hate battling the Marg Fest traffic from here all the way to the house.
I climb into the passenger seat. The car moves when he plants his big body into the driver’s seat and closes the door.
The Land Rover immediately fills with his musky cologne. The buzz of the seat adjuster lasts for a comically long time as he extends his legroom. Savannah’s words about him being hung up on me since we were teens trickles through my mind. I fold my hands into my lap.
He’s not. Of course he’s not.
“You’re very demanding.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You don’t need to keep showing up here to check on things. Javier is keeping you up to date, isn’t he?”
He taps his thumb on the steering wheel. “Hmm, for now. I’m sure you’ll sweet-talk him into something if I disappear for too long.”
“Don’t you have a business to run? Some billionaire in New York probably needs your help with tax evasion.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I can manage most things from my phone, and right now, this project is my most lucrative investment with the highest risk factor.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, the investment is moving along just fine. I read a news article about the Florida real estate market being on a steady incline.”
“The market isn’t the biggest risk factor.”
Big raindrops start pelting the windshield.
I turn to face him. “What is it then? Me? Am I the biggest risk factor?”
His amber eyes flicker over me. I’m wearing a formfitting knit maxi dress.
The orange-and-white floral pattern makes me look tan, and it ties around my neck like a swimsuit.
I have my usual gold rings on my fingers and hoop earrings in my ears.
My hair has two little braids in front while the rest of it spills over my back and shoulders in beachy waves.
“Yes, Cupcake, you’re the biggest risk factor.” He says it with such an intense stare.
I nearly jump out of my skin when someone starts knocking on the window a few seconds later. I clasp my hand against my chest with a gasp.
“Hey, you! Open up!” Savannah’s voice is muffled through the car door.
I hit the Unlock button. Dayton opens his door to load her bags into the trunk.
“Get in. I got this,” he tells her.
“Thank you!” She climbs into the seat behind me to escape the rain, reaching forward to grasp my fingers tightly. “Ah, I’m so happy to see you!”
I squeeze her hand back. “Me too! It’s been too long.”
Axel walks up then, tossing his bag in the back, where Dayton just loaded up Savannah’s. He claps him on the shoulder.
“Hey, man, thanks for picking us up.”
Dayton doesn’t say anything as he walks back to the driver’s seat. Axel has no choice but to take the seat behind Dayton’s chair, which is pushed so far back that he barely has any legroom. He makes it work. Being only five foot ten, he doesn’t have that long of legs.
“Hi, beautiful. Good to see you.” He leans forward and pecks my lips with a kiss before I have time to react.
My cheeks heat. I have no idea why the first kiss from my boyfriend in over eight months feels awkward, but it suddenly does.
And he has no idea I’m planning to break it off with him later. This sucks.
“Um, hi. Good to see you too,” I finally blurt out after an uncomfortably long pause.
I face forward before reaching back to grab my seat belt and buckle myself in. The fact that I haven’t seen him in months while grieving my mother’s death suddenly makes it all so clear to me. I didn’t miss him. Seeing him doesn’t make me feel anything at all.
Maybe I’m meant to be alone. This is the sign. Romantic love isn’t in the cards for me.
“So, Dayton, are you in town for Marg Fest?” Savannah asks as we pull out of the airport.
“No. Just here to check in on things. I might go watch.”
“Do you know anyone else coming in for the event?”
There’s a pause before he answers, “A couple of guys.”
I turn to face him. “Really? Who?”
He has one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other on the gearshift between us. Dayton was born and raised on the island. The guys he’s referring to could be people I don’t know, but I lived here for three years, and it’s a much smaller island than most people realize.
He flexes his jaw before answering. “Will Watts is one. Another one is Cal Bennett.”
I try to keep my facial expression neutral while internally screaming.
Cal is the bartender at Chaos, well known all over town.
Dayton punched his friend Will for asking me to the prom—I guess because he didn’t want to have to spend any time around me at his junior prom.
It ultimately started our very tumultuous dynamic.
“I didn’t realize y’all were still friends.”
He keeps his eyes trained on the car in front of us. “He’s a client.”
Ahh. Money. It’s always about money with Dayton. He hated Will after that night, but since his family was wealthy, he looked past it.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet Jack! Has he started yet?” Savannah blurts out.
I freeze, my mind scrambling for an explanation.
Dayton doesn’t know I booked the mural, and as soon as he finds out, he’s going to blow a gasket.
It cost so much, pushing our already-tight budget over the edge.
I even started taking on a few photography clients to try and help cover the cost, but it’ll take me forever to earn that much money.
“Who’s Jack?” Axel asks.
“A new yoga instructor! My beachfront classes are really growing. He, uh … he’s starting soon. After Marg Fest,” I rush out, attempting to laser the message into her eyes through the rearview mirror.
She purses her lips and shakes her head at me, smirking.
“Wow, babe, I’m so proud of you. That’s badass. My buddy just signed a deal with Sony. I’m hoping to make connections there. You think we can take some photos tomorrow for my profile, Sum?”
I slowly exhale, debating my answer. I honestly didn’t expect him to ask me to take photos of him for his social media this weekend.
I thought maybe he would try to show me that he’s been missing me and wanting quality time with me that isn’t focused around his online presence.
I was hoping he’d do something that would make me question breaking up with him and giving the relationship another chance.
The tiny bubble of wishful thinking bursts and dissipates.
“Um,” I start to answer before I see Dayton shaking his head in my peripheral vision. I turn to look at him.
We’re stuck in Marg Fest traffic, so he turns to face me. He’s glaring, as usual, but I’m strangely able to interpret it as him telling me I can do better.
I know I deserve better, but that’s rich, coming from you.
He smirks before looking forward again.
Sav saves me from having to answer. “Can we stop for a burger at Iggy’s? I’m starving!”
Iggy’s Grill is our favorite burger joint on the island, and it’s been around for years. They put fried pickles and homemade ranch on their juicy burgers, and the garlic aioli dip is the best I’ve ever had.
Dayton takes the next exit and turns into the parking lot. We all step out of the car and walk toward the entrance.
Sav loops her arm through mine and leans down to whisper in my ear, “Jeez, this is so awkward! When are you going to pull the trigger and break up with him? Also, Dayton is hotter than I remember. I can’t believe you sent him those pictures!”
I squeeze her arm and shake my head. He’s a few steps ahead of us, but I’ll die if he knows I told her about it.
“I’m trying to pretend it never happened,” I whisper back. “And I don’t know when. The sooner, the better. I just need to get alone with him.”
She raises her brows as we keep walking. Once we get up to Iggy’s to-go order window, I order the fried pickle burger on a brioche bun with truffle fries. After everyone gets their food, we walk back to the car.
I look up at Dayton as he opens my car door. “Thank you.”
Axel chatters on about how excited he is for the competition and to see what musicians and influencers will be there. I think he’s been looking forward to this weekend more for the concert than for me.