Chapter 29
DREW
Ihad to make a little speech, since the store was hosting this event and I was the representative for the store. Kensey waited for me at the edge of the crowd while I made my way up in front of everyone. One of the staff gave me one of those ridiculous, tiny microphones.
I took it and addressed the crowd, but as I spoke, I only had eyes for Kensey. I hated not having her at my side. She’d become more valuable to me than my right hand. And me and my right hand were pretty close. She watched me back, eyes bright like she had a spotlight shining right on her.
After I told them about the models coming out in Blackwell clothing, I wrapped it up and headed straight back to Kensey.
“Talk about short and sweet,” she teased.
“No one gives a shit about what I have to say. They just want to see the models/”
“I care about what you have to say.”
“Only when I’m talking dirty.”
“Busted.” She grinned.
The music changed to something sultry and upbeat.
The models emerged one by one, dressed in pieces from the Blackwell summer collection.
They weren’t walking a traditional runway—we’d learned from the beach club event that this method was far more impactful.
They filtered into the crowd, mingling, letting people see the clothes up close in natural light.
I watched the guests’ reactions. The way hands reached out to touch fabric. Women were snapping pictures of the dresses they liked. And to avoid the models being manhandled, there was an actual QR code tag strategically placed for a would-be buyer to scan.
“They look incredible,” Kensey murmured beside me.
“They do.”
One of the models walked past us wearing a linen suit in cream, perfectly tailored.
I imagined Kensey in that. She’d look good.
Another followed in a flowing maxi dress that caught the ocean breeze.
That would also look amazing on her. But my favorite outfit on her was her birthday suit.
My absolute favorite and I was craving a glimpse.
The music picked back up, something with a good beat that had people moving toward the open deck area. I held out my hand.
“Dance with me.”
“I would love to.”
I led her onto the dance floor. Hollis and Micah were already there, each with one of the women from earlier somehow back in their orbit. I caught Hollis’s eye and he grinned.
Kensey fit against me perfectly. Her arms went around my waist in a lazy hold that was completely comfortable. We weren’t going to win any dance competitions but that wasn’t the goal. I just wanted to hold her. Sway to the music under the hot sun.
“This is nice,” she said.
We moved together easily, finding a rhythm that had nothing to do with the music and everything to do with knowing each other’s bodies. I forgot about the other guests. I forgot about everything except the woman in my arms and the way she looked at me like I was the only person on this yacht.
“Drew,” she said softly.
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad I came home this summer.”
My chest tightened. “Me too.”
I pulled her closer, my hand sliding up her back. She tucked her head against my shoulder. We swayed like that, barely moving, just holding each other.
A loud voice shattered the moment.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
I looked up. The blonde—the one who’d been dancing with Hollis—was standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at my brother. The brunette beside her looked equally furious.
“What’s up?” Hollis said, clearly confused.
“You just called me Sarah!”
“Yes, it’s a beautiful name,” Hollis said, nodding.
“Yeah, but my name is Sophia! We’ve been talking for an hour, you prick!”
Micah, standing a few feet away with his dance partner, tried to stifle a laugh and failed. That was a mistake.
“You’re not any better.” The third woman—the redhead—pointed at Micah. “You called me Jessica. My name is Jennifer!”
“That’s pretty close,” Micah said with a grin. “Don’t I get points for getting the first two letters right?”
“Ladies, ladies,” Hollis said, spreading his hands in a gesture that was meant to be placating. “What’s in a name, right? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
“Save it,” Sophia snapped and grabbed Jennifer’s hand. “Come on. Let’s find people who care enough to remember our names.”
They stormed off toward the stairs, leaving Hollis and Micah standing there at a loss for words. My brothers walked over.
Hollis ran a hand through his hair. “Sarah had a hell of a tempter.”
I nodded. “Yeah, especially since her name is Sophia.”
“Oh, right.” Hollis shook his head. “I might have had too much champagne.”
Micah chuckled. “Jennifer, Jessica—they’re basically the same name.”
“Not to Jennifer,” I said.
“She’ll get over it.” He shrugged, unbothered. “They’ll find someone else, and there’s always more women.”
“You two are terrible,” Kensey said, but she was smiling.
“No point dwelling on it,” Hollis said. “They’ll forget about us in twenty minutes anyway.”
“Probably already forgotten,” Micah agreed. “I need a refill.”
They wandered off toward the bar, completely unaffected by the whole thing. I watched them go and shook my head.
“Your brothers are something else,” Kensey said.
“They’re idiots.”
“Loveable idiots.”
She laughed and pulled me back toward the dance floor. “Come on. Let’s not waste a good song.”
We danced through three more songs before we had to take a breather and get out of the sun. Kensey excused herself to talk to Micah about the sidewalk sale event. I watched her walk away. Even from behind, she was stunning.
“So,” Hollis said, appearing at my elbow with two fresh beers. He handed me one. “That’s getting serious.”
I took the beer and we moved to the railing, away from the clusters of people still dancing and drinking. The ocean stretched out endlessly on all sides. We stood under the canopy of the second floor, giving my poor overheated skin a break.
“Yeah,” I said finally. “It’s like we can’t get enough of each other.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, smiling. “She’s always been cool.”
I nodded, took a long drink, and stared at the water. “The problem is, I can’t stop thinking about the end.”
His brow furrowed. “What end?”
“She goes back to New Jersey in a few weeks, back to her job and her life. That’s what end.”
Hollis nodded in sympathy. “The whole thing will be over before it really had a chance to begin. Have you talked to her about it? What does she want?”
“We talked but mostly we danced around it. Neither one of us knows how to handle this. This was never supposed to happen.”
“Tell her to stay,” he said. “To move back home.”
I shook my head. “Her job is important to her. She loves those kids. I can’t ask her to give that up.”
Hollis waved the statement away. “She gets new kids every year, and there’s plenty of teaching jobs right here at home.”
“True enough but I’m not going to pressure her into giving up the job she loves.” I let out a long breath. “I want her to have it all, even though I selfishly want to lock her in my house and never let her go.”
“Then why don’t you move to Jersey?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “And do what? Run the flagship store from my laptop? That’s not how it works. I have to be there, physically there, every day. The cousins are counting on me. Callum trusted me with this. I can’t just pack it up and leave because I fell in love with my best friend.”
Hollis went still. “You’re in love with her? Holy shit.”
“I mean, yeah,” I said. “I’ve loved her as a friend for years, and now, those feelings have deepened into something I’ve never felt before. It’s crazy.”
“Yeah, that sounds like the real deal,” my brother said, smiling. “Good for you, man.”
“Thanks, but it’s way to soon to congratulate me. Things are still in limbo. We don’t know how the chips are going to fall come August.”
“Does she know you love her?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Hollis groaned. “You haven’t told her? Communication is key, bro.”
“Are you kidding?” I rubbed my face with one hand. “We’ve only been hanging out for a few weeks and we haven’t been together that whole time. So, that’s way too fast to be saying things like that.”
“If you say so.” Hollis clearly disagreed.
“What’s the point?” I asked. “It won’t change anything. She still has to go. I still have to stay. So telling her will just make things more difficult.”
“Drew.” Hollis turned to face me fully, his expression more serious than I’d seen in a long time. “You two can figure out how to make this work. I mean it. Find a solution. Get creative. Do whatever you have to do.”
“There’s no solution that doesn’t involve one of us sacrificing something we can’t afford to give up. Not right now anyway.”
“Then maybe—” He paused, like he was weighing his words carefully. “Maybe it’s better to end things now. Before it gets any more serious. Before you’re both so deep you can’t climb out without destroying each other.”
The suggestion hit me like a fist to the gut. End it. Walk away from Kensey. Let her go back to New Jersey and pretend this summer never happened. Just thinking about it left a hollow feeling in my chest. Like my heart had been removed and I couldn’t take a deep breath.
“I can’t,” I said, my voice rough. “Hollis, I can’t. Walking away from her would be like chopping off a limb. I can’t bring myself to do it.”
“Then you better figure something out,” he said. “Because this half-in, half-out thing you’re doing? That’s going to destroy both of you.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” He wasn’t being harsh, just honest. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re trying to have your cake and eat it too. You want her but you’re not willing to fight for her. You’re just letting the clock run out.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?” He took a drink of his beer.
“Look, I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not saying there’s a perfect answer.
But if you love her like you say you do, then you need to actually deal with this.
Have the hard conversation. Figure out what you’re both willing to sacrifice.
Because right now, you’re just marching toward a disaster and hoping it magically resolves itself.
You’re in denial. Head buried deep in the sand. ”
I didn’t want to hear her say she was leaving. I didn’t want to ask her to stay because I knew what that would cost her.
“She’s coming back,” Hollis said quietly.
“If only it were that simple,” I said, sighing.
“No, she’s coming back from talking with Micah,” he said like I was an idiot.
I looked up. Kensey was walking toward us, smiling, her hair lifting in the breeze. Micah was beside her, talking animatedly about something. She looked happy. Relaxed. Beautiful.
“You’re right,” I said to Hollis. “I need to figure it out.”
“Sooner rather than later,” he said. Then he clapped me on the shoulder and moved away, giving us space.
Kensey reached me and slipped her hand into mine. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Everything’s fine.”
She smiled and leaned into me. “Good. Because I’m having the best time.”
I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close. “It’s not too warm out for you?” I asked.
“It’s not bad in the shade,” she said.
“Why don’t we give ourselves a private tour of this place?” I suggested.
“We can’t just go snooping around someone’s boat.”
“Yacht, and we can. Come on.”