Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WILLY
I slump into an uncomfortable plastic chair at JFK, my carry-on bag at my feet. The excitement of my new job in Washington is overshadowed by the heaviness in my heart. Leaving Love Beach, leaving Brogan... it’s harder than I ever imagined it would be.
I check my phone for the hundredth time. No new messages from Brogan. Our goodbye at the beach house yesterday was bittersweet. He held me tight, whispering words of encouragement, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. We promised to stay in touch, to make this work somehow, but it all seems hollow now. A fairy tale coming to an end.
Memories of that last morning together flood my mind. Brogan had been quiet as I packed but I could sense he was holding something back.
Penny for your thoughts? I’d asked as he smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes .
Just thinking about how much I’m going to miss this. Miss you.
I’d stopped, turning to face him. Brogan, if you don’t want me to go...
But he shook his head, cupping my face in his hands. No, Willy. This is your dream. I want you to chase it. I just... I wish it didn’t happen so fast. I wish I had more time with you. For real this time, no pretenses.
Now, sitting in the airport, those words echo in my mind. I wonder if I’m making a mistake. If I’m giving up something precious for a job that, in the grand scheme of things, might not matter as much as what Brogan and I found.
“Flight 1876 to Seattle is now delayed by two hours due to mechanical issues,” a monotone voice announces over the PA system. I groan, leaning back in my chair. Just perfect.
More time to agonize over my choices.
Suddenly a commotion near the gate catches my attention. People are whispering, pointing, and... is that Brogan’s voice?
I stand up, my heart racing. It can’t be. He’s supposed to be in Love Beach probably entertaining Beatrice, not here in New York.
But there he is, striding through the crowd, looking amazing in a tight black T-shirt and jeans, his eyes scanning the waiting area. When he spots me, his face breaks into that heart-stopping grin.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, hardly believing my eyes as he reaches me in a few long strides, pulling me into his arms without a word. I melt into his embrace, breathing in his familiar scent.
“I couldn’t let you go,” he murmurs into my hair. “Not without telling you how I feel.”
I pull back, looking up at him. “Brogan, what–”
“I love you, Willy,” he says as I stare at him. “I love you, and I want us to make this work. I know you have your dreams, and I want you to chase them. But I want to be there with you, supporting you every step of the way.”
Tears spring to my eyes. “Brogan, I... I love you too. But how? We’re going to be on opposite coasts.”
He grins, that mischievous glint in his eye that I adore. “Well, about that. How would you feel about having a travel companion to Washington?”
I blink, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he says, taking my hands in his, “that I’ve got the Hollister jet fueled up and ready to go. I just heard your flight’s delayed so why don’t we fly together?”
I laugh, a mix of disbelief and joy. “You’re crazy, you know that? You can’t just fly across the country on a whim.”
He shrugs, his smile never wavering. “Why not? I’m a Hollister, remember? It’s about time I started using the family perks.”
I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling. “What about your job?”
“I’m off for another week,” he says. “But right now, this is more important. You’re more important.”
I can’t help but laugh. This man, this wonderful, infuriating man, flew across the country just to tell me he loves me.
He loves me.
“Okay,” I say, laughing through my tears. “Let’s do it. Let’s fly to Washington together.”
Brogan’s face lights up. “That’s my girl.”
He pulls me close, kissing me right there in the middle of the airport. I don’t even care who’s watching or what they’re thinking. In this moment, it’s just us.
An hour later, we’re settled into the plush seats of the Hollister jet, champagne in hand. As we take off, leaving New York behind, I can’t help but marvel at how much has changed in just a few short hours.
“So,” Brogan says, his fingers intertwined with mine. “Tell me more about this project in Washington. I want to hear everything.”
As I start to tell him about the project, the challenges ahead, the opportunities it presents, I realize something. For the first time, I’m not just talking about my career. I’m talking about our future.
“It’s going to be tough,” I admit. “Long hours, high pressure. And I’ll be across the country from you.”
Brogan nods, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand. “I know. But we’ll make it work. I can fly out on weekends, you can come back to Love Beach when you have time off. And who knows? Maybe Hollister Enterprises will find some business opportunities in Washington.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really?”
“We’ll play it by ear,” Brogan says. “I might be in the middle of a transition myself, helping Preston out with the family business.”
“But what about the Team?”
He’s quiet for a few moments. “I realize now that I’ve been running away from my family legacy for years, first by enlisting in the Navy as a fuck-you to my family’s wealth, although being a SEAL was my own decision. It soon became my only identity even when I have family right here.”
“But I thought you love being a SEAL.”
“Of course, I do but I can’t do it forever,” he says. “Some of them like Trevor have already transitioned from being on the front line to becoming specialists, in his case, languages. My MOS isn’t the same but I have other skills that I can use right here in Love Beach.” He pauses, his gaze meeting mine as he smiles. “And then there’s you.”
I frown. “What about me?”
“Preston and I have been thinking of expanding the family business beyond hotels, like more sustainable projects,” he continues. “Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to explore that.”
I sit up straighter, intrigued. “What kind of projects?”
“Eco-friendly housing developments, green energy initiatives, that sort of thing,” he explains, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “And who better to lead the design aspects than the brilliant Willy Genaro? ”
I feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. “Are you offering me a job, Hollister?”
“And snag you from under Bryce Holden’s nose? Not yet.” He chuckles. “But let’s just say I’m keeping my options open. And I want you to know that when you’re ready, there’s a place for you at Hollister Enterprises.”
I’m touched by his offer, by the faith he has in me. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Brogan murmurs, leaning toward me and kissing me softly on the lips. “Whatever it takes, Willy, whatever we need to do to make this work, I’m all in.”
Hours later, we touch down in Seattle, the city sprawled out before us full of promise and possibility. The Seattle rain I’d heard so much about greets us as we step out of the airport. Thanks to the Hollister connections, there’s a car waiting for us.
“So, where to first?” Brogan asks as he sits behind the wheel.
“Well, I suppose we should find my new apartment.”
He grins mischievously. “I like the sound of that.”
I can’t help but blush as memories of our last night together come rushing in. The way he held me, kissed me… made love to me.
But as we pull away from the airport, I know that it’s more than sex between us. It’s a bond that we share, a connection that runs deeper than I ever imagined. Sure, we may have started on the wrong foot—with him and his brother teasing the hell out of me—but people change.
And I’ve changed, too. I grew to be stronger than I ever thought possible. I found my passion, my drive, and my self-worth. And somehow, along the way, I found Brogan.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks, his voice pulling me from my reverie.
“Just thinking about how much has changed in the last few days,” I reply. “One minute I was renovating a beach house and the next, I’m here in Seattle with you.”
He nods, his eyes softening. “I’m just grateful you gave me a chance to show you the man I’ve become.”
As we weave through Seattle’s streets listening to the GPS telling us where to go, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement for what’s to come. This new job, this new city—it’s all a bit overwhelming. But with Brogan by my side even for just a few days, I feel like I can take on anything.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” I say softly as we stop at a red light.
Brogan turns to me, his eyes serious. “Willy, I’d do anything for you. I hope you know that.”
And as I look into his deep blue eyes, I realize I do know it. I know that no matter what challenges we face, no matter how far apart we are, we’ll find a way to make it work.
Because it’s real. This isn’t just a summer fling. It’s… love, pure and simple, the kind that inspires cross-country flights and keeping to their side of the bed (though only for as long as possible—I may be single, but I’m not dead).
As we pull up to the apartment building and park in the garage, away from the rain, I can’t believe this is going to be my new home for a while. A new chapter in my life.
But as I glance at Brogan, his hand reaching for mine as I step out of the car, it hits me that home isn’t just a place.
It’s a person.
And with Brogan, I’ll always be home.