Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Brittany
I breathe out a long, deep sigh as I pull into the full driveway of the towering Hampton beach house. This is nice. I take in the ivory walls and bright blue shutters.
I’m so happy to be here, but I’m not happy that I’m late.
I glance nervously at the house, knowing Weston is probably inside. I haven’t written him back, but I know I have to tell him that I can’t stop thinking about the kiss, the letters, and him.
And then I’ll have to deal with my brother.
I cut the engine and push open the car door to climb out. The ocean breeze immediately hits my face in the best way, and for a moment, I close my eyes and just enjoy the salt in the air.
“Hey!” Amy’s voice rings out louder than the ocean waves. It’s bright and sunshine-y, like the weather outside.
I give her a wave as she walks over, wearing some sort of floral sundress. “I’m so sorry I’m late and missed dinner,” I tell her as I grab my overnight bag. “I was just caught up in going through a case I have coming up.”
“It’s totally fine. We just grilled and…” She hesitates. “There might be a little tension in the house.”
My stomach drops. “What kind of tension?”
She winces. “The your brother kind.”
Uh oh. “What did he do?”
“Um, well … It’s more like what he found.”
I freeze. “Oh…” I have no idea where this is going, but nothing about it feels good.
“I guess you and Wes have been writing each other?”
Oh no. Oh no! No!
My face grows hot, warming from the base of my neck all the way up to my cheeks. “Oh my gosh.”
Amy’s voice softens. “Parker found one of your letters. And … he knows about the kiss.”
I close my eyes. “And now he’s furious.”
“Protective,” she says gently. “But yeah, furious-adjacent.”
I let out a slow breath. “Where is he?”
“The balcony attached to our room.”
“And Weston?” I choke out his name.
“He took Buddy down to the beach,” Amy says. “But he took all the responsibility for everything.”
“Of course, he did.” I shake my head, my heart squeezing at the way he came to my defense.
But I have feelings for him, too. And it’s time for me to tell my brother.
And make this right.
“I’ll talk to Parker.”
Amy nods. “I’ll show you to your room.”
I drop off my stuff in my bedroom, then follow Amy to Parker’s suite.
Amy gives me one last “good luck,” before slipping downstairs where I hear a bunch of laughter.
I take a deep breath and step into the brightly-lit room, decorated with coral colors and strange seahorse pictures.
I see my brother’s shadow through the French doors that lead outside.
Here we go.
I straighten my shoulders, feeling as though I’m walking into a courtroom. The courtroom of Parker freaking Harris.
I’ve known him my whole life, and Amy is incredible, but even a little ray of sunshine like her can’t stop him from being the storm he is when things go wrong.
“Hey,” I call out to Parker, trying to stay chipper as I step outside, closing the door behind me. My brother is perched in a lounge chair, looking moodier than ever beneath his Ray-Bans. “You know the sun is about to set, right? You don’t need those,” I add.
He whips his head around to me but doesn’t take his sunglasses off. “How nice of you to finally show up.” He grunts, then promptly turns his gaze back to the beach.
I take a moment to glance down at the gobs of people out there, enjoying the weekend. I watch a game of volleyball for a few moments, nearly laughing as some lady wipes out trying to hit the ball back. However, the joy fades immediately as my brother’s voice cuts through the air.
“So, you’re pen pals with my best friend, huh?”
Oh boy. I swallow hard, turning to him and resting against the railing. “Yes, we were … But I think I messed it up, to be honest.”
“You mean he messed it up when he tried to kiss you.”
I tilt my head. “Well, I mean, he did kiss me, and I kissed him back. And I enjoyed it so much that I freaked out afterward.”
“I don’t want your gross details,” he snips, visibly shuddering as he lifts his glasses onto the top of his head. “I really don’t want to know that you enjoyed my best friend’s mouth.”
“Well, that’s one way to say it.” I curl my lip in disgust. “That makes it sound so gross. It was just a kiss.”
“With my best friend.”
“Yeah, I think you’ve made that clear.” I snort, rolling my eyes and folding my arms across my chest. “And I’m sorry…” My voice trails off as something doesn’t quite sit right with my apology. “Actually—”
“Actually what?” Parker raises a brow at me.
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. “I’m not sorry it happened. I enjoyed it, and I’m sad that I messed it up. Why do you care so much?”
“Because all I asked is that Weston not kiss one person. That person being my freaking little sister.”
“I’m a grown woman, Parker.” I level with my brother. “I can do whatever I want, and kiss whoever I want.”
“You just got your heart broken. The last thing you need is for Weston to make it all worse. The guy never makes it past the second date.”
“So? Maybe that’s just because he hasn’t found the right person…” My voice trails off as I let out a sigh. “Weston has been so nice, and I like him. He’s been there for me in a way no one else has.”
“By writing you letters?” Parker’s sharpness starts to dull as curiosity replaces the irritation on his face. “Can you explain that?”
“Um…” My body starts to relax a little. “Well, it started with a housewarming card, and then it just kept going. It’s the first time someone has thought of me in a way that was just … thoughtful.”
Parker’s entire facade begins to soften. “Wes has always been one of the most thoughtful people I know—aside from you.” He sighs. “Maybe it’s not the worst thing for you guys to be … friends.”
“Or more than friends,” Amy’s voice cuts in from behind us as she steps out onto the balcony.
“There’s nothing wrong with letting things happen the way they’re meant to.
” There’s a chiding tone in her voice that I’ve never heard before, and I have to admit …
I like this version of Amy. She’s a boss.
“You act like I’m standing in the way of fate.” He rolls his eyes. “That’s not how life works.”
“Who says that?” Amy folds her arms across her chest. “Because you tell me all the time that we were meant to be.”
“But that’s us.” Parker hums. There’s an innocence in his voice, but there’s also something that starts to sound a lot like realization. “We’re different.”
Amy narrows her eyes. “Says who?”
“Says me,” he retorts.
I sigh, already seeing where this is going. “I don’t really want to get in the middle of a debate about soulmates.”
“This isn’t a debate,” Amy and Parker both say simultaneously, their voices in perfect unison.
Yeah, they are definitely soulmates.
“Uh-huh, okay…” My voice trails off and my eyes drift toward the beach, where I spot a cute dog galloping along in the sand, and a guy who looks a lot like Weston chasing him.
And my heart skips a beat at the sight.
As I rip my eyes away from him, I realize I’ve missed more of the heated debate between Parker and Amy. I can’t help but laugh at the two of them.
“You owe him an apology,” Amy snaps. “You know you do. He’s your best friend, and he’s put a lot of effort into your relationship—being there when other people weren’t. You can’t help who you fall for, and he tried to do exactly what you asked.”
“He could’ve had anyone he wanted. I just asked that he not have my sister.” Parker is nearly pouting at this point.
“But Wes is a good guy, and no one knows that better than you.” Amy is on fire now, and I can’t say that I’m not rooting for her. “Just go talk to him.”
I watch as my big brother stands to his feet and lets out a big sigh, looking right at me.
“You’re right,” he says. “I’m sorry for trying to control what you do with your heart—that’s wrong of me.
And if you’re ready to be with someone, then you should.
You shouldn’t wait on my approval. I’m sorry. ”
I give my brother a soft smile. “I know you’ve always just tried to watch out for me, and I appreciate it.”
He nods, then slips from the room, leaving Amy and me on the balcony. We remain quiet until the door of the bedroom closes. Then, we both let out a heavy sigh.
“Don’t let your brother stop you from following your heart,” Amy says finally, meeting my gaze.
I shake my head slightly. “It’s not my brother. It’s me.” I hesitate, then force the words out. “I was so scared of losing myself again that I pushed Weston away.”
Amy stays quiet, letting me process.
“With Cal, I disappeared,” I continue softly. “So, when Weston didn’t make me feel like that—when he felt easy instead of consuming—I panicked. I told myself I was being smart, careful. But really … I was just running.”
Her expression softens. “And now?”
“And now I think I might’ve pushed away the one person who actually let me be myself.” My throat tightens. “I’ve never connected with someone the way I have with Weston. Not without feeling like I had to become someone else.”
Amy glances out toward the beach. “It doesn’t sound like he took anything from you,” she says quietly. “It sounds like he met you where you already were.”
The extra thump in my chest isn’t nerves this time.
It’s resolve.
“I don’t want to miss out on this,” I admit.
And I know exactly what I need to do.