Clallam Bay (A Fresh Start #2) by L. C. Morgan

good to her. She’s come alive since she’s been with them. She’s thriving.”
    I stopped complaining long enough to peer at him. He looked just about as sad as I felt.
    “Sorry, I’m sure when you wanted to take a walk this wasn’t what you had in mind.”
    “No, it’s fine. I wanted to hear about your day, good or bad. I like knowing.”
    I smiled sadly at his profile before gazing down at my feet. Silence surrounded us until he cleared his throat.
    “So even though it went bad and you feel like your whole life is a mistake, you’re still gonna be here when I get back, right?”
    I glanced up to find him looking over at me. “Yeah. Why? You leaving tomorrow with Jason?”
    Looking down, he nodded. “First thing in the morning.”
    Disappointment flooded me in a wave not unlike the ones running over my feet. It always seemed like we’d make this progress then he’d have to leave and we’d start in a different place all over again. Always starting over.
    We walked a ways down the beach in silence, the backs of our hands brushing every now and again. I kept expecting him to grab and hold my hand, but he never did. Instead, he picked up one of the million small, broken shells that had washed up on the shore to repeatedly toss it up and catch it.
    “So, you and Russell,” he said, tossing the shell in the air.
    “Your brother.”
    He smiled and caught it.
    “You and my brother.”
    “What about us?”
    Toss.
    Catch.
    Toss.
    Catch.
    “So it’s true then. You are seeing my brother.”
    I smiled straight ahead, having had nearly the same conversation with his brother a couple days before.
    “I didn’t say we we’re dating. I just said ‘us.’ It’s the typical word you use to describe yourself and another person. I was simply asking a question. What about him? What about me? What about us?”
    He glanced over at me. “Are you or aren’t you? It’s pretty simple, as well.”
    Catch.
    Toss.
    Catch.
    Looking at him out the corner of my eye, I shook my head. “No. I’m not seeing your brother. I see him, but I’m not seeing him. Why would you think I was?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. First the bar then the farmer’s market.”
    “You were at the farmer’s market?”
    “No.”
    “Then how—”
    “I was driving by. Saw you two talking.”
    “Well, people talk, you know. Look at what we’re doing now.” I smiled and gestured between us. “Doesn’t mean we’re dating, does it?”
    Did he want to?
    “I guess not. It’s just …”
    “It’s just what?”
    Tossing the shell up in the air again, he caught it. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
    Well, that wasn’t likely.
    “Tell me.”
    “No. I said forget it.”
    “And I said tell me.”
    Stepping in front of me, he stopped me by placing his palm against my stomach. “It’s just you were standing a little too close,” he said and stepped closer. To keep my nose from hitting his chest, I tipped up my chin and came face to face with him. He smiled before stepping back.
    “A little too close for my liking,” I thought I heard him say as he turned away to toss the shell up in the air and catch it again. He turned back to smile at me as I caught up. “You’re a real smart ass. You know that?”
    With my heartbeat in my ears and the sand sticking to my feet, I walked back with him, acting as if I couldn’t still feel where his hand had been touching my stomach.
    Once we reached the group, Jason called him over and I went in search of Amber, finding her still sitting with Sonia.
    The rest of the night passed by in a blur. Before I knew it, it was one o’clock in the morning and Amber was passed out on my lap.
    “You need help with that?” Coll asked.
    Glancing behind me at the stairs, I smiled up at him. “Please.”
    He picked Amber up with ease and threw her over his shoulder. He followed me up to the house and into my bedroom where we left my lush of a best friend before we both stepped back outside.
    “I’d say