by Elle Viviani
“I always love a good pun,” I say, grabbing a measuring cup out of the drawer. I dip it in the bowl and begin scooping lumpy batter it into the muffin cups. This wasn’t my best attempt at banana bread. “But you know who doesn’t?”
“Who?”
“Koa.”
“Well, they’re not for everyone, dear.”
“Every time I work one in, intentionally or not, he rolls his eyes. So now I do it on purpose.”
Gran slides her gaze over to me. “How are things with you two?”
I shrug. “Fine.”
“I’m glad to see you’re getting along now.”
I glance at her. “Was it obvious we didn’t get along?”
“It sure was, but I’m not surprised. Koa’s not the easiest person to get to know. He’s rather closed off, but once he opens up…” She didn’t have to finish. I know what she means. Koa has a way of growing on you, of creeping into your heart and getting under your skin. And once you got a taste of the real him, he was hard to quit.
“Oh, and your grandpa told me,” Gran adds with a smile.
“Right,” I say sheepishly. “Well, we’re fine now.”
“Good.” Gran picks up her dough and checks the elasticity. “You know, I think you two should go out…”
The measuring cup slips from my grasp and sinks to the bottom of the bowl. “Crap!”
“…to Bar Harbor sometime,” Gran finishes smoothly. She turns to me with a funny look. “Are you alright, dear?”
“What? Oh, yes.” I root around the bowl for the cup, my hand slopping batter everywhere. “Bar Harbor? Yeah, uh, sounds good.”
“Mhmm.”
I feel eyes on me and glance up. She’s watching me with a veiled look. “Gran? Need something?”
She nods, a slow smile gathering on her lips. “You know what? I think I do need a few things. Would you mind going to the store?”
“I’d be happy to,” I say, glad to abandon the banana bread. “What are we out of?”
“Let me draw up a list.” She grabs a ballpoint pen and a notepad with little kittens dancing across the top. She lists a dozen or so items and hands it to me. Her eyes go wide as she studies my face. “My goodness! You sure have a flush to your cheeks.”
I turn my face away. “Um, well—“
“I’m sure it’s just from the baking,” she says with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I think baking’s more exciting than fishing. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Gran! I’m back!” I heave the two bags onto the counter and toss the car keys in the bowl by the back door. “They were out of the birch beer Gramps likes.”
I’m halfway through unpacking the bags when Gran strolls in. “He drinks too much of it, anyway. Thanks for making the trip, Summer.”
“Happy to! I’m glad I can help around the house.”
“But you have been.”
“I wouldn’t call being on a boat six days a week helping around the house.”
“Nonsense.” She grabs the eggs out of my hands and heads for the fridge. “Helping Koa is far better than carting us around. I told your mother we didn’t need the help, just the company.”
“And you’ve got it,” I say with a smile. I open the pantry and stack the stewed tomatoes on the middle shelf. “Just say the word and I’ll do it.”
“Well, now that you’ve mentioned it…”
I turn. “What?”
“But I’d hate for your to have to go back out.”
“It’s okay. What do you need?”
Gran gives me a grateful look. “I took your grandfather to his follow-up doctor’s appointment while you were out, but I grew tired in the waiting room and came home.”
I gasp. “Are you alright?”
She waves me off with her hand. “Don’t worry about me. I just need to lie down. But he needs to be picked up at four o’clock.”
I glance at the clock above the door. “Well, it’s twenty til now. I’ll finish unpacking and head out.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs, walking toward the hall. She pauses in the doorway. “Hey, Summer? Maybe a change of clothes is in order.”
I glance down at my shorts and t-shirt. “Why?”
“Your jeans are covered in flour, and I think you have a few smudges on your cheeks, too.”
“Okay…”
“You always want to look your best, my dear. Never know who you may run into…” She lowers her voice. “One time, I saw the mayor at Wells Fargo!”
I try to work up a scenario where I might run into the mayor at the hospital.
Why hello, Mr. Mayor. You’re here to pick up your grandfather, too? What are the odds!
But if Gran tells me to change, then that’s what I’ll do.
I pull into the hospital two minutes after four o’clock. Thank God there’s not much traffic in Portland, because it took me longer to change than I thought. I kept thinking “Is this mayor material?” every time I picked out an outfit. I finally settled on a fresh pair of dark jeans, a pale pink tank top, and strappy cheetah print sandals. At least I had time to get most of the flour off my face.
I pause at the information desk because I realize I have no idea where I’m going. “Hello, I’m picking up my grandfather from a follow-up appointment.”
“Do you know which department?”
“No, but he broke his arm.”
She turns and points to the elevators to my right. “Second floor. Follow the signs to the waiting room.”
“Thanks.”
“Funny, though…”
“What?”
She shrugs. “You’re the second person in five minutes to tell me that same thing—about the grandfather and broken arm.”
“Oh. What a coincidence…” I guess a lot of grandparents break their arms. In Portland. During the summer.
Yeah, wishful thinking.
It takes me two minutes to get to the bottom of this mystery—the time it takes me to go from the front desk to the second floor. “Koa?”
The very man I’m trying to avoid is sitting in the waiting room, scrolling through his phone. He jumps to his feet at the sound of his name. “Summer?”
“What are you doing here?” I demand as he walks toward me.
“I’m waiting for Captain. You?”
“I am, too.” I frown. “I thought you took the boat out today.”
“I did, but I came back early when your gran radioed. Said she needed me to pick up Captain from his appointment.”
“Uh, when?” I ask, getting an inkling of what’s going on here.
He shrugs. “Around two?”
Two? That’s when Gran sent me shopping.
“So I came straight over here after stopping by my place to change.”
I take in his wet hair and fresh shirt and jeans. “Did she happen to suggest that you change first?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “She did. Said I could bump into the mayor or something like that.”
“Yeah, something like that.” I take a deep breath and remind myself to have a little chat with Gran later. “Well, we both don’t need to pick up Gramps. I’m sure you’ve got more important—”
“No,” Koa interrupts, stepping toward me. “I’m glad we ran into each other. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“Why?”
“To clear the air.” He runs a hand over his hair. “It feels like you’ve been avoiding me since the storm. Since…you know.”
Yup, I do, and that’s exactly why I’m avoiding him. “There’s nothing to talk about, Koa.”
“Summer—”
“I’m fine, you’re fine, the boat’s in one piece. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Then why did you call out today?”
I lower my eyes to the floor. “I told you. I wasn’t feeling well.”
“You look fine to me.” Koa leans in and lowers his voice. “Really fine.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth, Summer.” He takes my hand
. “Can we please talk? I have things to say. Things that I need you to hear.”
Thankfully, Gramps makes his entrance just then, saving me from having to come up with a believable excuse to that enticing offer made by an even more enticing man. He waves at us and begins weaving his way over.
I ease my hand out of Koa’s. “No thanks. I’m done talking about this…this—” I shake my head. “Whatever this is.”
“You mean us?”
“Excuse me?”
“I feel something for you, Summer. Feelings I can’t ignore anymore.”
I swallow. “No. There is no us.”
“You’re wrong about that.” He moves closer, pausing only inches from my body.
Oh my God, what is taking Gramps so long!?
I bite back a curse when I find him. He’s talking to the nurse at the desk, deep in conversation about God knows what.
“We’re just friends,” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.
“What if I don’t want to be just friends? What if I feel more, want more?”
I don’t answer because I can’t. My voice has left me, my witty retort is lodged in my throat. All I see is Koa and all I hear is the roaring in my ears.
Koa reaches up his hand and brushes a tendril of hair off my cheek, his calloused fingertips brushing my smooth skin and sending a thousand pinpricks dancing across my body. “Say you feel it, too.”
I take a deep breath, filling my nostrils with Koa’s intoxicating scent. Fresh soap, pine, and the sea. Perfection. I drag my tongue over my lips, thinking up any answer but the one he wants to hear; the same one I’m tempted to give. “I—”
“There you are! My two favorite people.” Gramps comes around me and grabs my shoulder. His other hand—the one with the cast—lands on Koa’s shoulder with a loud thwack. “Oh God! Sorry, my boy. This darn thing is such a nuisance…” He trails off as Koa stays silence. “Did I hurt you?”
Koa shakes his head slowly, his eyes still fixed on mine. His gaze lays me bare, stripping me of my defenses and carefully crafted walls. He’s seen the real me, the vulnerable me, and he’s asking for more. He’s asking for all of me.
I can’t take it. This wasn’t part of my plan. I force air into my lungs and wrench my eyes from his. “Hey Gramps, ready to go?”
He gives Koa and me a funny look. “Am I’m interrupting som—”
“No! Uh, not at all. We should get back, actually.”
“Summer,” Koa murmurs.
I throw him a quick look and grab Gramps by his good arm. “I’m sure I’ll be feeling better soon, Koa,” I say, heading for the door. “Good luck tomorrow!”
He frowns. “Wait, you’re not coming out?”
I tug Gramps after me, who’s following our stilted conversation with a bewildered look. “Who knows? Could be coming down with something.”
“I think we should talk—”
“Can’t! Really gotta go.” I turn the corner and beeline for the stairwell. Screw the elevator. Gramps needs the exercise, anyway.
“What was that about?” he asks as we walk down the stairs.
I shrug. “No idea. I’m not sure Koa’s thinking clearly after the storm.”
Gramps moves ahead and grabs the door, ushering me through. “Did something happen out there to him?”
I take a deep breath and root around for the keys. “You could say that…”
20
Koa
I was surprised to get the call from Grandma Jane asking me to come to the fair tonight. When I declined, she pressed harder, saying she and Captain “wanted the company.”
That had me stumped. I didn’t point out that their granddaughter was with them all summer and could easily keep them company. But they didn’t mention her and I didn’t ask, for obvious reasons.
But as I come into view of the boisterous crowd of families, teenagers, and couples milling outside the ticket booth, I realize that maybe I should’ve asked. Summer’s standing between her grandparents, the bright yellow straps of her sundress standing out on her browned, toned shoulders, as she points to the ticket sign above their heads. She says something to Captain, who laughs and shakes his head.
I curse under my breath. I consider forgetting about the whole thing, driving home and calling them with some lame excuse of why I’m skipping out, but I realize I’m stuck. My sudden absence would make an already awkward situation worse. At least, I think.
I park my truck and start toward the entrance. Dread builds with every slow step toward the beautiful woman in the yellow dress. “Good to see you’re feeling better,” I say, coming up behind Summer.
She whirls around and stares at me. Based on her wide eyes and pale face, I’m guessing she didn’t know I was joining their cozy group of three. “Koa? What are you—”
“Koa!” Grandma Jane cries, pulling me into a warm embrace. “We were just going to buy tickets. Can’t decide how many to get.”
“I want a hundred, but Summer’s positive she’s gonna get me on a few of those rides.” Captain grins at his granddaughter. “So she wants double that. What do you think, sonny?”
Three pairs of eyes focus on me: two questioning, the third livid. I meet the livid pair. “Why not two hundred? Summer always knows best, isn’t that right?”
Her eyes narrow. I smile back at her.
“That’s settled, then,” Captain says, clapping Summer on the shoulder and bringing her in. “Ready?”
I take a deep breath as they move off, like a weight’s been lifted off my chest. I turn to Grandma Jane and find her eyes on me. “Is everything alright between you and Summer?”
That didn’t take long. “I think everything’s fine.” I offer her my arm. “Want to head over to the line?”
She nods. “You two just seem…” Grandma Jane looks up at me as I move us through the crowd “…distant.”
“Do we?” I say, keeping my eyes ahead of me. “That’s weird.”
“Or maybe it’s just that you haven’t seen each other in a while. It’s been a few days, right?”
“Five.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Keeping count?”
“Hard not to when you’re out there alone for a week.”
“Out where alone for a week?” Captain asks as we reach them. Christ, the man’s got superhuman hearing.
“Nothing,” I say, failing to see a way to tell the truth without embarrassing Summer in front of her grandparents.
Jane lays a hand on my arm. “Koa was just telling me how lonely he’s getting without Summer.”
Summer gapes at me.
“Uh, that’s not exactly what I said.”
“Then what exactly did you say?” Summer demands.
I grit my teeth at her tone. Screw being professional. She’s asking for it. “That I’m struggling to do the work of two during the height of the season.”
Summer glances away. “Well, I—I wasn’t feeling well.”
“You seem to be in sparkling health now.” I motion to the rollercoaster flying over the head of the crowd. “Hope your illness doesn’t flare up and inconvenience your fun night out.”
Summer’s face turns even darker. “I doubt you’ve had any trouble out there without me, Captain. I’m sure I only got in the way.”
We glower at each other, the sound of laughter and fair games filling the moody silence.
“Alright…” Jane says slowly, glancing between us “…glad to see there’s no problem here. Now, who’s ready for a little fun?”
I’m sitting on a bench, watching the bright, colorful lights of the ferris wheel flash and dance against the black night sky, when a finger taps me on my shoulder. I glance around to find Summer staring down at me, her gaze impassive and guarded. “I’m grabbing beers. Would you like one?”
I’m struck speechless by her thoughtfulness. “Gramps told me to ask you,” she adds.
Oh.
“Sure.”
She starts off toward the line snaking around the beer stand.
“Wait!” I call out. She stops and turns, cocking an eyebrow for my question. “Need help?”
“I’ll be fine,” she says, starting forward again. I roll my eyes and follow after her. She glances over at me as I fall into step next to her. “I said I was fine.”
“Do me a favor?”
“Okay…”
“Stop being a brat.”
“How dare you—”
“Be rational,” I finish. “How exactly are you going to carry four twenty-ounce beers through a crowd like this?”
“I…” She trails off as we reach the end of the line.
I sigh. “I’m not stalking you, I’m only trying to be nice. Try it sometime.”
She scowls at me and opens her mouth, then snaps it shut. The anger drains from her face in an instant. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Right now, earlier, this whole week.” She turns to me as we inch forward. “I can’t believe I abandoned you on the boat like that.”
“It’s okay.” It’s not, but I’m completely caught off guard by this sudden apology.
“I blew it just when I was really getting the hang of everything. Just when—” She stops and bites her lip.
“What?”
“Just when you were beginning to trust me,” she murmurs.
“Hey…” I take her hand and squeeze. I thought I wanted to see Summer grovel, to beg for forgiveness, but I was wrong. Her pain hurt me more than her week of silence ever could. “I do trust you.”
She smiles up at me for a moment, then gently tugs her hand out of mine. “Good. Me, too.”
“Though you did leave me to the mercy of the sharks.”
“Sharks?” A hint of a smile plays on her lips. “You’re being dramatic.”
“Am not.”
“In Maine?”
“Of course. There are also giant squids and man o’ wars and Loch Ness monsters and…”
Her eyes had been growing larger as I went. Now they narrow. She slaps my arm. “Quit it! I’m trying to apologize.”
