All Because of You (Morgan's Bay Book 1)

by Theresa Paolo

  “Which is why you keep to yourself…” She shook her head. “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Because I’m not from around here?”

  “Exactly. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go back to my misery.”

  He let out a sigh and slumped down into his seat. “If you want to waste your time on frivolous emotions, be my guest.”

  Her gasp was audible through the train, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. “How do you even know what I’m upset about? What if I was crying because someone died? And you’re over here being a jerk.”

  He held his hands up. “I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I know that’s not why you’re crying.”

  “How can you tell?”

  “There’s bitterness to your tone. You’re crying more out of anger than sadness.”

  Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything. Probably because he got that nail right on the head. He’d been through grief; he knew the signs. Regardless if people grieved differently, the sadness was unmistakable.

  “But I don’t want to be rude,” he said. “So, I’ll let you get back to it.” He popped earbuds in and didn’t need to look at the woman to feel her penetrating gaze, glaring daggers in his direction. She flopped in the seat and rested into the headrest.

  It’d been a long day, and it was just as well she wasn’t the chatty type. He needed some sleep before he met his long-lost family. Especially since he’d be showing up five hours late, thanks to plane delays that were out of his control. One more inconvenience and he’d swear he was in a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

  Still, he wouldn’t let minor setbacks dampen his mood. After all, life was too short to waste it harping on bullshit. He closed his eyes and let the humming vibrations of the train lull him to sleep.

  Chapter 2

  Ever since the out-of-towner sat beside her and inserted himself into her business, Olivia couldn’t cry in peace. Was it too much to ask for a girl who had been cheated on and lost everything in the matter of minutes? So what if her tears were fueled by anger? Those tears deserved a release too, dammit, regardless of what Mr. Opinionated over there thought.

  She glanced in his direction. He was good-looking; there was no denying that. Dark stubble lined his chiseled jawline, his nose made for a Grecian god, and his lips were perfectly plump on the bottom and bowed on top. He looked so peaceful with his eyes closed.

  She wanted to drop her suitcase on his head. If she could no longer wallow in her pity, why should he be allowed to slumber into oblivion?

  The anger he’d so kindly pointed out mixed with annoyance. She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a perturbed breath. One of his eyes popped open, and he angled his head in her direction.

  “I’d ask if everything was okay, but I don’t want to intrude on your misery.”

  “For your information, I was perfectly happy in my misery until you came along. Now I’m annoyed.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  The audacity of some people still managed to stun her, and she was a New Yorker! It took a special kind of person to possess that capability. “For what?” she demanded.

  He lifted his strong, dominant chin. “No more tears.”

  She swiped at her eyes, and her fingers were dry. He was right. After he’d interjected himself into her business, she’d been too annoyed to cry. She didn’t know if it was necessarily better, but at least she wasn’t making a scene. Somehow, he managed to make her forget about Daniel and everything that transpired only a short time ago.

  “Like I said, you’re welcome.”

  “The next time you want to get someone to stop crying, maybe try a little compassion.”

  His other eye opened, and he sat up in his seat. “Hey, I tried to be nice, but you didn’t exactly make it easy for me.”

  She sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I had a really rough night, and I know that’s not your fault.”

  “I get it,” he said, cutting her off from an inevitable word vomit with a side of too much information.

  The train came to another stop, and she waited for him to grab his bag and head into the night. The door closed, and the train continued, and he was still there. Not many people stayed on to Morgan’s Bay, at least not until after Memorial Day when the summer brought beach goers from the city.

  “You didn’t miss your stop, did you?” she asked.

  “Nope. I’m riding this thing to the end.”

  She shifted in her seat. “You’re going to Morgan’s Bay?”

  “Sure am.”

  She gave him a more thorough once over. She knew every person who resided in Morgan’s Bay—an easy feat when growing up in a small town that had the same families occupying the houses since the beginning of its founding.

  “You’re not from there,” she stated.

  “Nope.”

  “Then why are you going to Morgan’s Bay?”

  “Why do you care?”

  Her small-town mentality kicked in, leaving the city girl behind her. “It’s not the summer season yet, so the only reason people go to Morgan’s Bay is because they live there or they know someone who lives there.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do say so. So, who are you? Who do you know?” She could learn a lot about him based off those he was related to. Morgan’s Bay was a small town, and just because Olivia had lived in the city for the last few years didn’t mean she didn’t have the four-one-one on pretty much every person who stepped foot in town.

  “If I knew I was going to get the third degree I would’ve kept my earbuds in.”

  “Then lucky for me you took them out. So, go on. Out with it.”

  He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I’m meeting family I’ve never met before.”

  “Who are they? I can tell you everything you need to know about them.” This just got interesting. She sat up in her chair and angled her body toward him, ready to give him the scoop.

  He laughed. “I appreciate the offer, but I want to be able to figure them out on my own. First impressions can tell a lot about a person, and I don’t want to taint that with preconceived notions.”

  “If that were the case, then I don’t even want to think what you might think about me. First impressions are not everything, and from my experience, nine times out of ten they’re completely inaccurate.”

  His eyes darted to her, eyebrow lifting slightly. “Is that so?”

  “Absolutely. The first time you meet someone, especially in a planned setting, they are on their best behavior.”

  He nodded and took his chin between thumb and forefinger. “How long does it take to finally know someone’s true character?”

  “I don’t know. I lived with someone for two years and only found out who he truly was a few hours ago.”

  “Ouch.”

  “It’s my own fault. I was so obsessed with the fairy tale that I couldn’t see what was right in front of me the whole time.”

  “And what was that?”

  “That he was a lying, manipulative, asshole who only cared about his career.”

  He held his hands up. “Sorry I asked.”

  “Don’t be. I feel better now that it’s off my chest.” She didn’t realize how much was building inside her until she opened the valve and let a little out. Maybe crying wasn’t the best medicine. Maybe it was talking. Not that she was going to completely unload on this poor suspecting soul. She should just call her sister, but she’d been too embarrassed to earlier.

  Cindy had the perfect life—so perfect she made a career out of it by posting pictures of her family on social media and starting a successful Mommy blog. Olivia didn’t want to admit that she’d lost everything in the matter of minutes, but being only two years a part, Cindy had always been her rock.

  “It’s his loss.”

  Olivia turned to the handsome stranger and laughed. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ve been insufferable from the moment you
got on this train. I bet in your head you think the guy dodged a bullet.”

  “You have spirit. That can be an admirable quality.”

  Her cheeks heated at the compliment. He had no reason to be nice to her now, but he was, and his kindness reminded her that just because Daniel was a dick didn’t mean all men were. It was reassuring in a moment when she needed it most.

  He checked his phone and leaned in the seat. “We have about another twenty minutes. Want to talk about it?”

  Her head snapped around, practically flying off her neck. “You do not want to hear my sob story.”

  “My audiobook is done, and to be honest, your voice is much more pleasing than the narrator’s.”

  She smiled. She’d ask him what book he was listening to, but she doubted she would know it. Daniel always got on her case for not reading more. He made her feel stupid, because she wasn’t up-to-date on the newest entrepreneurial read. It wasn’t her fault she preferred to spend her time reading fashion blogs and celebrity gossip rags.

  “I’m Shane. Maybe knowing my name will make it easier to talk.”

  Any inhibitions she had slowly began to fade. “I’m Olivia.”

  “Now that we’re best friends, let me have it.”

  “I have two best friends who would fight you for the title.”

  He smiled and it accentuated his handsome features. “We don’t want that.”

  “No, they fight dirty.” He laughed and the sound was the final wave of calm she needed. “You sure you want to hear about this disaster?”

  “Lay it on me.”

  With a deep breath, she started. Each declaration, every word brought her farther from the pain and heartache. She passed through a level of pissed off she didn’t realize was clinging inside of her then ended on a strange mixture of regret and relief. Regret for allowing Daniel to string her along for so long, and relief for finally getting everything that happened tonight out of her mind. She’d been wallowing in her own pool of pity. She wasn’t ready to get out of the pool completely. Maybe after a few chocolate bars and cocktails, she’d feel differently.

  She glanced at Shane who was listening to her intently. She threw her hands up and let them fall into her lap. “And that’s how I lost everything in the matter of minutes, and now I’m heading home with my tail tucked between my legs, moving in with my parents while I try to figure out what’s next.”

  “Not going to lie, that sucks.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “But it also looks like a blessing in disguise.”

  That blessing must’ve been in full costume. “How is any of this a blessing?”

  “You can start from scratch.”

  “Again, how is that a blessing?”

  “You have a chance to do it differently. Maybe do it right this time.” The tone of his voice made her wonder if that was exactly what he was doing himself. She was about to ask when the train came to a stop.

  “Look at that. Finished just in time.”

  But now that she was talking to him, she didn’t want to stop. She wanted to know who his family was. She wouldn’t even spill the beans about what she knew of them; she was just curious who he was getting off the train to go meet. And how he was related to them? There were so many possibilities. Her brain started working, trying to piece it together.

  He stood and grabbed her luggage, taking it down for her.

  “Thank you. I could have gotten it.”

  “I’m the reason it was up there. Taking it down is the least I could do.”

  Now that her claws weren’t out, she could see the nice guy he really was. “Do you have a ride to wherever you’re going?” she asked.

  “I was going to call a cab.”

  She bit her lip to hold back a laugh. He really wasn’t from around here. “We don’t have cabs in Morgan’s Bay, but we do have our own car ride service. I already called him. We can share if you want. Or you can wait until he drops me off then comes back to get you.” Milo wouldn’t mind. He created his business because he liked meeting people and talking.

  “If you don’t mind.”

  She met his eyes, looking at them for the first time, and startled by the intensity in his brown gaze. “Not at all.”

  “Lead the way.” He stepped out of the seat and let her into the aisle. She went to grab her bag, but he waved her off. “I got it.”

  She didn’t know if she was just relieved that he wasn’t an asshole, or if he was genuinely a nice guy. Either way, she was happy to have her faith restored in men, even if it was only for tonight.

  His arm muscle flexed beneath his t-shirt as he took the weight of the bag in his hold before placing it on the ground. He pulled on the handle and stood there when she realized she was blocking the way. She spun around and headed toward the exit.

  The fresh clean salt air rushed over her. It didn’t give her that excited jolt like stepping out into the industrial fueled air of the city, but it did wrap around her in a familiar embrace that relaxed her shoulders and had her walking a little slower.

  Shane followed her down the platform. Without the hustle and bustle of the city, the sound of the luggage rolling along the cement rumbled through the dark night.

  Olivia glanced toward the parking lot and immediately spotted Milo’s red Nissan Altima parked at the curb. Milo was the only car service in Morgan’s Bay and happened to be one of Olivia’s good friends. He leaned against the hood of his car under a streetlight, arms crossed over his chest, the logo of his family’s business, Amato Construction, poking out above his bicep. His chestnut hair was a stylish, disheveled mess as usual, and his smile reminded her why home was the best place for her right now.

  “Look what the train dragged home,” Milo said and pushed off the car. Olivia laughed and hurried to him. He opened his arms wide, and she went willingly. He smelled like the ocean, like home, and she held onto him for a moment, relishing in the comfort of a friendly hug. It was exactly what she needed to end her less than stellar night.

  Milo pulled back and studied her face. “Normally I’d say you look good, but unless this black cheek streak is a new trend I haven’t heard about, you look like hell, Liv.”

  Olivia choked on a laugh and punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up, Milo. I had a bad night.”

  “Is that all? Looks more like a bad month.”

  “Don’t make me deck you.” She balled up her fist and held it in front of him in a menacing but playful way. “You know I will.”

  “Oh, I know.” He rubbed at his cheek. “Can still feel the pain from that day in eighth grade.”

  “You deserved it.” The dumbass pretended he was drowning and nearly gave not only her but Harper and Isla heart attacks. He found it hilarious, and Olivia needed to show him how funny they thought his little prank was.

  “Does Harper know you’re home?” Harper was one of Olivia’s best friends, and she liked to joke with Milo that he could only borrow Harper, but the truth was no matter how close Olivia and Harper were and they were practically sisters, Harper and Milo shared a special bond. It was why they also shared a house, though, Harper swore she never slept with Milo. “I thought she said you decided to stay in the city this weekend.”

  “Change of plans,” Olivia said.

  Shane cleared his throat, and Olivia was grateful for the interruption. Even though she’d unloaded on Shane, she didn’t want to spill her guts to Milo yet. She wanted to hold onto the last bit of dignity she had for a little while longer.

  Milo nodded toward Shane. “Can I help you?”

  “Oh!” Olivia exclaimed. “This is Shane. He’s in town for a visit and needs a lift, too. I said he could share the car with me.”

  “You only put down one passenger. Not two.”

  Olivia rolled her eyes. “Consider it a friend helping out a friend.”

  “Is he a friend I don’t know about?”

  “I’m talking about you helping me… never mind. You’re giving him a ride.”

  “
I don’t want to impose,” Shane said. “I’m sure I can find a way.”

  Olivia held her hand up and flashed Milo the evil eye. “Nonsense. Milo is just being difficult.” The least she could do was get the guy a ride after that disastrous train ride.

  Milo ignored Olivia and swung his gaze to Shane. “Who are you visiting?”

  Olivia shoved Milo in the chest, pushing him toward the back of the car. “Don’t be so nosy.”

  “But—”

  Olivia cut Milo another look, this time with more finality behind it, and he sighed before walking toward the trunk. The occasional limp he had after being hit by a drunk driver the summer of senior year, destroying his baseball career, was barely noticeable except to those who knew him. “Fine, let’s go. But I’ll have to know where he’s going if he ever wants to get there.”

  Olivia gave Shane a smile, and he thanked her with a nod. Shane had made it perfectly clear on the train that he didn’t want to know anything about his family before he met them. She wasn’t about to give that opening to Milo who would undoubtedly share every opinion he ever had.

  Milo popped the trunk, and Shane deposited the bags. Olivia took the backseat, since she was used to being chauffeured around, but also she figured Shane as the newbie to the area, could take the front seat. Plus, after putting up with her on the train, it was the least she could do.

  Shane stood outside the car for a moment, and Milo leaned over from the driver seat and pushed open the passenger door. “You can sit up here, my man.”

  Shane climbed into the car, and Olivia slid over to his side. She settled behind him and leaned toward the gap between seat and door. “I’ll be your tour guide,” she said. She knew every nook and cranny in this town. “I know all the best places to get coffee, the best place to get a bacon, egg and cheese, and the best place to grab a cocktail.”

  “That’s because there’s only one of each,” Milo said.

  She caught Milo’s dark brown eyes in the rearview mirror. “Nobody asked you.”

  “It’s kind of hard to take you serious when you look like Hal when he’s dressed up for a gig.” Hal was a town celebrity—an Alice Cooper impersonator who performed at any local business that would let him.