Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2)

by Karice Bolton

  “Not sure yet.” He shrugged and glanced at Sophie and Tori like some sort of secret code transpired, which made me feel uneasy.

  My suspicions only grew once Sophie and Tori popped up with their drinks in hand.

  “I’ll pick you up around seven,” Sophie said. She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and followed Tori out the door, leaving Nick sitting next to me at the table.

  Never in a million years would this be weird. We’d been alone thousands of times and now something felt off. Was it only because of the seed Cole had planted? I stretched my arms up and groaned.

  “This has been a long week,” I sighed.

  “Let me help,” Nick said, standing up and moving behind me.

  Nick’s hands slid along my shoulders and began massaging my muscles. It was something he’d done many times before. His fingers kneaded deep, but instead of diminishing the knots, more came with each squeeze. This had to be in my head. He wasn’t interested in me.

  “So do you have a hot date tonight? Is that why you’re not sure about bowling?”

  His grip lessened and slowly fell away. “I don’t know yet. It depends.”

  I turned to look at one of my very best friends and was frightened by what I might see. I prayed the words would not come from his lips.

  “Depends on what?” I asked full of suspicion.

  “How things go,” he said, kneeling next to me.

  “What things?” My heart wanted to leap out of my chest as his eyes steadied on mine.

  “Well, you haven’t had the best of luck with relationships and neither have I.”

  “With one relationship,” I corrected, smiling nervously. “You’re the one with multiples.”

  A smile lurked behind his gaze, but it didn’t appear on his lips. Nick was incredibly attractive and any girl would be so lucky to have him.

  I just wasn’t that girl.

  “After Cole showed up, I kind of wondered why I’d let so much time go by.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’ve been best friends forever, and they always say the best relationships develop from friendships.”

  “But we’ve never crossed that line,” I reminded him.

  “You heard Cynthia. She thought we had chemistry and maybe we could.”

  “But we don’t and we both know taking relationship advice from Cynthia wouldn’t do anyone any good.”

  I touched his whiskered cheek and shook my head. “You’re the sweetest friend in the world, but you are just trying to make me feel better because of Cole.”

  “What makes you say that?” he asked.

  “Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

  “Not really. I’d been thinking about it recently and kind of liked it when we were pretending.”

  “If I lost what we had, I’d be devastated.” I tried another approach.

  “You’ve always been stuck on Cole, but he’s the one who left you and he never tried to get you back.”

  Even though it was true, his words stung.

  “You know what, Natty? This isn’t about us. You’re right. We’ve always been friends, but I guess I care about you so much I just want you to be happy. I want you to forget about a man who doesn’t love you. If he did, he’d be here, and I wouldn’t need to be.”

  I watched an elderly couple walk by the window and my chest tightened. Would I ever have that?

  “Have you ever had feelings for me?” I asked, looking directly into his eyes.

  He stayed silent for a beat too long.

  “Nick, have you ever had any sexual feelings toward me?”

  “Not a one.”

  “See how easy that was? That right there decided the fate of our imaginary sexual relationship.”

  “I’d like to think of it more as a sexual escapade,” he said, smiling. “I’m pissed at how someone so confident and full of life could let someone else rip that away from them just by wandering into town.”

  “You’re referring to me?” My fingers touched my chest.

  “I certainly wasn’t talking about Pickles. She’s a cold-hearted b—”

  “Not now.” I held up my hand. “Pickles and I are on good terms, and I don’t want to jeopardize it.”

  “It’s complicated and I’m not letting him rip away my confidence or zest for life. I love my friends. I love what I do for a living. I love my house. I love my life. But seeing him just shook me up a bit.”

  Nick let out a slow breath, and I decided to do something I hoped I wouldn’t regret.

  “Cole thought I had a thing for you.”

  “Recently?”

  I shook my head. “No, back then.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He seems to think he asked me to move with him to Georgia and I said I couldn’t because of you and my friends.”

  “I can tell you as a guy, I wouldn’t want to hear my college girlfriend tell me I can’t move with him because of some other guy.”

  “But the thing is I don’t remember saying that.”

  “Well, I doubt he made it up.”

  “Doesn’t matter anyway,” I mused. “He thinks I’ve had feelings for you or always had feelings for you.”

  “That might explain why he never reached out.”

  “But does it though? Shouldn’t he fight for what he wanted?”

  “Only in the books you read,” Nick cracked himself up and I ribbed his side.

  “Happy endings do happen in real life,” I protested.

  Nick started laughing harder.

  “Yes, happy endings do happen in real life, but happily-ever-afters are harder to come by.”

  “You are such a guy,” I groaned and swatted him with a napkin. “Not everything is a sexual innuendo.”

  “But the potential always exists. Do you think I should call Cole and let him know there’s never been anything?”

  “I think that’s an absolutely horrible idea. I doubt he’d be thrilled that I’m busy reporting back to you much of anything. And what’s done is done. It’s not like we can turn back time.”

  Nick looked distressed. “I think that saying that there are two sides to every story couldn’t be truer. What other sayings can we apply here.”

  “And you don’t even know the half of it.” I glanced at the clock, feeling so much better that Nick really wasn’t ever into me. “I should go home and get ready. But don’t give this too much thought. He’s got a life he’s happy with and so do I. They don’t need to merge, and I doubt they ever will.”

  “Wow. All that happened in the last week?” Brandy asked, glancing at Tori.

  “Indeed, it did,” she answered.

  The sound of bowling pins colliding echoed into the air, and I stood up to roll a strike. Actually, I was more of a one-pin-down kind of girl, but I could dream big.

  “Make it count,” Aaron hollered from the bench. I curtsied and made my way toward the balls.

  I’d only met Brandy and Aaron a couple of times. Brandy was best friends with Lily and Gabby. Lily’s husband was Ayden who happened to be Mason’s twin brother, and Gabby recently married Jason, who is best friends with Aaron, who just so happens to be Gabby’s brother. The first time I learned of all the connections from Tori, I thought my head was going to explode, but I was also secretly disappointed there weren’t any single men left.

  I picked up my glittery gold ball and slipped my fingers into the holes, praying I wouldn’t catch anything. Holding the ball up to my chin, I took in a deep breath and walked steadily to the lane and released the ball from my fingertips. I watched it spin toward the gutter and a wave of groans erupted around me.

  “It slipped. The ball slipped from my fingers,” I told them, spinning around to see Sophie laughing uncontrollably.

  “You can only use that excuse twice at the most,” she teased, picking up her purple wonder ball. “And I think you’ve said that at least three times.”

  “At least I have an excuse.”

  Nick caught my glance, an
d his grin widened as Mason took a seat in between him and Aaron. This right here made my life amazing. I didn’t need a guy to make me happy or miserable.

  So why did Cole always seep into my mind? It had been a week since I’d last seen or heard from him. He made no promises and neither did I when he left that day. Yet, I continued to search for something that didn’t exist between us, and I had no idea when I’d finally wrap my head around that.

  “I’m gonna get another beer? Anyone want anything?” I asked, needing to escape from my own thoughts.

  “I’ll take another,” Tori said, holding her empty bottle shaped as a bowling pin. There was something delightfully tacky about indulging here, and I needed to focus on the here and now, not the imaginary Cole Hill.

  “I’ll take something too. Surprise me,” Nick shouted. I was secretly relieved that our relationship seemed to be back on track.

  “Coming right up.” I wandered to the bar and ordered, showing my id again. I’d take getting carded for as long as someone was decent enough to ask. Never mind that this particular bartender, Bradley, went to school with me. It was the thought that counted and I appreciated it.

  I watched the television and saw a soccer game on. My mind drifted to the game I’d been to in Seattle with Sophie. It had been an awesome time filled with tasty food, good friends, and beer.

  “Are we winning?” I asked Bradley.

  “We are.” He nodded.

  As I waited for the drinks an odd sensation rolled over my entire body. It felt like I was being watched. I glanced discreetly in the mirror behind the bartender and turned my head slightly to the left and to the right. The place was empty. Everyone was bowling away in the lanes or sitting in the spectator area where they also served drinks. Maybe I didn’t need the next beer, but it would be more fun if I had it. I was clearly on track to put Cole behind me this evening.

  Bradley flicked the caps off all three beers and slid them on the counter to me.

  “Gracias,” I said, weaving the bowling pin bottles through my fingers. I made my way toward my friends and the feeling of being watched remained. I glanced behind me toward Bradley, but he was wiping down glasses. It had to be in my head.

  Or wishful thinking.

  Not that I would admit what I secretly hoped for in my fairy-tale book of happily-ever-afters, but I knew once I uttered it aloud or merely let my mind think of the possibility, I might finally find out what was wrong with me.

  This encounter with Cole made me revisit the definition of masochism, not in the sexual vein. But was I someone who enjoyed this pain that I continually inflicted on myself?

  Nah.

  I shuddered at the thought and turned my attention back to what was important.

  “Liquor is served,” I hollered to everyone as I nearly tripped down the steps.

  Nick dashed over to me before I even had a chance to recover, and he took the drinks from me. Sophie, always the stabilizing force in the group, couldn’t stop giggling while I made my way to the bench.

  “You know, I think I do want another,” Sophie said, eyeing my beer.

  “Here, you can have mine.” I shoved it in her hand, as she shook her head no.

  “No. I’ll go get my own.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I knew I wasn’t making this sensation up. My eyes darted to the other lanes, searching for the source, but I still didn’t see anyone out of place.

  “No. I refuse to drink your beer. You need it for what I’m about to tell you.” She shoved it back in my hands and popped up off the bench. “In fact, come with me.”

  “But it’s almost my turn. I need to redeem myself.”

  “There’s no chance of doing that and they’ll survive. Someone will cover for you.” She pulled me off the bench, and I made my way back to the bar.

  “Back so soon?” Bradley asked.

  “Now it’s her turn.” I pointed at Sophie.

  “I’d like one of those fancy bottled beers. I got stuck with a normal bottle last time and felt left out.”

  “Coming up,” Bradley said.

  “Let’s sit here.” Sophie slid into an empty booth and patted the table.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “So I didn’t bring it up with everyone around, but how did everything go with Cole? Did he tell you about Cynthia?”

  I shook my head. “We didn’t really cover that. I mean her.”

  Bradley bought the beer over and Sophie took a sip, narrowing her eyes at me.

  “You did talk to him, right?” she prompted.

  “Yeah, we talked.”

  “And he told you his suspicions about Nick and you, right?”

  I nodded. “That he thought I was into Nick and that’s why I wouldn’t leave with him for Georgia. I don’t know. I certainly don’t remember it going down that way. It’s kind of bizarre to dig all this stuff up when it doesn’t matter one way or another. He’s got Cynthia and I’ve got…”

  “Me.” Sophie fluttered her lids and I chuckled.

  “Yes, you. And I would never trade you in for a newer model.”

  “Why, thank you. I appreciate that.” She took a swig of her beer, and I was so happy to see her finally letting loose. She worked herself to death and never complained. To see her worries slip away temporarily was worth the time away from my latest book at home.

  “Well, it sounds like he didn’t tell you how he proposed to Cynthia.”

  My stomach clenched.

  “No, that didn’t come up.” My skin prickled, and I glanced around the bar quickly.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  “Is there someone around?”

  “Besides you, me and Bradley? No.” She shook her head and took another swallow.

  The sensation didn’t go away, but it didn’t frighten me either. It was probably nothing more than wishful thinking, but what if Cole had returned?

  Oh, no. My mind let it slip from its subconscious. I could no longer hide from my secret thoughts and twisted dreams, but the ridiculousness was still trapped in my mind, and it would not escape these lips.

  “Anyway, it wasn’t a very romantic gesture. It was like a matter of convenience,” she informed me as if that would make me feel better.

  “There is nothing convenient about marriage. In fact, this hopeless romantic is starting to question the entire idea of it.”

  Sophie sucked in a horrified breath. I knew she was dying to tell me something, but I wasn’t sure I was in the mood. What did it matter anyway? Cole and I were both in different places in our lives.

  “I’d almost say it was a misunderstanding.”

  “What are you talking about? You don’t accidentally propose to someone.”

  “Well, since you asked.” She grinned mischievously. “They’d been dating for six months.”

  “Six months?” My eyes widened. I’d given him years and still wound up without him.

  “Yes, it gets worse or better, depending on how you look at it.”

  I gestured for her to continue.

  “They were out to dinner with her family and she began to announce that she was moving in with Cole, and her parents misunderstood. The next thing Cole knew, the parents were congratulating Cole and Cynthia on their engagement and the rest is history.” Sophie nodded as if that explained everything.

  “And how long ago was that?” I asked.

  “Nine months ago.”

  “So why wouldn’t he just break it off? He’s always been someone who did what he wanted. He wouldn’t accidentally get married unless he liked her.”

  “Want my opinion?” she asked.

  I nodded and glanced around the bowling alley, still hoping I felt his gaze on me.

  I didn’t. I probably never did.

  “All he’s ever wanted is you and since he can’t have you, he resigned himself to a life he didn’t care about.”

  “No man would do that.”

  “They do it all the time.” Sophie threw her hands
at me. “What are you talking about?”

  “Not Cole. I think you’ve been dipping into my reading selection. There’s no hidden Cole waiting in the wings for me, quietly plotting how to get the girl of his dreams back.”

  The Cole I knew was full of passion and direction. He’d never settle. He always got what he wanted, which was why his decision to leave was even more painful. I wasn’t what he wanted. No matter how he remembered it.

  “He doesn’t love Cynthia.”

  “Well, that’s unfortunate for him. A lifetime is a long time to be attached to someone you don’t like.”

  “I honestly don’t think the wedding is happening.”

  “Who knows, but you have to promise me that we won’t talk about it anymore. No more Cole talk. It’s done. It’s over. Again. Besides, I haven’t heard a thing from him since he left Fireweed,” I confessed. “I didn’t really think I would, but there was a small part of me that hoped I would maybe get an email or…”

  She reached over and squeezed my hand.

  “I knew what to expect. It wasn’t like the engagement got called off,” I added.

  Sophie glanced over my shoulder and smiled. I twisted in the booth and looked behind me, but I didn’t see anyone.

  “Let’s get back before they boot us out of the game.” I took comfort in my beer as I waited for Sophie to stand up and adjust her shirt before we walked back.

  “We’ve already gone for you twice. What in the world have you two been up to?” Lily asked, sliding next to Tori. She’d recently married Ayden, Mason’s twin brother.

  “Girl talk,” Sophie informed her. “We’re trying to figure out the mystery of love.”

  Brandy chuckled and leaned her head against Aaron. “When you figure it out, let us all know.”

  “Huh?” I asked, perplexed. “Aren’t you two?”

  “Oh, most definitely. But it didn’t necessarily come easy,” Brandy said, grinning at Aaron.

  “What good thing does?” Aaron asked. “I almost lost her because I made some very poor decisions, and time managed to slip away while I figured it out.”

  “But sometimes the timing just isn’t right,” I said.

  “You make the timing right.” Aaron eyed me.

  “I agree with Aaron, but if the other person doesn’t make the effort…” Brandy said, twisting her lips into a thin line. “Then what’s the point?”