“On purpose?”
He didn’t answer. It was too complicated to explain. “I just decided not to start digging around. It’s nothing personal.”
“Feels personal.”
“It’s not.”
“I know you’re not dropping this.” She’d always known which of his buttons to push, and she made a point of pushing them. “I know this is bugging you as much as it’s bugging me.”
“Why is it bugging you?”
She fidgeted. “Because I want to help.”
“Louisa, what I said back then—”
Her upheld hand silenced him. “Forget it.”
But she obviously hadn’t forgotten it or she wouldn’t have brought it up.
He’d yelled at her—he’d been so angry with her the day after his dad died. She’d come over that morning with her parents, and even his mom treated her badly. It was obvious she blamed Louisa. After all, if Louisa hadn’t upset him, Cody wouldn’t have been in the water. He would’ve been out somewhere with Lou. He would’ve come home, gotten into bed, and gone to sleep. He would’ve woken up the next day with two parents and one less tragedy.
But that wasn’t the way things went. So he blamed Louisa. It was easier than blaming himself. Not that he’d ever stopped doing that.
“I’m dropping it,” he said. “I decided it’s not important who put that cross up.”
She squinted up at him. “What did you find?”
He chewed the inside of his cheek. There she was—reading him like a book. Sometimes that charmed him. Sometimes it didn’t. Guess which it was today.
“I didn’t find anything,” he lied.
There was the smallest quirk of her eyebrow, and he knew she didn’t buy it.
“It’s nothing, Lou.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know I’m not going to let this go until you tell me the truth.”
That was a fact. He glanced back at the ship and found several of the guys still watching him from the deck. Vanishing into thin air sounded really good right about now.
“What is it?” she pressed.
“Louisa, just let it go,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You know I can’t do that.”
“You can,” he said. “And I didn’t find anything, so nothing I tell you here is going to ease your guilty conscience.”
Her face took the words like a slap. She clung to the strap of her bag across her chest and took a step back.
“Sorry,” he said.
“I’ll see ya.” She turned and walked away so quickly he couldn’t have caught her without jogging.
He raked a hand through his hair and heaved a sigh.
That was one way to get Louisa and her questions and these memories out of his life. Just not the way he intended.
Way to go, you idiot. Way to go.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TOPPER’S RESTAURANT AT THE WAUWINET was fine dining at its very best, which was why Louisa’s mother loved it so much.
JoEllen Chambers loved all things fine, so when Louisa called her that morning to confirm that she and Louisa’s father were indeed on the island, her mother instantly insisted on lunch at Topper’s.
Louisa had begrudgingly agreed and now sat as straight as a board at a table near a window, trying not to replay Cody’s comments about her guilty conscience—proof that he still thought about their undoing.
No. It wasn’t proof of anything. It only meant that he still hadn’t forgiven her, and she was foolish to try to repair what was broken between them.
She was scrolling through her phone mindlessly, waiting for her perpetually late parents, when a man’s voice interrupted her.
“Hi, Louisa.”
She glanced up and found Eric standing beside her table. He wore a black suit, white shirt, and red tie. He looked like a politician. A smug one. “Eric?”
He smiled at her.
“What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t hear? I took a job managing the Wauwinet.”
Louisa was bad at pretending, but she tried to muster a smile. “Really?”
The Wauwinet was a beautiful hotel. This was a step up for Eric—a big one.
“Yes,” he said.
“Wow, congratulations.”
“I’m surprised your mom didn’t tell you. She and your dad were in here last night.” He chuckled. “She seems convinced we’re getting back together.”
Louisa let out a nervous laugh. “Funny. She didn’t mention it.”
Eric sat down across from her. “I told her I’d be open to it.”
Louisa waited for the flutters of butterflies. She counted to five and felt nothing. “I think things are just as they’re supposed to be.”
Eric leaned in closer, his hands on the table, dangerously close to hers. Still, she felt nothing. “I’ve been watching your business closely.”
She raised her eyebrows as if to say, Oh?
“I think I could help you take it to the next level,” he said. “Or you could do the really smart thing and come here. Work for me. It’ll be like old times.”
Louisa moved her hands from the table and folded them in her lap. “My business is doing quite well, actually.”
He leaned back and studied her. “I heard about your auction idea,” he said. “It’s . . . interesting.”
“It’s brilliant,” she said in a tone she hoped radiated more confidence than she felt. “I bet you wish you’d thought of it.”
“I don’t plan fundraisers, Louisa.” He smiled coyly as if he hadn’t just zinged her.
She let the barb roll off her back and checked her phone. Where were her parents? “I’m meeting someone, so if you don’t mind . . .”
“What happened to us, Louisa?” Eric asked. “I thought we were really great together.”
Why did he want to talk about their relationship now? Weren’t they past analyzing it?
Louisa watched the entrance of the restaurant with intensity, as if she could will her parents into existence. “We were great together until I realized you didn’t believe in me.”
He frowned. “That’s insane. I was your biggest fan. I still am.”
She shook her head slightly. “I’m going to go call my parents. They’re late.”
Eric lifted a hand to stop her from standing. “I’ll go. I just miss you, is all.”
Not even the hint of a flutter.
At that precise moment, Warren and JoEllen Chambers appeared in the doorway of the restaurant and rushed over to greet them.
“Oh, Eric, you’re here again.” Louisa’s mom swooned. “Do you ever stop working?” Then to Louisa: “He is such a hard worker, Louisa. Don’t you think?”
Louisa didn’t respond. Instead, she watched as her parents embraced Eric like he was their long-lost son. Did they remember she was sitting there and they’d yet to see her since they returned to the island? Some daughters might expect a hug. She knew better.
Her mom finally (finally!) sat down next to Louisa, but her dad still stood next to Eric as if they were old friends. They were talking about golf or some such nonsense, and Louisa was itching to run straight back home.