“And the ones you’re still gonna make in the future, right?”
“What makes you think I’ll keep making them?”
“Because you’re good at it and you like doing it and I want you to. And you said I can have anything I want.”
I snorted and he grinned. “Fine. It’s a deal. I do like doing them. It soothes me.”
“I already knew about the trees, though! Tell me something I don’t know.”
“All right.” I slid up onto my elbow, resting my head on my palm. “How’s this. I’ve been thinking about introducing you to my kids, and what that will be like.”
His brows shot up. “Really?”
“Really.”
“That’s a good answer. Better than I expected.”
“I’m glad. I thought it might freak you out.”
“No way. Means I’m important.”
“You’ve always thought you were important.”
“Important to you, you jerk. I would love to meet your kids.”
I slid back down, tugging him close and burying my face in his hair. “Now you. Tell me something big I don’t know.”
“Are you kidding? Figured you’d had your fill of that after the beach club.”
I laughed hard. “Oh, fuck that’s right. Good point.”
“Yeah, my secrets tend to kill the mood.”
I gave him a reassuring kiss. “We’re past all that now. I want to know more about you, too.”
“Here’s one. I can wrap both my legs behind my head and do summersaults.”
“Really, now.”
“Yep.” He chuckled. “Also…my name used to be Michael McCrea.”
I eased back and looked at him. He bit his lip, eyes big and vulnerable. “Michael McCrea,” I repeated softly.
“Only a few people know that. Was a time it could have got me killed.”
I shivered. “Thanks for telling me.”
Nodding, he said, “You can Google it but I wouldn’t recommend. You’ll get a bunch of gross murder stuff.”
I ran a finger down his cheek. “I won’t, then.”
His lashes fluttered as he looked down. “Don’t matter or nothing. Just wanted you to know what my name used to be.”
“What name do you prefer? Michael or Orion?”
“Orion. That’s who I am now.”
I smiled. “Okay. So. What are you going to call your gift shop?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know yet. I was video chatting with Claudette. She’s been giving me guidance and she said…” His eyes widened. “Shit, I’m sorry. You don’t like talking about her.”
“Orion, I know the woman helped raise you. You can talk about her, long as it doesn’t involve my dad.”
“Okay.”
“So Claudette doesn’t mind you’re gonna be her competition?”
“Nah, she’s supportive. I’ll be down the other end of the seaside, and I’m selling totally different stuff. But she said since hers was called Three Hills I should call mine Three Stars Gifts.”
“Three Stars. Orion’s Belt.”
He nodded. “But I’m not gonna call it that. That name sucks.”
I chuckled. “You think?”
“Three Stars? Sounds like a mediocre Yelp review.”
“You’ll figure it out. You have time. But hey, your own name is beautiful. And it doesn’t sound like a Yelp review.”
He frowned. “Orion?” I nodded. “Huh. Orion Gifts. That’s not bad actually.”
“I like it.”
Running fingers through my hair, he smiled. “Hey, I know this bed isn’t comfy with two people, but will you sleep here tonight?”
“Of course.” I rolled onto my back so he could lie across my chest. “Anything you want.”
“G’nite.”
“Goodnight.”
As I closed my eyes, I marveled that this soft, warm, vulnerable being in my arms used to intimidate me. I knew it was likely he’d still give me all manner of trouble going forward, because he could be a brat. And as my father said, Orion’s head was a complicated place.
I didn’t need to be told that. He could pull hidden truths out of seashells, and outside of that, seemed to have a keen ability to sense only the things I sought to hide. That was gonna be a fucking challenge and a half. It was probably a good thing I didn’t have many secrets.
And if Orion had more secrets, that was fine. I’d learn them in good time. I liked that every moment with him held some surprise or fascination. Never a dull moment—which was something I didn’t think I was about, but I enjoyed Orion’s peculiarities. I loved that he’d tamed the bureaucracy enough to have a seat on the tourism council, and that the town mayor was cosigning his loans. And yet, he was still the guy who could do backflips through rings of fire and eat twenty cookies in one sitting.
But the most surprising thing to me was, Orion was an optimist. Even orphaned as a kid by murder and terror, he was an optimist. It made me feel like a privileged asshole by comparison, the way I’d been grumping around about my own problems for an entire year. If Orion, after all he’d been through, could still be ready to take life by the balls, then I had no excuse. I needed to get out of my own way and explore what was next for my life. And make Orion feel safe and secure as he explored his.
The things that made Orion feel safe already, like my father, and Hillock Beach itself, he’d imprinted on like a surrogate, clinging to with a desperation that spoke of his past, and all he’d lost. That’s what Jasper had said, that Orion was always afraid of losing what he had, and missing out on future opportunities. He was fiercely loyal to those who’d helped him, and made it his mission to give back. Like helping my dad. And wanting to showcase the residents of Hillock Beach in his shop.
He was undeniably the most unusual person I’d ever met.
My father was right about something else too. Orion and I were completely different. Because I’d always played it safe. I’d always been safe. But self-imposed safety came with sacrifice, I’d learned. Opportunities lost. Chances not taken. Desires unfulfilled.
I didn’t want to be safe anymore. I wanted to be whole.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sunday morning, I got up with the sun, and my jog on the beach felt slightly less painful than last time. And by less painful, I mean I only wanted to die myself, unlike my prior runs where I wanted to take others down with me. Mainly the perky runners I passed who actually had enough air in their lungs to say ‘Good morning’ while I loped along like an asthmatic werewolf with two lame feet.
But I did get an extra dose of pain when my jog was done, because I ran into Jasper heading to the water for his morning swim. Well, not so much pain as annoyance. I still hadn’t told him about my reading with Chapel or the message my mother relayed for him, but I’d be coming back later in the day—I’d do it then. I was worried though, because Jasper had been happier lately. If my mother’s message about socks was regarded as a bad thing, he was going to spiral again, I could feel it. But for now? He was just way too cheery for this early in the morning, and way too chatty, especially since I was about to collapse after running two miles.