Summer Island

“Not good. ”

She closed her eyes for a second, then looked up at him again. “Im here with my mother. She had a car accident and Im taking care of her. ”

You? It had slipped out, an intimate observation from a man whod once known the girl. He was instantly afraid hed offended her.

A smile hitched one side of her mouth. “I know. I should call Ripleys Believe It or Not. ”

“So, youve forgiven her, then. ”

Sadness darkened her eyes. “Forgiveness doesnt matter, does it, Dean? When a thing is done, its done. You cant unring a bell. ” She smiled, but it wasnt the smile he remembered, the one that crinkled her whole face and sparkled in her eyes. She seemed to be waiting for him to say something, but he couldnt think fast enough, and as usual, she didnt wait long. “Well, it was good seeing you again. Nora is in my old room. Say hello before you leave. Shed hate to miss you. ”

And with that, she walked past him and headed down to the beach.

Ruby thought she was going to be sick. That was why shed left Dean so quickly. She couldnt stand there, making polite conversation, not when it felt as if carbonated water had replaced her blood.

She ran down the path toward the beach and sat down on her favorite moss-covered rock, just as shed done a thousand times in her life.

“Ruby?”

She heard her name, spoken softly in the voice that had filled her dreams since adolescence, and she froze.

Her heart picked up a wild, thumping beat.

She hadnt heard his footsteps, hadnt prepared to see him again so quickly.

“Can I sit with you?”

She tried not to remember all the hours theyd spent here, huddled out on this rock, staring first out to sea, then gradually at each other. She sidled to the right it had always been her side.

Dean sat down beside her

She felt his thigh along hers, and she ached to scoot closer . . . to lay her hand on his the way shed done so many times before. But shed lost that right. In her angry, confused youth, shed thrown it away.

She had always known that she still carried a torch for Dean, but obviously she hadnt understood what that meant. It was more than fond memories or adolescent longings. A torch was hot; it would scar your flesh if you werent careful.

“This brings back memories,” he said softly.

She didnt mean to turn to him, but she couldnt help herself. She wanted to say something witty, but when she gazed into his blue eyes, she was sixteen again. Except he had become a man. Lines bracketed his mouth and crows-feet fanned out from the corners of his eyes. If it were possible, he was even more handsome now.

She felt a rush of shame. If only shed worn better clothes today than torn black shorts and a ragged T-shirt, or cut her hair recently. He was probably disgusted that shed let herself get so. . . ugly.

She reached deep inside for a casual voice. “Its good to see you again,” she said, staring back out at the sea. “I hear from Caro that youre a corporate bigwig now. ”

“It doesnt mean much. ”

“Spoken like a rich man. ” She tried to smile. “So, hows life treated you?” God, she wished hed take the reins of this awkward conversation and ride away . . .

“I saw your act once. At the Comedy Store. ”

She turned to him, and immediately regretted it. She was close enough to see the green flecks in his blue eyes. She remembered suddenly how his eyes used to seem to change color, to take on the hue of the sea or the sky. “Really?”

“I thought you were funny as hell. ”

Her smile softened into the real thing. “Really?”

"I was going to talk to you after the show, but there were so many people around you. A man . . .

“Max. ” She felt the sting of that missed opportunity, and wondered how often that happened in life. Chances lost and won on a turn of fate so small they couldnt be seen by the naked eye. “We broke up a while ago. And what about you? Are you married?” The moment she asked the question, she flinched, feeling completely exposed. If she could have sucked it back into her mouth, she would have.