Summer Love at the Beach (Summer Instalove)

blinks before ripping the paper open.

I pointed to the clasp. “A single ring has to be replaced. It’s an easy fix, and the jeweler at the next town over has rose gold loops, so he said he could probably fix it in five minutes. I can either text you his information, or drive you there whenever you like.”

Becca sat down on the sand with a thump. Sitting beside her, I said, “I really was going to

tell you about Tiffany. I’m so sorry, sweetie. I had absolutely no idea she was still lurking around.”

“How could you not tell me that you were living with a woman?” she asked. “That’s basically

like being married.” Her sweet blue eyes filled with tears, making my stomach feel like it

was being filled with rocks.

“She is a complete psychopath,” I said softly. “We only dated for about three months, then I let her move in temporarily because her apartment was being renovated. She said she had

nowhere else to go, so I figured maybe two months was a good test to see if our

relationship would last, you know?”

Becca wiped her tears, nodding.

“Then when I told her it was time to leave, she freaked out. It turns out the renovations

were a lie so that she could move in, and claim that we were living together for much

longer. She tried to file her taxes showing us as a common law couple, thinking that it would make us legally married so that I would have to keep her, or pay alimony.”

“That’s completely insane,” Becca whispered.

“Absolutely. I finall

y spoke with her sister, who said that she had done this sort of thing

before. Latched on to somebody with money, thinking that she could have an easy ride and

never have to work. She tried to cheat the legal system, even though she doesn’t really

understand it. It didn’t make any sense, and all it did was disgrace her family, and made me

look like a complete loser.”

Becca shook her head. “I can’t imagine what the town's busybodies must have said about

the whole thing.”

I shrugged. “It was pretty embarrassing, yeah. But I’m more concerned about what you

think of me right now.”

Reaching for her hand, I was relieved when she took it. “Are there any other relationships I

should know about?” she asked.

I thought for a moment. “I dated a girl named Tonya for about a month at the end of high

school, and dated a few girls here and there when I was working as a stuntman. Nothing

serious. I never really clicked with anyone before I met you, Becca.”