The Inevitable

“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Oh, no! You call me Larissa, or Mom, whichever.” She winks. “And this here is my other half.” She waves her husband over.

“I’m Paul,” Keegan’s dad says with a friendly smile. He looks like an older version of Keegan and Kolton, right down to the dimples. “It’s very nice to meet you.” His eyes meet mine. “Both of you.”

The early morning turns into afternoon as we eat and talk and laugh the day away. After lunch, the guys go fishing while Blakely, Larissa, and I go shopping. The entire day I can see the emotions splayed across my sister’s features. She doesn’t know what to do or how to act. This is new for both of us. But I can see in her eyes that she’s so damn happy. Zane not only has a mother and a father, but he now has an entire family, which only solidifies my decision. Kolton and I can never be anything more because if, or when, it doesn’t work out, everything would be awkward. My sister and nephew deserve to have this family, and I won’t be the reason they risk losing it.

Later, when we get home, I send a text to Kolton before I lose my courage: I’m sorry, but we can’t be anything more than friends. We’re family now, and that’s the way it has to stay.

He sends a response back immediately: If I believed for a second you really felt that way, I would accept that, but I know you’re scared. Sorry, Sierra, but I disagree. We can and will be more…It’s only a matter of time.

Chapter Five

Sierra

“I’m running out to get coffee. Want anything?” I ask Monica as she throws her apron around her waist, ready for the start of her shift.

“Nope! I’m good.”

“All right. I’ll be back!”

“Or you can go home and start your weekend early.”

That sounds nice… but at the same time, I need to get a bunch of stuff done before I’m off for the next three days.

I rush out of the restaurant, needing my caffeine fix, and run straight into Kolton.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, not confused that he’s here—he’s been here every night this week—but that he’s here this early. He usually arrives in time for dinner and stays until closing, then insists on giving me a ride home.

“I have Fridays off. I usually spend the day doing schoolwork or grading papers. My brother told me you were working this morning… Are you off already?”

“I’m taking a coffee break.”

“How long do you have?”

“Technically, however long I want… I’m not on the schedule today. Why, what’s up?”

“I want to talk to you.” He walks over to his motorcycle and pulls something out of the saddlebag. “For you,” he says, handing me a helmet—this one is different from the one I wore the other night. It’s lighter and has a cute black and pink design on the back.

My heart swells behind my rib cage, and I know I’m screwed. “Did you buy this for me?”

“Of course. You’re going to need your own helmet since I plan to have you on the back of my bike every chance I get.” He nods toward the helmet in my hand. “The guy said women prefer that design because it’s easier on their hair.”

He gets on his bike, leaving me momentarily frozen. I mentioned to him that the helmet ruined my hair, so he went out and bought one that wouldn’t. Jesus, this man is something else. How am I supposed to resist him when he says and does all the right things?

After a few seconds, I hop on, pushing my helmet on my head and wrapping my arms around him. We head east, riding in silence and enjoying the view around us. About thirty minutes later, he turns on to Ocean Ave, the road that runs north and south along the Atlantic Ocean. The breeze from the ocean picks up, and I snuggle closer to Kolton, trying to get warm. He smells clean with a hint of sweetness, like laundry detergent mixed with vanilla.

Eventually, he pulls into a deserted parking lot that overlooks the beach and parks his bike, turning the engine off.

“It’s beautiful out here.” I inhale a deep breath, feeling immediately rejuvenated. Something about being at the beach, smelling the salty air, and listening to the crashing waves instantly calms my nerves, making me feel like a new person.

“Yeah, it is,” Kolton agrees. “I like to come out here when I need somewhere to be alone and think.”

“About what?” I ask, wanting to know more even though I shouldn’t.

He slides off his bike and takes my hand to help me off. With our fingers intertwined, we walk down to the water. It’s a cloudy day, the norm here in Florida, but the sun is shining enough that it probably won’t rain until later.