The Summer of Us (Mission Cove 1)

Not that it had been much to miss. To this day, I hated oatmeal and hard-boiled eggs.

“How bad was the sofa?” she mumbled.

I shrugged, pouring myself another coffee. “Fine. It was one night.”

“What time did you come in?” she asked, regarding me curiously.

“About midnight. I checked, and you were sound asleep.” I squeezed her shoulder as I went past and sat on the chair across from the sofa. “You were exhausted, Abby.”

“I hadn’t slept much for a few days,” she admitted. “But I felt safe here.”

“You are.”

She glanced behind me. “No breakfast?”

“We’re going out for breakfast.”

She snorted into her coffee. “I bet I can guess where.”

I ignored her amusement.

“Sunny has offered us a small apartment over her bakery while we’re here. There’re two bedrooms, it’s furnished, and it has a kitchen. The access is a thick steel door at the back and through her shop, so it’s safe.”

“So, you’ll send Nick away?”

I knew she hated having someone watch over her, and since I planned on staying close and eliminating the threat to her very fast, I agreed.

“I’ve been on the phone with Milo. He’s finding out the terms of Carl’s parole.” It was my turn to snort into my coffee. “I’m fairly certain he will be breaking one or more of them very quickly.”

“You’ll make sure of it,” Abby mumbled.

“Yes. And your mother is going to get a visit. It will ensure you no longer have to worry about another surprise.”

“Thank you.”

“No thanks are needed.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea, Linc?”

“The apartment? Or Sunny?”

“Both.”

“The apartment is more practical.”

“And conveniently close to Sunny,” she pointed out.

“Yes.” I sighed and scrubbed my face. “I know you’re worried, Abby. Sunny is as well.”

“Not about me, right? She knows we’re only friends, doesn’t she?”

I waved my hand. “Yes. She isn’t worried about that. I think the two of you will get along well. She wants to meet you and get to know you. The apartment was her idea, actually.”

“Oh.”

“I know you don’t want me to get hurt again. I’ll be honest—neither do I. But I have to try.” I exhaled hard. “Sunny…she thinks I have too much hate in me. She isn’t sure she knows how to handle that part of me.”

“Your hate is reserved for your father. You’re a good man, Linc.”

“She worries I won’t ever be able to let it go. To be able to live my life without the hate being the driving force. I have to admit, I wonder if she’s right.”

“If you love her the way you say you still do, then you will. She was the one thing you grieved for the most. If you’re together again, you can stop your grieving and begin to live for something else.”

I stared at her, her words sinking in.

“When did you suddenly become the grown-up?”

She stood. “Always have been. I’m going to get showered so we can go meet this girl of yours. I’m hungry.”

She walked away, stopping to refill her cup and disappearing into the bathroom. I thought about her words. Simple, direct, and honest. Once again, she reminded me of Sunny. I wanted to believe her. To think that I could lay the ghost of my father to rest and move on to a different life with Sunny. My hatred of him had been at the forefront of everything I’d done from the moment I woke up in that hellhole he threw me in.

Could I shift my focus and step away from the anger? Could I let go of the hatred and embrace life?

I never thought it possible. But my thoughts had never included Sunny. Now she was in my life again, and I already felt…different.

My phone beeped, the simple text message sending my heart soaring.

Biscuits hot and waiting for you. So am I. Sunny xxxGiven my reaction to the thought of seeing Sunny?

Perhaps I had my answer.13LincOver the years, I had learned to read situations, hide any anxiety I was feeling, keep my face neutral, my hands dry, and nerves hidden. I could meet with the toughest crowd, the angriest individual, and remain cool.

Watching the two women I loved the most in the world meet was the most uncomfortable situation I’d ever gone through. I introduced them, shocked at the way my heart raced, the anxiety I heard in my voice—the way my hands grew damp with perspiration.

They sized each other up, their eyes wary, their handshake brief. Both stood, cool and unbending, waiting. It took me a moment to catch up and realize they were waiting for me to do something.

Except I had no clue what to do next.

Step back and let them at each other? I knew they both had something to say. Warnings from Abby to Sunny about hurting me. How well she knew me. What her expectations of Sunny were. Sunny would be filled with righteous indignation and inform Abby she had known me longer. That she and she alone held the key to my heart. She would admonish Abby and remind her my feelings for her were platonic and she needed to remember that.