“Come on, Brynn, not here.” Jasper lowers his tone and looks around.
I don’t care who sees us. I’ve been nice, gave smiles, and said all the right things, but something about him showing up today gets under my skin.
“You can’t just leave the island to me? You can have the whole damn world, but you can’t leave me alone to live my life in peace?” I grit out, taking a few steps towards him.
“Brynn, I grew up here, too. Right beside you, actually.” He sighs and smartly takes a step back.
Something snaps inside of me. I swear, it’s like I’m watching myself from outside of my body. This is the boy I gave my virginity to, the only boy I’ve ever slept with, the boy I had planned to marry, the one I loved, and the one who not only broke my heart, but stomped all over it, and he has the nerve to remind me we grew up together?
Before I realize what I’m doing, I grab a kiwi and glare at him.
“I know that, but it seems the second something flashy comes along, you’re the one who forgot it. Damn you, Jasper!” I yell and launch the kiwi right at him. It hits his forehead, and everyone around us gasps.
He looks at me with irritation, as he rubs his forehead.
“Do you feel better now, Brynn? Get it out of your system?” He snaps.
“No!” I throw another kiwi at him, hitting his shoulder, and then turn and stomp off. I walked from The Inn wanting to enjoy the day. What the hell was I thinking? Now, I have to walk all the way back.
Oh. My. Gosh. Did I really throw kiwis at Jasper?
I totally did. I bite back a laugh and shake my head. My mom would laugh with me, while my dad would give me his stern face, saying I need to control my temper better. The temper I got from him, by the way.
God, I miss them.
I stare out at the water in the harbor, as I reach Main Street, trying to regain the peace I had this morning.
I love that our town’s Main Street runs right along the water. It’s been featured in many photos and paintings for this reason. While the water and I have a love hate relationship, I find standing downtown and taking it all in very comforting.
I turn to walk back towards The Inn, but the mayor comes out of a shop in front of me. I try to turn around to avoid him, because I know Lin has a meeting with him coming up, and he isn’t too happy about it.
“Brynn, just the person I was looking for.” Mayor Jones says.
Shit, twice in one day. I need better ninja skills.
Chapter 2
Jasper
I run my hand down my face. This is not how I expected the first time I ran into her to go. Fuck, she’s more beautiful than the last time I saw her. She had no makeup on, and her hair was thrown up in a messy bun, but it’s my favorite look on her. Always has been.
I rub my shoulder, where the second kiwi hit, and my face breaks into a smile almost all on its own. I taught her how to throw like that, when we were growing up, and she hasn’t lost her touch. A sick part of me hopes it bruises, so I have her mark on me.
I turn to the boy managing the stand and pay for the kiwis, before going after Brynn. I promised my mom we wouldn’t fight, and that I would talk with her and make things right.
My mom has always loved Brynn and seen her as a daughter, and I know after we broke up, she was there for both her and Lin, when their parents died. She has been working with Brynn the whole time I’ve been gone. It’s how I was able to get my updates on her, which I craved, while I was gone.
Now that I have moved back, there’s no way to avoid her. My family has worked with Lin and Brynn’s family with both Inns for years, and I know my mom is worried about that relationship. They send a lot of business our way. So, for my mom, I will fix this.
When my dad died, my mom begged me to come home. It took almost a year for me to convince myself it was time to head home, and to take over the family restaurants. It was always the plan, but I was too used to my life in New York City, and it was just far enough away from Brynn, and everything that reminded me of her and of us.
I turn the corner and find her stopped ahead of me, facing the harbor. From here, I can tell her eyes are closed, and I take a moment and soak her in. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, and I’ve had many models pass through the kitchen in New York City. The restaurant owner dated them, like he was popping candy, a new one every weekend.
None of them compared to Brynn with her round face and dark, brown hair, which frames her face perfectly. She’s grown it out, and I love the look on her. I remember the summer she tried bangs and hated it, refusing to ever do it again, but I thought she looked just as beautiful then, too.
She takes a deep breath and turns, putting her back to me and starts walking down Main Street. Here, in Hummingbird Island, our Main Street is the centerpiece. To my left, are shops, restaurants, including both my family’s places, antique stores, and more. To my right, is the harbor, and the Atlantic Ocean just beyond that.
It’s postcard perfect, and the quintessential hidden gem location for a summer vacation, which is why, the town is packed with families from Memorial Day to Labor Day every year, like clockwork.