Sonecessaryto another.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
Suddenly, the waves crash farther up on the sand, engulfing us up to our knees, and we laugh as we hurry out of the way.
“Thank you for the dance.” I take his hand as we walk back toward home. “It was a really great way to start the day. But now I have to get ready for work.”
“Work? But you worked late last night.”
I shrug a shoulder. “Yeah, well, I’m on breakfast duty this morning. Is it okay if Petunia stays at your place today so she can watch the water?”
“Of course. When I picked her up yesterday, she clung to me, as if she were extra lonely.”
“Oh.” My eyes fill with tears, and I’m immediately racked with guilt. “My poor baby.”
“Hey, she’s fine. Honest. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He frowns down at me. “She’s got the good life.”
“I know.” I nod and brush away a tear. “I just miss her. I don’t get to see her as much as I should. Maybe I shouldn’t have adopted her. It’s not fair to her.”
“Okay, you need to stop it,” he says, shaking his head. “Petunia is as happy as it gets. Anyone can see that she’s way better off than she was before you came into her life. I think you need a day off, pretty girl.”
“I do.” I blow out a breath as we reach the top of the steps near the house. “You’re right, I really do. I think I have the day after tomorrow off.”
“Sunday?” he clarifies.
“Yep. The whole day.”
“I’m closed that day, too. I’d like to spend it with you. No plans, nothing crazy. Justwithyou.”
“That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a really,reallylong time.”
It’s after my shift,and Tanner doesn’t get home for a few more hours, and I really need to paint, so I head over to the lighthouse after work. Thankfully, June stopped by the diner this afternoon and was happy to give me a ride.
“You don’t look so good,” Luna says as she walks with me out to the inn. June dropped me off and left, on her way to another project, so I should have a little time by myself to paint without the work crew around.
“How do I look?”
“Tired,” she decides as she unlocks the inn and lets me inside.
“Well, that’s fitting, since I didn’t sleep a wink last night, and I worked two back-to-back shifts.”
“Yikes.” She scowls as she watches me get my supplies ready. “Why no sleep?”
“It was a shitty night at work yesterday.” I blow a strand of hair out of my eye. “And, honestly, this morning wasn’t a lot better. People are justrudelately. Have you noticed that?”
She blinks and slowly shakes her head. “No, honestly, I haven’t.”
“Well, that’s typical.”
“What is?” She props her hands on her hips now and looks more concerned than pissed off. “Sarah, what’s going on with you?”
“Is there a sign on my forehead that invites people to treat me like shit?” I set my brushes and easel aside and turn to my best friend, frustration bubbling through me. “Like, what is it about me that makes the people around me think it’s okay to use me as a fucking punching bag?”
“I don’t treat you like that.”
“Notyouor Tanner or June. I’m not talking about our group, but literally every customer I had yesterday treated me like a piece of shit. Wouldn’t look at me, answered in short, clipped tones. One woman had the audacity to pour her fucking coffee all over the table because she said it wascold.”
“Oh, my God, Sarah.”