Surfside Sisters(70)

“I’m sorry,” Keely said.

“As for Isabelle and Tommy—Dad disapproves of Tommy.”

“But your father bought him that fishing boat…”

“Isabelle’s always been Dad’s favorite. He’d give her the stars from the sky if he could. So no guy could ever be worthy of her in Dad’s eyes.” Sebastian’s voice softened. “But Brittany, now there’s the one person who can do no wrong. No matter how much time Tommy spends out drinking beer with his buddies on his boat, Dad will always champion Tommy because of his granddaughter.”

    “Tommy spends a lot of time drinking beer on his boat?” Keely asked.

Sebastian shot her a look. “You want to talk about Tommy?”

Keely shook her head. “No. No, I want to talk about families. Your mother has two children and a granddaughter. I’m all my mother has. And she’s become seriously depressed since she quit nursing. I’m doing my best to cheer her up, and I think she’s gotten better, but it’s sad to see her this way.” Keely paused. “Sebastian, I don’t know if Isabelle and I will ever be good friends again. I’ve reached out to her but she refuses to talk. I think she’s kind of angry with me because I got a novel published first.”

Sebastian turned toward Keely, lifting her feet off his lap so that she shifted positions and tucked her feet under her. “Keely, Isabelle is my sister, and I love her. I know how desperately she’s wanted to publish a novel. I don’t think she’s angry at you. I think she’s hurt, not by you, but by circumstances. I think the sight of you—the thought of you—wounds her.”

Keely nodded. “I understand that. So maybe in time, she’ll be my friend again.”

“Right. Now look at me, Keely. I am not my sister. Nothing I do has anything to do with my sister.” Impatiently, Sebastian stood up. “And at this particular moment, I’m hungry. I’ll make us some eggs and bacon.”

“All this and you cook, too,” Keely joked.

She went with him into the kitchen and took on the job of microwaving the bacon. She thought this moment, with the smell of buttery eggs and salty bacon, with Sebastian, who loved her, sprinkling cheese over the eggs, with her body aching in the most delicious way from all they had done in the night—she thought this moment was the happiest in her life.



* * *



—

    After breakfast, Sebastian kissed Keely for a long, sweet time. Then he drove her to her house.

He smiled as she opened the car door. “See you later.”

“Yes. Later.” She could hardly pull herself away.

When Keely entered, her mother was in her recliner again, watching television.

“That was a long date,” Eloise remarked.

“It was wonderful.” Keely didn’t want to talk about it yet. “Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I don’t want to interrupt your writing schedule.”

“You mean you’re addicted to your television shows,” Keely said cheerfully. “I’m going to take a shower and get right to work.”

Keely showered and dressed for the day and took her place at her desk with her laptop, and—she didn’t have a thought in her head for her book. Her mind ricocheted back between flashes of her night with Sebastian—his gentle hands, his sweet mouth, his long legs—and anxiety for what might happen.

What if she got her heart broken? He had told her he loved her, but she knew it was too soon for them to promise to spend their lives together. Who knew what would happen when his family heard he was seeing her?

With sudden insight, Keely realized she had a family, too. Nervously, she called Sebastian. “Can you come to dinner here tonight?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. I’ll call again about the time.”

Keely hurried back to her mother. “We have to go. We’ll get ice cream for energy, because after that, we’re going to the grocery store. We’re going to have Sebastian over for dinner tonight.”

“Really? Oh, how lovely! Let’s buy some nice juicy steaks!”

Eloise was up and out of her chair and dressed and ready to go in a matter of minutes.



* * *



—

    That evening, Keely grilled steaks. Her mother made roasted potatoes with cheese and herbs, broiled broccoli coated with olive oil and salt, and a salad. Sebastian brought over a bottle of wine and they feasted out on the patio.

Sebastian was charming. He brought up names of islanders who had been injured or ill over the years, and Eloise lit up. She remembered each wound, each ailment, each recovery, and she seemed to regain some of her positive spirit while talking about them. As they ate, Keely ran her bare toes up Sebastian’s leg and was rewarded with a look that would have set off Roman candles.

After dessert—ice cream and cookies—Eloise rose from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to tidy up the kitchen.”

The moment Eloise was in the house, Sebastian said, “Want to get in my car and make out?”

Keely laughed. “Yes, please. Oh, but what about our neighbors?”

Sebastian kissed the tip of her nose. “I should be going. You and I both have to work tomorrow.” He stood.