After All (Cape Harbor #1)(29)

Brooklyn looked up and down the beach. Not a long way from where she was sitting was a bonfire pit. Back in Seattle, her friends hadn’t really done this. They were into shopping, sailing, and spending time on yachts. But here, this was what she and her friends had done on the weekends.

“Daddy, may I go to a bonfire this evening?”

“With who? You just started school.”

Brooklyn swallowed. “Austin Woods. He’s a local boy, a fisherman, and in my class. He invited me. There’s a group going, so it’s not just the two of us.” She purposely left out the part about Austin being the resident heartthrob, the cutest boy she had ever laid her eyes on, and how when he smiled, her heart raced so fast she swore she was having a heart attack.

“His parents own the inn that we stayed in, David. The one right on the water. The view from our room is what sold me on living here,” Brooklyn’s mother, Bonnie, chimed in. “What time will you be home?”

Brooklyn perked up. “Oh, I don’t know. Um . . .”

“Midnight and not a second later,” David bellowed. He tried to act gruff, but Brooklyn saw through the act. She smiled and kissed her father on the cheek.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

From her house, Brooklyn walked two blocks until she came to the large seawall. She all but galloped down the wooden steps, slipping her shoes off as soon as she touched the sand, and walked hurriedly toward the inn. You could see it from anywhere in town—it was the tallest structure and set partially on a cliff.

The closer Brooklyn came, the louder she could hear everyone. They were laughing, and their giggles were contagious. She stood there, watching the group of friends. They seemed in tune with each other, much like she had been with Rennie, who she couldn’t wait to tell about Austin.

“Brooke, you made it!” Monroe stood and rushed over to her, then slipped her arm in hers.

She didn’t bother correcting her on the shortened version of her name. Usually she would have, but that was before she had moved. Here, she wanted to be a different person.

Monroe brought her into the circle and introduced her to a few new faces, but her eyes were set on Austin, who was walking toward the group with his arms full of wood. As much as she wanted to go help him, she knew showing her cards too soon would not bode well for her. She waited for him to see her, and when he did, he winked.

Brooklyn had no idea a wink could do so much to her insides, but they were spinning. She was having heart palpitations, her palms were sweating—which meant sand was sticking to her—and her mouth was parched. In all her life, she had never felt this way.

As soon as the sun set, the ambience shifted. Boys and girls coupled together, sharing blankets, and some even wandered off toward the surf or the shacks. Brooklyn felt out of place, even though Monroe was still sitting next to her, but she was canoodling with Grady Chamberlain.

Still, Brooklyn sat there, watching the blue and red flames of the fire dance around, determined to have a good time. Her head bobbed to the music, she laughed at jokes she heard, and she smiled when people asked her questions. It wasn’t until she shivered and a blanket was draped over her shoulders that her night turned around. Austin sat next to her, his shoulder touching hers, and while sharing the same blanket, she realized she had been faking having a good time . . . her good time started as soon as she stared into Austin’s brown eyes.

Brooklyn wiped at the tears that had started to fall. It had been years since she thought about Austin and that first bonfire. That night, she’d thought for sure he would kiss her, especially when he walked her home, but he hadn’t. The kiss came the next day, and it was explosive. It was a game changer for her. They had almost gone all the way, but Austin had stopped them, saying their first time needed to be special, not in his truck or on the beach where people could see them.

Unfortunately, their first time was anything but special. Not because Austin hadn’t put in every effort but because she had cried, which made Austin think she regretted losing her virginity. She hadn’t felt that way at all. She was just in pain. The days following were awkward for them. Brooklyn thought for sure they were going to break up, that she had given away her virginity too soon, but Austin was giving her space. It turned out that they both needed time to sort out their feelings after what they had done, and once they did, they became inseparable.

The sound of someone trudging through the sand brought Brooklyn’s attention back to reality. She turned and saw her daughter coming toward her with two mugs in her hand. The smile that broke out over her face was automatic. Brystol sat down next to her and handed her a piping hot cup of coffee.

“How did you know I was out here?” she asked, inhaling the sweet aroma.

“Nonnie told me.” Brystol motioned toward the inn. Brooklyn turned and saw Carly standing in the window of the ballroom, likely looking out over the sea.

“You know I was just a year older than you are when I moved here.”

“I like it here. I like being on the beach.”

“How much of it have you seen? Because I’m under the impression that Nonnie doesn’t leave the house.”

Brystol shrugged. “Simone and I go out a lot, but Nonnie . . . sometimes she’s really bad, Mom. Like, she cries or is sick with a cold. Simone and I do a lot of things like go bowling or to the movies. She takes me digging for clams and out crabbing. And sometimes Nonnie comes with us if we go to Seattle or Port Orchard.”