After All (Cape Harbor #1)(35)

Brystol sat up and shrugged. “Nonnie talks really loudly sometimes.”

“Did you finish your reading?”

“Yes, and I wrote my book report. I emailed it to you.”

“Thank you for doing it without me asking.” Sometimes homeschooling was a struggle. It was hard to find a happy medium, which was another reason she should do the right thing and enroll her daughter in school. A constant schedule and structure could do her some good. “Whose dog is this?”

Brystol turned and started petting the black dog. She leaned down and kissed him before burying her face in his coat. If this wasn’t a sign that she needed to put some roots down for her daughter, she didn’t know what was. Living on the road, going from hotel to hotel, wasn’t the right life for a teenager.

“One of the workers’. I don’t know; I talked to him out back at lunch. His dog is really nice.”

“Seems it. Does Nonnie know you brought him in?”

Brystol nodded and resumed her position. The dog didn’t seem to care that she was using him as a pillow; in fact, he seemed rather content. Brooklyn went into the kitchen, now hungry and a bit angry with herself for missing lunch earlier. She rummaged through the refrigerator, pulling out the makings for a sandwich. With her arms full, she closed the door and jumped. “Don’t you have people to supervise?”

“I wanted to talk to you,” Bowie said.

“It can wait until after I eat.” She wasn’t suggesting or even asking; she was telling him. She expected Bowie to leave, but instead he pulled out the barstool and sat down. She eyed him warily, wondering what he was up to, but she was serious—he had people to manage and should be there.

“Excuse me, sir.”

Brooklyn glanced up at the sound of her daughter’s voice. She was standing next to Bowie, and he was looking at her like she was a long-lost relative.

“What’s your name?”

“Brystol,” she said sweetly.

Bowie glanced at Brooklyn, who diverted her eyes back to her sandwich. She tried to spread some mayonnaise, but her hand was frozen. She supposed she should introduce them but couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth. She had a hard time understanding Carly’s logic and wished she would’ve known before she came back to town. She preferred being prepared for any situation, not that you could really prepare for something like this.

“I’m Bowie, an old friend of your mom’s.”

“And my dad’s,” Brystol said proudly. “Nonnie talks about you all the time. She’s even shown me some of the houses you’ve built, and she’s told me stories about how you and my dad would do crazy things that would more often than not end up in one of you going to the hospital. Like the time my dad convinced you to jump off the garage into the swimming pool and you broke your arm.” Brystol laughed. “Nonnie tells me all the time that I should be like her boys. Anyway, I was wondering if I can take Luke for a walk after I come back from the store. We’ll only go to the beach.” Brystol spoke a mile a minute while Brooklyn kept her eyes on Bowie.

“He would like that, but if he starts bugging you, let me know.”

Brystol laughed. It was a genuine laugh and tugged at Brooklyn’s heart. She needed to make a change, and fast. Brystol deserved better.

“Thanks, I will. Bye, Mom.”

“Bye, be good and don’t buy a ton of sugary crap.” The words likely fell on deaf ears. Not that Simone would allow it, but Brooklyn felt better giving some motherly structure.

“It’s pretty shitty finding out that Austin has a daughter this way.”

Brooklyn sighed. This was a conversation that she hadn’t wanted to have, but Carly had put her in this position. She’d thought, with the girl being here every summer, people would’ve figured it out, and Brooklyn wouldn’t look like she was hiding her daughter. She wasn’t. She was just hiding herself.

“That wasn’t my intent.”

“What was? To hide her the entire time you’re here? To make sure none of his friends know her?” Bowie began to stand but gripped the side of the counter to steady himself. She tried not to pay attention to him, but his presence made her think about how life had turned out in Cape Harbor for Carly and made her feel even worse because she had left. Bowie opened his mouth to say something but closed it again and quickly retook his seat. He was angry; that much she could see by his expression. For as long as she could remember, Bowie had worn his heart on his sleeve. He’d always been there when she needed a shoulder to cry on, offering advice and comfort. She somewhat understood why he was upset, but honestly, it wasn’t like she was going to broadcast that she’d gotten knocked up. It was her issue to deal with, not anyone else’s. Besides, she hadn’t wanted to feel guilted into staying in Cape Harbor.

She stared at him, unwilling to answer. He was making something out of nothing. If he and the rest of Austin’s friends hadn’t visited Carly on their own, would they really have come around if they’d known Austin’s daughter was here? “I think you’re looking for a fight, Bowie, and I’m not going to play into it.”

He shook his head before tapping his fist on the countertop. “What happened to you?”

Brooklyn put the knife down on the countertop and took a step back. “I think you should go back to work.”