If for Any Reason (Nantucket Love Story #1) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,71
Emily. He’d have to thank her for her advice. If it weren’t for her words and her willingness to be honest with him, this day never would’ve happened.
If it weren’t for her, he’d probably still be off pouting somewhere.
They found their bags right where they left them, and Hollis fished out his phone while Jolie did the same. She scrolled through text messages, while Hollis turned away, listening as the phone tried to connect him to Jana.
“What are you doing?” Jolie asked.
“Calling your mom,” Hollis said.
Jolie looked surprised.
The call went to voice mail. It was probably pointless to leave another message, but he didn’t hang up. “She’s probably out doing honeymoon stuff,” he whispered to Jolie over the sound of her mother’s outgoing message.
“Jana, it’s Hollis again. Jolie says you want to talk to me before deciding about letting her stay another few weeks—”
The phone beeped and he glanced down to see he had an incoming call from Jana. “Hey,” he said once he clicked over. “Sorry if I’m interrupting anything.”
He didn’t want to think about what he might be interrupting. He’d seen Jana’s new husband, and while the man looked nice enough, picturing buttoned-up, borderline-nerdy Rick and bombshell Jana together on their honeymoon was about the last image Hollis wanted in his mind.
“It’s fine. We’re just heading back down to the beach. Jolie said she wants to stay longer?” Jana sounded incredulous.
“Is that okay?”
“Hollis, what is going on? You can’t tell me you really want her there another month.”
He glanced at Jolie, whose eyes were intently watching him, then turned and walked a few steps away. “Why is that so hard to believe?”
Jana laughed. “You don’t have to pretend, Hollis.”
“I’m not pretending. I like having her here. I want her here.”
“Let me guess, she’s sitting right there and you want to make sure you sound like the good guy.”
“I didn’t realize there was a good guy in this scenario.”
“If I say she can’t stay, then I’m the bad guy.”
“Then don’t say she can’t stay.”
Another humorless laugh.
“Jana, please. I know I haven’t been there for you guys the way I should’ve been, but she’s my daughter.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said. “I have to go.”
“Auditions are Friday. Can you decide before then and let us know?”
“Good-bye, Hollis.”
He clicked the phone off and waited a few seconds before turning around to see his daughter’s sullen face.
“She’s not going to let me stay.”
“We don’t know that.”
“I do,” Jolie said. “She wants Rick to adopt me.”
Hollis’s shoulders dropped. “What?”
“He wants to adopt me, and Mom thinks it’s the best thing for everyone. She sent me here because she thought if you spent a few weeks with me, it would be easier for you to say yes.”
“That can’t be true.”
“They think I go to sleep a lot earlier than I do,” she said.
Hollis moved toward her. “Is that what you want?”
She shrugged without looking at him, plopping down on the sand.
“Well, it’s not what I want.” He knelt down next to her.
Her eyes, again, found his. “It’s not?”
He shook his head. “Not even a little bit.”
She sat, unmoving, phone on her lap.
“Let’s not think the worst,” he said. “I’ll keep working on your mom, but in the meantime, I’m starving. Burgers?”
“Yum.” She grinned at him, and his heart turned over in his chest. Jolie had smiled—at him.
And it was just about the best thing in the world.
CHAPTER 26
HOLLIS TEXTED EMILY late Tuesday evening.
Thanks for the advice with Jolie. You were right.
I’m always right, Mack, she’d texted back.
And so modest, too.
Are you going to tell me what happened with Jolie or do I have to guess?
Nah, I’d rather tell you in person.
OK. Don’t make me wait too long.
Tomorrow.
Sounds good. Good night, Miracle Man.
Night, Em.
Wednesday morning, Emily made a pot of coffee for Jack and his band of merry workers, tucked her laptop, a new notebook, and her phone into a sturdy backpack, and started out the back door toward the shed where the bikes were.
She’d just pulled her mom’s bike out when she heard footsteps in the yard behind her. Emily turned to see Hollis, his slow, easy stride bringing him straight toward her. She tried not to stare, but he made looking good seem so easy.
He was clean shaven—something he hadn’t been since she’d arrived on the island—and wore a heather-blue T-shirt that pulled across his chest and biceps. His tan seemed to have deepened, and his hazel eyes practically glowed.