Secrets Whispered from the Sea - Emma St. Clair Page 0,48

I hedged talking about my family to my friends and the few boyfriends I’d had. I’d never dated anyone I would have introduced to my family. Even Chuck, after two years.

On the flip side of that, my family wasn’t the kind of family I wanted to introduce to the important people in my life. We were too fractured. And important people in my life? In the last few weeks, I had begun to realize how few of those I had.

Alec stepped in to shake my father’s hand. “Come to the coffee shop anytime. The Wi-Fi is free, and the coffee will be on the house.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you. Great to meet you.”

Dad and Nadia drove off, leaving me with the two posturing men in Nana’s cottage. Neither of whom I knew what to do with.

I could see Chuck eyeing Alec, wondering if he would leave as well. But to my relief, which I did not fully understand, Alec shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. He wasn’t going anywhere. Chuck crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. I felt suddenly like I was standing in the middle of two male lions about to battle it out.

For a moment, I debated on following Nadia and Dad. Just hightailing it in the jeep and letting Chuck and Alec duke it out or whatever they wanted to do. I honestly still didn’t understand why either of them was here.

Unless they were here for me. And that thought unsettled me more than I could put into words.

from A Full Accounting of My Mistakes and Failures

#196 - Don’t go to sleep with your makeup on.

#197 - But if you do, before washing it off in the morning, see if it left you with a good smoky eye.

#198 - Coconut oil is a great makeup remover.

#199 - Don’t use coconut oil as makeup remover before having your photo taken, unless you really want to shine!

17

“I thought that guy would never leave.”

“Yeah,” I said, with far less enthusiasm than Chuck had used. I feel the same way about you, buddy.

Chuck flopped down on the couch, running a hand through his blond hair. He’d done it so many times that afternoon that it was sticking up all over the place. A few weeks ago, I might have found it adorable, but right now? I just wished that Chuck would have left when Alec finally did.

In the battle of who can overstay their uninvited welcome, my ex had won. But just barely. The afternoon passed in what felt like an awkwardly stilted standoff, one where they were both marking their territory. Me being the territory.

Which made no sense considering one of them broke up with me and the other couldn’t seem to stand me most of the time. But there it was.

All they succeeded in doing was irritating me in different ways. Whatever weird, unspoken connection Alec and I had that morning ended when he decided to explain, in excruciating detail, every problem with the plan Emily had presented to the council. He had no idea how many of the ideas were mine, but I’m not sure he would have cared. Even if some of Alec’s ideas for Nana’s house were pretty great, but it was hard to hear them while being insulted.

Meanwhile, Chuck acted the part of a jealous boyfriend, something he had no right to do. It was on the tip of my tongue to remind him of this every few minutes when he made some kind of remark to Alec that smacked of possessiveness.

I had no desire to sit down and talk with Chuck, so instead I washed out the coffee mugs from earlier, then rinsed the coffee pot. It was late afternoon and my stomach had long ago digested the two donuts and was growling for more substantial food. So loudly, in fact, that Chuck grinned and eyed my midsection.

“Something tells me it’s time to eat. What’s good around here?”

At that moment, I would have eaten anything. Even sushi, the one food I’d never developed a taste for, no matter how many times Chuck convinced me to try it.

“Not sushi,” I said, before he could suggest it.

He laughed and held up both hands. “I wouldn’t ask that of you. I’m sure there’s good seafood here though, right?”

“Definitely. Is that what you want?”

Chuck’s eyes softened. It was a familiar look, one that used to turn my heart to some degree. But nothing even close to the effect that a certain dark-haired