bringing up my late husband too much on a real date.”
Her words were like a sucker-punch to my gut. I wanted nothing more than for her to consider me to be a ‘real’ love interest, but she obviously still thought of me merely as a temporary stand-in to keep the pitying looks at bay until she was ready to find the real thing. My stupid heart kept forgetting that I was only here with her to keep her hometown friends and family from worrying that she hadn’t yet moved on from the untimely death of her husband.
Clearly oblivious to the searing pain burning in my chest, Vi practically bounced in her seat when she said, “Turn right up here. This road will take us down to a pristine, secluded beach with a little-known path we can hike that ends up at Captain’s Point Lighthouse.”
I followed her instructions and found a primo spot in the nearly empty parking lot. Walking amiably together, we crested the hill and followed the signs that had arrows directing us to Brinks Beach.
We had the entire pebble beach to ourselves. The wind whipping in from the water was chilly, but I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be, and I was certain there wasn’t anyone in the world I’d rather be with.
When Vi took off in a carefree run down the coastline, I couldn’t have resisted following her––even if I had wanted to.
23
Violet
Oliver’s expression lit up when he caught sight of the red lighthouse that was our town’s most famous landmark. It was so fun seeing my hometown from his perspective. It had always just been home to me and everyone I knew, but seeing it with Oliver made everything feel fresh and new.
I realized how lucky I was to have grown up in such a naturally beautiful location. I’d taken so much for granted, but the awe visible in his gaze made me truly appreciate having been raised here.
As we walked on the huge boulders that created a path out to the lighthouse, I turned to him and said, “Almost everyone in town loses their virginity inside this lighthouse. It’s a local tradition.”
At his raised brows, I continued, “The lighthouse keeper leaves a key hidden away in a top-secret spot––only locals know where it is. He doesn’t mind couples climbing the winding stairs up to the top and making use of the tiny cot in one of the little rooms up there. He only has three rules, which are posted on a sign inside the room.”
Oliver was looking at me expectantly, so I continued. Ticking them off on my fingers I said, “Be safe. Don’t wake him up. And drop the covers in the laundry on your way out.”
Tipping his head back, Oliver let out a hearty chuckle. “This guy sounds fantastic.”
“Yeah, it’s a special place.” My voice sounded far away because I was utterly lost in thought and remarkable memories.
“Sounds like you’ve been up there.” Although it wasn’t a direct question, I could tell that Oliver was curious if that was where I had lost my virginity. I wasn’t a bit surprised by his nosiness, but the amount of sadness audible in his tone was jarring.
Trying to bring some levity back to our conversation, I teased him, “A lady never kisses and tells.”
When we reached the point of the jetty, I leaned out over the rock barrier wall and breathed in deeply. “Mm… I miss smelling the briny air coming in from the sea. New York’s air has a different odor.”
I turned a smile in his direction to let him know I was teasing. He picked right up on it. “Ah, yes, the smell of car exhaust, trash, and smog in the morning. There’s nothing quite like it.”
Turning serious, he asked me, “Do you ever miss it here enough to think about moving back?”
Honestly, I’d never given it much thought, but now that he’d brought it up, I mulled it over for a long moment. “This will always be home to me, but I love New York. I’ve been drawn to the hustle and bustle of the city ever since I was a kid. I have the best job in the entire world, and I can’t imagine ever leaving. Besides, I would miss the bagels too much.”
He chuckled, even though I had only been half-kidding. New York bagels were incomparable.
I turned to face the west, straightened my arm, and held my hand sideways to count the fingers between the sun and the horizon before