in hell she was going to let her sisters talk her into selling Sunset Cottage.
She made quick stops at the other shops, taking down notes of the orders they wanted—taking special pride in Hill Street Gallery’s desire to showcase one of her larger paintings in their storefront window next week—and decided to go home, face her sisters, maybe chat with Hope a bit. Maybe Hope would hear her out, guide Gemma down the right path. Make her see that Sunset Cottage was the only thing good from their childhood. The only thing worth keeping.
She was halfway up West End Road when she heard her name being called out.
Her heart gave a lurch, and she steadied the handles of her bike. It couldn’t be. It was too good to be true. But as he called out again, she knew that it was him.
She slowed her pace as he caught up beside her, riding, to her complete amusement, a mint green cruiser complete with a white wicker basket.
“Don’t laugh,” he warned, but it was too late.
“Isn’t that your sister’s bike?” She hadn’t thought of it in years, but it was, she was certain of it. Simon’s sister Gina was four years older than him—she used to play with Hope.
“Something seems to have happened to mine in my absence,” he said ruefully.
“A lesson in not staying away so long next time,” she replied, but even though she was grinning, flirting even, she meant it.
He seemed to see the meaning too, as his grin sobered a bit. “Coming from town?”
It was fairly obvious, and she wondered if he felt as awkward as she did. It made her sad to think that two people who once knew each other so well could be reduced to stilted chitchat. “I was checking on some paintings,” she said. She hesitated, and then decided to share the news. “Hill Street Gallery is going to feature one in their window. Tomorrow I’ll decide which one in my studio is fit for the job.”
“That’s amazing, El!” He looked at her with such wonder, such intensity, that she felt herself blush. “I’ll have to come by your studio soon and see what you’ve been up to all these years.”
She swallowed hard. Kept her eyes on the road, because it hurt to look at him almost as much as it filled her heart with joy. “I’d like that.”
Still, she wouldn’t hold him to it. He was making conversation. Keeping things light. It was what adults did, and that’s what they were now, even if she didn’t really feel like one half the time. Hope was an adult, with her husband and kids. And Gemma…well, Gemma had nearly gotten married. She’d lived with Sean for years, had an entire busy life in the city.
And Ellie had…her art. She had her art, she reminded herself.
“So, what do you have planned for tonight?” Simon asked.
She thought fast, wondering if he could be fishing or just making conversation. He’s engaged, she reminded herself.
“I’m going to spend some time with my sisters. How about you?”
He gestured to the powder blue bakery bag in his bicycle basket—Island Bakery’s signature. “I was just in town to pick up something for my mom. She’s still under the weather, so we’ll have a low-key night.”
“Nothing like a swinging Saturday on the island,” Ellie bantered, and Simon caught her eye.
“I seem to remember a lot of exciting nights, actually,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows playfully. “Do you remember that time we went night swimming out near the cave?”
Did she remember? Of course she remembered. It was hardly a cave by definition, more of an opening in the cliffs along the east side of the island, but she’d thought about that night a hundred times over the years. She hadn’t considered that he’d thought about it too.
She caught his eye as she slowed her bike to a stop. They’d reached the cottage, and as luck would have it, Hope was sitting on the front porch, watching their every move. She waved and called out a big hello to Simon and stood to talk over the railing.
“How’s your sister?”
He shrugged. “Good. Married. Happy.”
“Tell her I said hello,” Hope said.
Ellie toed her kickstand and glanced back at the house. “Well, I should probably get inside.” The last thing she needed was for Hope to get the wrong idea, to start implying that she and Simon had a chance together, when they didn’t. They couldn’t. But oh, how she wished they could.
Simon was looking at her fondly.