much as it hurts, I don’t regret it. It opened my eyes that there are kind men out there and not just assholes that use women. Someday, when it’s the right time, I’ll find another Ryker.
“Are you off to work?” my dad calls out from the end of the dock. I turn my head to look at all the white boxes filled with cookies, sitting on the boat’s seat. Isn’t it obvious? I bite back the snark and just nod. He rubs his neck with an awkward expression. One I’ve not seen since he made me get on birth control years ago.
“You know, Dante’s a good guy.”
I jerk my gaze from the rope that ties to the dock up to his. “Okay?”
Where is he going with this? “I was just thinking that you two have been best friends forever and sometimes that’s a great foundation for a relationship.” He sounds as uncomfortable as this conversation is for me. Does he think I’m desperate enough to settle because my options are limited here on the island?
I sigh, not wanting to get into it about not staying on the island after he’s gone. It’s morbid and I just can’t. Not now.
“Dad. Thanks for being concerned. But Dante and I are just friends. Period.”
He shrugs like he gave it his best shot and turns to walk back up to his house. I blink in confusion. That conversation was weird. He’s never tried to set me up. And I didn’t even think he liked Dante.
“Have you seen, Dante?” Rose, one of my friends I dance with at night, asks as I drop off the cookies at the front desk.
Still reeling from my conversation earlier with my dad, my expression hardens. “Why does everyone think I should be with Dante?” I snap. Her brows shoot up.
“Girl, I was just wondering if you’ve seen him today. He was supposed to take out guests this morning, but never showed up.”
Oh.
I wince, squeezing the bridge of my nose. “Sorry. Wow, that was uncalled for.”
She leans on her elbows on the counter. “No worries. But who told you that you should be with Dante?”
“My dad.”
“What? Really? They don’t even like each other.”
At least I’m not the only one who thinks that’s crazy. “I know. That’s weird, right?”
She bobs her head. “Well, I kinda thought someday you would probably end up together.” I slap my hand down on the counter. “What? I think everyone did. You guys are inseparable.”
“Because he’s my best friend. That’s it. I don’t have any feelings like that for him. At all.” I lower my voice as a couple passes by us. “Orana,” we both say at the same time. Once they pass, we bust out laughing. We hate that word. “Anyway, I haven’t seen him since yesterday. But now I’m worried. He always shows up.” When her lips quirk up, I roll my eyes. “I can be concerned and not in love with him,” I say sarcastically.
I slide into the golf cart, heading for the next drop off. I let off an audible groan. The last thing I want to do is think about being with another man. My heart still mourns the last one. I force myself to keep moving rather than go hide in my house.
As I’m leaving the last hotel, Mama Doe waves me down from her cart down the walkway. “Aspen, girl, come talk to me.”
My shoulders drop. The last thing I want to do is talk. I watch her turn and walk to her first hut. With her back to me, I’m tempted to put the vehicle in drive and act like I didn’t hear her. Shaking my head, I exit, knowing she would not be happy and that never ends well.
Following behind her, I glance down the walkway that ends at Ryker’s hut. I freeze as pain twists in my chests. I’ve resisted the temptation to row past his deck, let the memories fill my vision until I can feel him again. I squeeze my eyes shut. Stop, Aspen. He’s not there and no matter how bad you want to feel him, it’s only a memory. It’s not real.
“Mama Doe, I’m really not in the mood to talk,” I murmur, stepping into the bungalow. She’s already started cleaning the living room.
“I got something for you,” she says, eyeing me with trepidation. “But I don’t know if I want to give it to you.”
“I don’t understand. Why would you tell me you have something for me to not give it