“I’ve tried it,” Maileah said. “Sailor gave me a lesson, but I need to practice.”
“You should,” Skeeter said enthusiastically. “What else do you like to do?”
“I run marathons, bike, and snowboard. Pretty much anything that gets my adrenaline going,” Maileah replied, feeling more at ease. “I’ve been skydiving, hang gliding, and sailing.”
Skeeter’s eyes lit up. “Awesome. I used to surf competitively, but I’m trying new things now.”
Maileah noticed a look pass between them. She wondered if something had happened.
Skeeter explained. “I took a bad fall during a competition. A wave dragged me across the rocky ocean bottom. I broke my collarbone, and it really spooked me. I haven’t competed since.”
Maileah nodded sympathetically. “I can understand that. It takes a lot of courage to get back out there after something like that.”
“Who’s ready for grilled cheese?” Sailor slid three toasted sandwiches onto plates and added a handful of field greens on the side.
“Did you put pickles on mine?” Skeeter asked.
Sailor made a face. “I learned my lesson about withholding pickles from you long ago.”
“Yeah, Dad grounded both of us for that fight,” Skeeter said, and they both chuckled. She put out napkins, silverware, and balsamic dressing for the salad.
As Sailor joined them, grumbling good-naturedly about being ganged up on, the last of Maileah’s tension melted away. Between the easy banter and the good food, Maileah realized this comfortable family warmth was what she’d been missing.
Maileah took a bite. Instantly, she was in culinary heaven. “Wow, you weren’t kidding. This is the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had.”
“Wait until you try it with Camembert,” Sailor said. “I make all kinds of killer sandwiches.” He gave Maileah a slight nudge with his elbow. “Now that you know Skeeter’s my annoying little sister and not my secret girlfriend, are there any other misconceptions we need to clear up?”
Her face warmed. “I think we’re fine now,” she said, meeting his magnetic gaze.
As Skeeter launched into a story about Sailor’s most embarrassing surfing wipeout, Maileah caught Sailor watching her. He grinned, and Maileah’s heart seemed to skip.
Still only friends, she reminded herself. Especially now that she lived across the street. But as time wore on, filled with laughter and easy conversation, she recalled what she liked about Todd.
If only she could combine Sailor’s personality and love of adventure with Todd’s steadiness and reliability. If only she could count on someone like Sailor.
If only…
He touched her hand, and a spark of electricity gave her a slight shock. “You said you had something you wanted to talk to me about.”
The ideas she had whipped back to mind, and she quickly caught hold of herself. She wasn’t here to flirt with Sailor like a teenager. There was no time for that. She had to kickstart a new career.
“I do, but I still have some work to do on my idea. How about later?”
“You know where I live,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “As long as you’re not too busy with Todd.”
“That’s over,” she said hastily.
Skeeter confirmed it with a nod, and Sailor leaned back in his chair. “You have to admit, the guy was pretty dull. Like plain vanilla ice cream. I see you as a Rocky Road kind of woman.”
“Nuts and all, right? At least he was stable,” she added pointedly. “But now that I have a place of my own, my career comes first.”
The only challenge would be working with him, assuming she could convince him of her idea.
She lifted her chin with confidence, sure she could manage both.
16
“Here’s your latest campaign,” Maileah said, showing Junie the results on her laptop. She had set it up on the counter at her sister’s store inside the Majestic.
