"It's official then. You're my date to the garden party."
"That sounds fancy when you say it like that."
"I think that's how they wanted it to be. Hayden said she worked really hard to make it the social event of the year."
I smiled. "Has she been spending too much time with my grandmother? She sounds like her."
He brushed a strand of my hair out of my face, then kissed me softly on the lips, making my heart skip a beat. "Probably. I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"A few more minutes," I said as he backed out of the bathroom.
There was a fluttering in my stomach that reminded me of when we were teens. Every time I met up with him back then, I felt that same sensation.
Did that mean I had feelings for him again? It felt different now that we were older and more mature. Everything was new back then. But now, it was a natural progression. Was that how it was when you were with the right person? Or was it our shared past that made things easier?
Would the same thing have happened had we lived on opposite sides of the island? I didn't think so. It was the forced proximity combined with our history that brought us together. But that didn't mean we were meant to be together. My practical side continued to war with my dreamer self.
After the recent end to my past relationship, it wasn't a good idea to put too much stock into this thing with Marshall. It was a fling. It was supposed to be light and easy because there was no pressure, no need for there to be anything else.
Marshall was taking me to a garden party that his daughter had helped to organize. It was a fun afternoon. There was no meaning to it. Marshall was just teasing me with this talk of dates. He wasn't in love with me.
Why had my heart rate picked up at the idea?
I finished applying mascara, then swiped lip gloss over my lips. I wouldn't put any pressure on this date or my relationship with Marshall. I wanted it to be light and breezy. It was a summer fling, an escape from my real life. That's why it was so fun and enjoyable.
As soon as I was back in Jacksonville, I'd realize that Marshall belonged to Sanibel summers. The rest of the year, I didn't have a place in his life.
He had his daughter, his family, and a business to worry about. I needed to put my life back together, find a place to live in Jacksonville, and figure out if this was the job I wanted for the foreseeable future.
I grabbed my wedge sandals and found Marshall in the living room. He stood as soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Are you going to ask my grandmother if you can extend your stay?" I asked him brightly, trying not to think about the fact that I'd be gone by then.
"You think it would be a good time to do it today?" he asked, grabbing his keys from the hook by the door.
I slipped on the wedges, holding onto his arm for support. "She'll be in a good mood. She loves hosting parties."
"I might then. I kind of love this place."
So he loved the beach house, but did he have feelings for me? I had no business even considering the possibility.
On the short ride to the senior center, I thought about not being this close to my grandmother, Marshall, or Hayden anymore. I'd miss the people and the island. My throat tightened.
"You okay?"
I cleared my throat. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
He glanced over at me, concern etched on his face. "You're quiet today."
I shrugged. "Just thinking about the end of summer."
"You'll move back to Jacksonville, and Hayden will be in Naples. I'll want to work so I can keep busy."
"You don't think you'll change your mind and move to Naples?" I asked him, a little too invested in his possible answer.
"I'll have to see how it is. But I have a feeling it's going to be harder to be away from her now that we've grown closer this summer."
"I can imagine it will be difficult."
