Emilia looked out the window of her kitchen at the snow gently falling. It was hard to believe it was less than a week ago when she’d been in the smoldering California sun, having the time of her life with Josh Turner.
She still remembered the taste of Josh’s lips on hers—the minty sweetness—and the gentle ways he touched her as if memorizing everything about the curves and folds of her body. She’d never think of California the same again.
Or the beach.
Because they’d managed to sneak out and make love next to the crashing waves once the sun had set the second night they stayed in Laguna. It was an experience like no other, and she didn’t even care that she was still finding sand in places it shouldn’t be.
It was kind of like a sexual bucket list, and she could check that one off her catalog of must-tries.
She and Josh had talked on the phone a few times, and he apologized for not being able to come back to Silver Ridge quite as soon as he had hoped, but he had a bit of fire he had to put out.
And Emilia totally understood.
Unfortunately, it also highlighted a bit of a problem. She lived in Washington, and he lived in New York.
The last couple of days, she’d felt oddly at home. It was a feeling that she hadn’t experienced for over eighteen years.
If even then.
So she didn’t want to suddenly uproot and move to New York for a relationship that might not even last.
After all, all the baggage she carried with her didn’t suddenly unpack itself and organize neatly in her mind. She was still messed up from a decision she’d made eighteen years ago that had cost her everything.
And now the people at the root of her problem were back in her life, needier than ever.
But it did make her wonder where this thing with Josh could really go.
She was too damaged to commit to anything long-term, which on the surface of it seemed like a good thing because they had the long distance between them.
With a groan, she clutched her mug and took another sip of coffee.
She refused to turn into that girl, the one who waited breathlessly by the phone, and if they had a long-distance relationship, that was precisely who she’d turn into.
Not to mention, she had to take care of her parents because they apparently weren’t capable of taking care of themselves.
She’s reached out to several rehab places, and they all told her the same thing. If her parents weren’t going to commit to getting sober themselves, the chances of their actually sticking to any program were minuscule at best. They couldn’t be forced and could leave any time.
But she held out hope. The one thing she’d never gotten the chance to do was an intervention, and maybe that was precisely what they needed. It would give them a chance to finally hear what Emilia needed to tell them both. So she’d made an appointment with a therapist and had an intervention planned at her grandparents’ home. The thought of her parents setting foot into the place she considered sacred was hard to get over, but if she had the meeting anywhere else, they’d suspect something was up.
Her stomach roiled at the thought, and she quickly put her coffee down. She wasn’t sure she could actually go through with it.
She glanced at the clock and wondered if Dakota remembered that Emilia was going to drop by later this afternoon. She had a three-hour trip to get there when the ferry ride was accounted for, so she needed to get on her way.
It would be a good distraction from the family drama to see what Dakota did and where she lived.
She quickly texted Dakota, who immediately replied that she was looking forward to Emilia’s visit, so she decided to head out to Fireweed Island.
By the time she boarded the ferry for the island, she’d spun herself into a tangled mess of questions.
It didn’t help that Josh had texted that he probably wouldn’t be coming out to Silver Ridge for a few more weeks, and she didn’t understand why that bothered her.
She’d been the one who’d been gone for eighteen years. She certainly didn’t expect Josh to drop everything and come rushing to her side because they’d slept together.
Yet maybe that was precisely it.
They’d only slept together. It wasn’t like they were in a relationship or anything. They were just two adults having a bit of fun.
By the time she arrived at Dakota’s, she was all worked up and had decided that whatever this was between her and Dakota’s brother, it had to be put on a low simmer. That way, no feelings would be hurt no matter the outcome.
Besides, as often as she’d moved in Oregon, she doubted she’d be able to stay put all that long in Silver Ridge.
Emilia parked her car in front of Dakota’s cottage and couldn’t believe how cute it was. Unlike Silver Ridge, there wasn’t a drop of snow. The fog had broken on her ferry ride over, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
The front door of the house opened, and Dakota stepped outside, waving as Emilia climbed out of the car.
“Find the place okay?” Dakota asked.
“Yes. You gave awesome directions, and I’m glad you did because Siri had me driving off a cliff a couple of miles back.”
Dakota laughed and made her way over to Emilia, giving her a quick hug.
“This is place is so amazing.” Emilia smiled, noticing how relaxed her friend seemed.
“It works for me.” Dakota motioned for her to follow her inside.
The little house was a perfect square and somehow managed to fit a living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom all inside without halls. There wasn’t an inch of unused space, and everything about it screamed Dakota. There was even beautiful stained glass in the bathroom.
After Dakota gave her the tour of her cottage and studio, they both sat down on her back patio.
Emilia smiled. “We’d freeze to death if we tried this up in the mountains.”
“I know. It’s definitely one of the perks of living at sea level.” Dakota grinned, taking a sip of tea.
“This tea is so good,” Emilia told her friend. “Is it local?”
“Yup. From a shop in town. The woman who owns it is amazing. She’s so kind, and her husband is so hot. They divide their time between here and Hound Island.”
“Hound Island?” Emilia asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Dakota laughed. “I know. Isn’t it incredible how many small islands Washington has?”
“It really is.” Emilia nodded, taking another sip of tea.
She wondered how long, if ever, it would take before she and her friend could talk like they used to where no topic was off-limits and they could spend their nights laughing the entire time.
“Do you like being back in Silver Ridge?” Dakota asked.
Emilia nodded. “I love it. A few weeks, a month ago, I wasn’t sure about my decision, but right now, it seems to fit perfectly.”
“Is that because of my brother?” Dakota’s question completely surprised Emilia, and she quickly put her tea down.
“I don’t think so. I mean, he hasn’t actually left New York for quite some time.”
Dakota didn’t look like she believed Emilia.
“But I am glad I got to reconnect with him.”
“I’m sure.” Dakota took a deep breath in. “I’m just going to be straight with you. When you left, I bounced back. He didn’t. He’s been hung up on you since you left, and it’s not fair to him, Emilia.”
Dakota’s words stung, but she was absolutely right.
“I know, and I take full accountability for my actions. They were thoughtless and—”
Dakota shook her head. “I don’t want you to feel like you need to keep apologizing or groveling every single time you’re with us. I just want you to know how much he cares for you.”
“And I care for him.”
“My brother mentioned you’d connected with your parents.”
Emilia nodded. She wasn’t offended that Josh had revealed that to his sister or Emilia would have asked him not to mention it. There was nothing to hide about the situation. The Turners knew more than most about her family dynamics, and there was no reason to change that now.
“Yeah, and I’m not sure it was the best idea I’ve had.” Emilia took another sip of tea. “I actually have an intervention planned.”
Dakota’s jaw fell open. “You’re kidding.”
Emilia shook her head. “Nope. I kind of wish I were. It’s going to be at Mama Cam and Papa Jack’s home.”
“Your home now,” Dakota corrected, and Emilia nodded, appreciating the correction.
“I haven’t told Josh yet. I’m not sure how he’ll react. I’m sure he’ll be as supportive as ever.”
Dakota bit her lip. “I’m not so sure about that. He blames them for your leaving.”
Emilia let out a silent sigh. If only he knew how true that statement was.
“Well, it’s scheduled for two weeks from now. I decided to see the therapist a few times myself before the big event. It seems it’s not that normal to completely ditch one’s identity and create a new one.”
“You don’t say.” Dakota raised her hand to her mouth in pretend surprise. “When I heard what you did for a living and saw the massive following you had, I wondered if you’d be the same Hailee I remembered.”
“And?”
“Yup. Still as sweet and nervous as ever.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“You fainted at your own welcome party.”
Emilia chuckled.
“At least you never forgot where you came from.” Dakota smiled.
“Even if I wanted to, I can’t seem to do it,” Emilia joked.
Dakota studied her once-upon-a-time best friend and tilted her head slightly. “What is it that haunts you so much, Emilia?”
Emilia shook her head. “I don’t even want to go there.”
“But that’s just it. You’re always there. Wherever there is, it seems to plague you. Don’t you see? Even leaving town and changing your name still keeps you close to that dark place because you keep it harbored deep inside. You don’t share it. You don’t let it go.”
Dakota’s words knocked the wind right out of Emilia, and she didn’t know what to say other than to shake her head.
“I know, but I can’t just step away from what I’ve done.” Emilia shook her head in frustration. “I can’t expect Josh to continue anything with me either. I know I’m not cut out for a relationship. He deserves better, and I know that even now. I just can’t go back to that place mentally.”
“That’s just it, Hailee.” Dakota threw her arms up to the sky in frustration. “You never ended it with Josh. Because you’re busy not dealing with your own demons, you’re beating down the people who care about you. If you honestly can’t give Josh what he needs, end it.”
Dakota’s words were harsh, but she understood where she was coming from. After eighteen years away, Emilia still couldn’t tell a soul why she’d left town and the people she’d loved.
“You’re right.”
Dakota sucked on her bottom lip as she debated whether to continue. “You didn’t give him a fair chance at all. Josh actually believed you’d come back. He waited around for a couple of years, refusing to set foot out of Silver Ridge. If my mom and dad hadn’t finally put their foot down, he wouldn’t have gone to college.”
“I had no idea.”
“Why would you?” Dakota’s expression softened. “I loved you like a sister, and on some level, I always will, but do the right thing, Emilia. Don’t break his heart again.”