Friday can't come soon enough. Ava kept her word and when Dane isn't at the bar, he's with Vance. It's probably good for Dane though because neither Garrett or Marcus are adrenaline junkies like him. So, it's a win-win for everyone.

My finger presses the doorbell of the Shaw cabin.

I wait on the porch, looking over my shoulder to make sure that really was Garrett's truck I parked next to.

I ring it again and still no answer.

Hesitantly, I place my hand on the doorknob, surprised when it turns in my hand.

Bad idea I tell myself, but he should have just gotten home from work and Sydney should be ready to go.

“Hello!” I yell into the cabin and hear nothing in response.

It's silent and quiet, so I close the door.

“Hello!” I repeat but get the same answer I did moments ago—nothing.

I slowly walk around knowing I should just call or text one of them instead of walking into their house but the worst I could find is Garrett naked and really, been there, hit that.

Hardly any pictures are hung on the wall except for some hunting photographs. A few of him and Sydney, but tucked away on one of the tables, is a wedding picture of him and Melissa.

She’s sitting down on the grass and a clean-shaven Garrett is kneeling behind her. Both sport big grins, Melissa's two dimples prominent and on display. A stabbing sensation hits my gut.

What am I doing here?

Making a fool myself. That's what.

“Hey.” Garrett's voice pulls me from thoughts of the happy couple. “Sorry, I was showering.”

He walks down the stairway in jeans and barefooted. His long hair on top is pulled away from his face into a ponytail, the sides of his head shaved. Water glistens in his still damp beard.

“Taking your chances with the door open,” I say.

“I only have to worry if black bears somehow recently developed opposable thumbs.” He stops at the edge of the couch and the scent of his cologne lingers between us.

My eyes shoot to the wedding picture and that self-doubt that rarely ever seeps into my pores drowns me.

“Hey now, Krystal and her gang might surprise you.” I laugh and he smiles.

Krystal is the single mom in Climax Cove who always seems a little desperate to find someone. She had her eye on Marcus. That is until Cat came along.

“I'm not Marcus.” He walks forward. “Want a drink?”

I secure my purse on my shoulder. “Where's Sydney?”

He huffs. “She should be home in about fifteen. She just texted me.”

“Okay.” I stand in the doorway between the kitchen and the family room. It's clean, no dirty dishes. Sydney's report card is on the fridge, bananas on the counter. No knickknacks of roosters or decorations to make the space homey.

He opens the stainless steel fridge, grabs two beers and nods toward the balcony.

“Come out back. The sun is about to set.”

I follow, wondering why he's being so nice to me.

We walk through the sliding doors and there's no table, but outdoor furniture with orange cushions on them. He sits in the chair and I take the couch, staring up at the sky painted in burnt oranges and vibrant yellows.

“It's getting colder,” I remark, suddenly losing all enthusiasm after seeing the picture.

“Yeah.” He sips his beer. “I have to finish up the cabins before Christmas.”

“Do you ever take time off?”

He hems and haws for a second. “Kind of. I usually try to solidify the deals and nail down the drawings during January and February. It’s not vacation time, but work is light.”

“Must be nice.”

“What are you complaining about? You have summers off.”

I nod. “Yeah and then I took a job at the camp.”

He's silent for a second. “I’m sorry that Vance ruined your weekend at the cabin.”

I look over, sipping my own beer, putting my feet up on the ottoman.

Garrett never looks my way, instead he focuses his eyes to the sky.

“Oh, it's nice to have him back.”

Garrett sits up, placing his elbows on his knees. “He should be here shortly. We're going out to some club in Wet Rock tonight.”

I nod like an idiot. I shouldn't care, but I want to know why he’s willing to go trolling for pussy, but I’m not good enough for a repeat performance.

“Sounds like fun,” I somehow manage to say even though my teeth are grinding together.

“With your brother, I'm sure it will be.”

I stand up with the beer in my hands. “I think I'm going to text Sydney and I'll just pick her up wherever she's at.” My hand is on the door handle of the screen door when his chest presses to my back.

“Charlie.”

“What?” I focus forward, but I feel his chest move, his hot breath tickling my neck. “I should have never crossed over the line with you. I'm sorry.”

I whip around and narrow my eyes. “You're sorry?”

He nods. “I am. I just ...”

“Why?”

“Why what?” he asks, backing up now since my finger is poking him in the chest.

“Why not me? Am I not good enough for you? Well, let me tell you, you aren't some prize package on my doorstep delivered by Ed McMahon and Publisher’s Clearing House, okay? I'm a good catch.”

“The best.”

“I'm educated, I'm funny, I'm attractive, I have great tits and most of all I'm willing to take on all your fucking baggage.”

He stops at the balcony and holds up his hands.

“No argument.”

I nod. “Good.” I turn on my heels until I realize he agreed with me. “Wait, what?”

“I agree with you. Any guy would be lucky to have you. Hell, I'd be lucky to have you, but circumstances aren't in our favor. I have responsibilities, you have a whole future ahead of you. One you should experience without a guy who can’t offer a commitment.”

I nod slowly. My head moves up and down as the anger fills my veins like venom. “That's right. No commitment. No getting hurt again, right? Just go through life numb and hope you never have to feel anything ever again. I'm sorry you lost the one woman you truly loved and maybe I'm an idiot for trying to weasel my way into your heart, but you're fooling yourself by believing that you don't want a commitment. You're just scared. You’re letting fear run your life.”

I open the screen door and slam it behind me, only to find Sydney standing in the kitchen staring at me.

“Come on. Let's go get a dress.” I walk past her and open up the front door, finding my brother on the doorstep.

“How come I keep finding you with Shaw?” His fingers thread through his hair and he shakes his head.

I glance behind me, not finding Sydney. “Because I was a fool who thought I could crack his impenetrable shell.”

By the time I start up my truck, Sydney's climbing in. I don't wait for Vance or Garrett to stop us but peel out of his driveway.

“I'm sorry about my dad,” Sydney whispers once we're on our way to Wet Rock.

“Why?” I shoot her a fake smile. One that suggests my heart isn't breaking in half and leaking all the hope and excitement I had for the future out of it as we speak.

“You like him.” She takes a deep breath. “He's just never going to get over her.” I watch her swipe her finger under her eyelid.

“Hey, how about we get that dress and then the two of us go to dinner?”

“I'd love that.” Sydney smiles even with tears filling her eyes.