I miss her so badly that it hurts. I haven’t seen Summer in four days. The first day I was too angry to even try opening a channel between us, but that soon faded, leaving me with regret and heartache. And by the time I’d calmed down enough, Summer had left for New York.

What if she never comes back?

The question had been churning in my mind for days now. I was stupid to give her my back when I should have offered her my heart. But did she even want my love? It seemed she did, but only behind closed doors and in darkness. The minute someone shined a spotlight on us, she ran away and hid. I know, deeper than the pain and heartache of never seeing her again, that I could never be with someone who’s embarrassed to call me what I am to her own parents.

But I can’t worry about that right now. The season is coming to a close, which means I’ll know if I’ve met my stringent quota or not. But by the numbers I’ve got jotted down in my back pocket, I’d say we’re getting close.

“Hey, Koa,” Captain says, throwing open the screen door and ushering me in. “Glad you’re on time. I’ve got something to talk to you about.”

My stomach twists as my mind jumps to conclusions.

He’s about to tell me that Summer’s not coming back…

“In here, son.” He waves me into his study and shuts the door behind me. We each settle into an armchair. Well, he settles in. I’m on the edge of my seat.

“Anything to drink?” he asks, setting me further on edge. Captain never asks me if I need something. He usually just jumps right in.

He nods when I shake my head. “Okay, well I'll first start by saying that you’ve done an amazing job these past ten weeks. Amazing. You’ve shined under pressure and really steered our fleet in the right direction.” He pauses and laughs. “A pun! Boy, do I love those.”

Ah. Now I know where Summer gets it.

He lowers his voice and continues. “So, I really think it’s time we talk about your future with Boothe Fisheries.”

I shift in my seat. “I’d like to have a future with your company, if that’s what you mean.”

“Of course! What else?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

Captain leans forward with a frown. “You do want to keep working for me, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good!” he says with relief. “Then the job is yours.”

“It is?”

“Yes.”

I stare at him. “Uh, what is, sir?”

“I didn’t say?” Captain laughs. “Sorry, son. Old age. Your title as captain. I’d like you to keep it after the season’s over.”

“But you’re…” I glance at his arm. It’s been in a sling for the last few days. He had the cast taken off last week.

He gives a tired sigh. “I’m afraid my time on the open water is coming to a close. I’m getting old, and these tired bones can’t keep up.”

“Nonsense, Captain. You’ve got plenty of time left.”

“I do,” he admits slowly, “but I want to spend it with family. I want to slow down and enjoy life a bit. I want to…retire.” He says the word slowly, trying it on for size. “My time’s coming to a close, but yours is just beginning.”

“And this is okay with Grandma Jane?”

“Okay?” Captain lets out a chuckle. “This was her idea, though she’d deny it.” He leans forward and pats my knee. “But truly, Koa, we both know this is the right decision. So, what do you say?”

I lean back in my chair, reeling a bit from the news. “Can I have some time to process this?”

“Of course.” Captain studies me for a moment. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s a lot to take in, that’s all.” I stand up and hold out my hand. “Thank you, Captain. I’m honored that you’re offering me this position.”

Captain rises and grips my hand. “Thanks, son. You take your time now and give me your answer when you’re good and ready.”

I’m halfway to the door when I remember the napkin in my back pocket. I turn and fish it out. “I forgot to give you the update.”

“Is it good?” I nod. “Then just leave it on the desk. I’ll get to it later. You’ve got some thinking to do,” he adds with a smile.

I place the brown napkin on his desk and let myself out. True, I do have a lot to think about. Just add it to my growing list.

I pull out my phone the second I step out onto the front porch. Only one person can help me now. A few rings and then Bryce’s deep baritone fills my ear.

“Hey, Rendell. How’s it going?”

“Bad.”

“Bad?” His voice grows tense. “What happened?”

I put everything out there: the run ins with Mike, the trip up the ferris wheel, the whirlwind romance of the last few weeks. Even the meet-the-parents-from-hell dinner party that I stormed out of. I end with the blow-up in the garden and wait for Bryce’s reaction. It comes a few beats later.

“Glad it finally happened! I told you it would.”

“Alright, congratulations. You were right. Now can you please help me figure this out?”

The line grows scratchy as Bryce lets out a huge breath. “Man, that’s good news.”

“My pain is good news?”

“No. The fact that you care about Summer this much. The fact that you give a shit.”

“Well, giving a shit really sucks.”

“Welcome to my world,” he says dryly.

“How’s that going?”

“Not good. Still doesn’t see that asshole for what he is. But that’s not important right now. I’ll do have a suggestion for your situation, but you have to promise not to bite my head off if you don’t like what I say.”

“Okay…”

“You got mad at her for not telling her parents, right?”

I shrug. “Basically, but it’s more complicated than that.”

“Isn’t that what she said when you told her to call her parents?”

Dammit.

“Maybe, but it really is more complicated than that.”

“I’m sure, but I’m trying to make it simple so you see my point. Maybe Summer doesn’t see the need to make you two official if you’re not doing the same with your family.”

“But I haven’t got any—” I grip the porch railing as it hits me. “Oh.”

“Yup. She’s got to meet your dad.”

“Why would anyone want to do that?”

“Come on, Rendell.”

“What? It’s not like I even have a relationship with him in the first place. Why would Summer want to meet someone I haven’t spoken to in years?”

“Just give him a chance to meet the girl you love.”

I frown. “How did you know I love her?”

“Please. I know shit.”

“I’m serious. I didn’t even know until four days ago.”

“I knew the moment I saw you two together.”

I almost drop the phone.

“Scratch that,” he says. “I knew when you talked about her on the phone.”

“How…how could you…?”

“Because it wasn’t what you said, it was how you said it.”

I scoff. “Are you Dr. Phil now?”

“No, just a friend who's never heard his buddy talk about a girl like you talked about Summer.”

“Even though we fought constantly. Still do,” I add.

“Yup. You never let people get to you, so what was different about Summer?”

Everything. “I dunno.”

“Exactly. She caught your eye and now she’s caught your heart, too.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “That’s poetic shit, man.”

“I try, I try.”

“Okay, well, I have no problem introducing her to my dad, but it’s not going to do anything if she doesn’t tell her parents.”

Bryce sighs. “True. I’m not sure, then.”

I dig in my pocket for my keys with a heavy heart. “Yeah, I know. Look, I’ve got to go. I’m heading over to meet this new guy lined up to replace Summer as my first mate.”

“Oh, right. September is right around the corner.”

“Don’t remind me. Anyway, I’ll need this guy if I’m going to stay on as captain.”

“Whoa, what?”

“Sorry. I just found out that Captain’s retiring. One guess who he’s picked to replace him full-time…” The line goes quiet. “Bryce?”

“I’m here. Just wondering how this fits in with your plans.”

My hand pauses as I draw it out of my pocket. “Plans?”

“You know, to travel the world?”

“Right,” I say with a frown. My plans hadn’t even crossed my mind when Captain told me his good news. All I could think about was Summer. She’s still all I can think about.

“Does this mean you’re putting that on hold?”

“I…I’ll get back to you on that,” I say carefully, not knowing the answer myself. “But I really gotta go, I’m already late.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let me know what happens. I know you’ll sweep her off her feet, Rendell.”

“Thanks, Hill, I needed that. And stick with it, man. Maybe Autumn will wake up one of these days.”

Bryce grunts. “Yeah. Maybe in a perfect world.”

I throw up my hood as I step out from the covered shelter of the porch, shielding my face from the rain. The grass is slick and dark from the incessant drizzle of the last few days. The sky’s been gray and gloomy since Summer left, almost like it’s trying to tell me something.

Well I get it, loud and clear. Life sucks. Let’s move on.

I’m firing up the engine when Grandma Jane steps out onto the front porch. She gives a little wave and starts down the front steps. “Koa? Do you have a moment?” she calls.

I cut the engine and hop out, trotting up the path and pulling her back under the protection of the porch. “I’m heading to the harbor to meet the new…” I trail off as I catch sight of her face. “Everything alright?”

“I’m not really sure, actually.” She gives me a worried look. “I wanted to ask you about Summer.”

The breath catches in my throat. “Summer?”

“I’m worried about her. She was acting strangely before she left this weekend.”

“Oh, uh…” I rub the back of my neck. “I’m sure she’s alright.”

“I wish I could believe that, but I caught her crying a few times.”

I flinch like I’ve been hit.

“She tried to hide it, but you can’t hide red eyes.”

No. But you can hide a wounded heart like the one bleeding out in my chest.

She wrings her hands together. “Do you know what’s wrong?”

Me. I’m what’s wrong.

“I don’t.”

She nods. “I figured. Well—”

We both jump as my phone dings loudly in my back pocket. “Sorry,” I mutter, pulling it out. “I’ll turn it…”

The words die in my throat as I glance down at the screen. It’s Summer.

Eventually Jane’s voice reaches me over the roaring in my ears. “…I’ll see her tomorrow and then figure out—”

“Can I pick Summer up?” I interrupt.

She looks at me in surprise. “You want to?”

Only desperately.

“Yes. We’ve, uh, grown close over the past few weeks. Maybe I can help.”

Or maybe I can right a terrible wrong.

Gran’s lips break out into a big smile. “Why sure, I think that’s a great idea. Just a second while I grab her itinerary.” She opens the front door and marches down the hall to the kitchen, returning a second later with a printout clutched in her hands. “She has a ten-fifteen flight tomorrow morning.”

Good. That gives me time to figure out what I’m going to say when I see her…if words will be enough. I know what I have to do, even if it means breaking a long-standing rule between my dad and me: don't get involved in each other’s lives. It’s worked well for us these past few years, but Bryce is right. I need to put myself out there just like Summer has. It couldn’t have been easy telling her parents about us, and it won’t be easy seeing my dad after five years.

But I’ll give it my all, throw my line deep, and try to reel Summer back into my arms…

Where she’ll stay, if I have anything to say about it.