After I walked away from Kyle, I headed back into the house to see about breakfast. Skye and Journey’s bedroom doors were still closed, so I assumed they were still sleeping. Liana’s was open, but the house was quiet. I peeked outside and saw her and Gannon sitting on a sand dune. Looked like they were having a pretty serious conversation. I was curious to know what was going on between them, but it wasn’t any of my business. Since it seemed as though breakfast was going to be on my own, I remembered this sensational diner my parents and I went to regularly each year. It was a little dive-y, but the prices were low and the food fantastic.

After writing a note to the girls, I jogged down the stairs and hopped in the car. I rolled the windows down and cranked the radio up when my favorite song just happened to come on the radio, even though it was still practically the ass crack of dawn. I bobbed my head up and down to the music as I headed down the road.

Sooner than I thought, I arrived at the diner. The waitress at the end of the counter shouted for me to have a seat wherever I wanted. I slid into a booth at the far end of the restaurant away from the rest of the crowd. The waitress brought me a menu, and I was so focused on deciding what I wanted that I didn’t see the man headed toward my table until I was jarred to attention when he slid into the booth on the other side of my table.

“Kyle, what are you doing here?”

He took the menu out of my hand, and his eyes moved side to side as he perused the menu now in front of him, acting as though he hadn’t a care in the world.

“I’m getting breakfast, of course.” He said it like my question was the dumbest thing he’d ever been asked.

I snatched the menu back from him and pulled it to my chest as though I was guarding it against some type of wrongdoing. I had the childish urge to stick my tongue out at him. Just then the waitress returned with my coffee.

“What can I get you to drink, darlin’?” She was lucky she was sixty if she was a day, because I wanted to scratch her eyes out at the syrupy sweet drawl. Even more so when Kyle gave her a slow sexy smile that showed off his white teeth.

“I’d love a coffee too, please. With cream and two sugars.”

The older woman blushed as though no one had ever smiled at her before as she asked if we were ready to order. We both placed our orders, and the waitress scuttled off.

“I like a woman with a healthy appetite. Nothing worse than a woman who orders a salad on a date when she really wants an eight ounce ribeye.”

“This isn’t a date.” I hated that his charm was starting to work on me again. I hated that I couldn’t figure out what his game was. Everything that needed to be said had been said either in Miami or on the pier earlier.

“Never said it was. We’re just two friends having breakfast together.” He cast that same charming, toothy smile my way when he said it. But, when I looked closer, I saw the tension around his eyes and the white-knuckled grip he had on his hands. As though he was fervently grasping his hands in prayer that I wouldn’t walk away from him this time. Wondering if I was making the second biggest mistake of my life, I nodded.

“You’re right. Just two friends enjoying each other’s company this morning.”

A slight puff of air escaped his lips, and I realized he’d also been holding his breath as he waited to see how I’d reply. At first, our conversation was awkward and uncomfortable, neither of us wanted to cross an unwritten line, but as we each ate our food, I felt myself relaxing more in his presence. Pretty soon it was like we were old friends. We avoided talking about the future or even anything sexual. We just enjoyed each other’s company. Time passed quickly, and when I glanced at my watch, I was startled to see how late it had gotten. I needed to get going and check on the others.

“I’ve had a great time this morning.”

“Me too. I’d like to spend more time with you. I know you’re here with your girlfriends, and I’m here with my buddies, but maybe we can grab dinner or something while we’re here. And I think we’re having a bonfire tonight if you all want to swing by.”

I considered his invitation and hoped I didn’t regret agreeing to spend more time together. Without a doubt, Kyle had the capacity to break my heart.

“I’d really enjoy that. Thank you. Well, I better head out. I’d hate for anyone to send out a search party for me.”

After paying for our meal, I resisted the urge to flinch when Kyle guided me out to our vehicles with his hand at the small of my back. He barely touched me, but the heat radiated off his hand, and my body temperature rose several degrees. He opened my door for me, and after a little wave good-bye, I sped off down the street. I was just a few short blocks away when I spotted Liana and Gannon outside another diner. I beeped my horn and rolled to a stop next to them.

“Hey, you two. How’s it going?” I leaned on my elbow through the open window. “I was just on my way back to drag you out to the beach with me. Hi, Gannon.”

He gave me a casual wave. Liana turned to speak to him before getting in the passenger side. We waved goodbye to him and headed back to the house.

“How the hell did you two end up together?” I asked once Gannon was in the rearview mirror. Liana didn’t have an answer for me.

After we got back to the house, Liana said she wanted to do some shopping. Since I hated stepping foot in any retail store, I told her I’d pass. Besides, I was ready to get some sunshine. I needed to free my mind from everything. Either that or spend the whole day trying to figure out what I was going to do about Kyle. It would probably be the latter.