Glancing to the shimmering marina Andy snorts, “Says the soul of a wounded man.”

Sofia holds her glass high. “To the souls of wounded men.”

We clink glasses and take a delicious drink of Jonas’s apology. But when I glance to Tobias, he’s guarded as he stares off.

What did his friend mean by that?

Is he really wounded?

Or, just like the rest of us, has life not turned out like he hoped it would when he was a child?

“I think you should give Andy a chance,” I hear myself say. Didn’t plan this, but when Tobias meets my eyes I stay the path. “Maybe you need to trust someone.”

“I trust me. What are we ordering?” He pulls up his menu, conversation closed.

Andy drinks from his glass and exhales before changing the subject so we don’t bring the evening to a close before it even starts. We start talking about the city, only pausing when the server takes our dinner orders.

“No, I’ve never been here,” I answer Tobias, as soon as we’re alone again. “Have you, Sofia?”

“Once, about five years ago.”

Andy asks her, “Vacation?”

She snorts, “This is the first vacation I’ve had in…” Her beautiful grey eyes travel to the sky as she searches her memory. She returns back to him and admits, “Since I was a little girl and our family went to Myrtle Beach. But I barely remember it.” She glances to me. “Do you?”

“Yes, it was so rare that you were able to join us on those trips, I can’t forget that one. You and Ben buried me in the sand, remember that?”

She lights up at the forgotten image. “Oh my God, yes!” She stares off as her memories slowly return. “And Ethan wanted to kick sand at your head because you couldn’t fight back!”

“But Emma pushed him so hard he fell! He couldn’t believe she did that.”

“She’s very protective of you,” Sofia smiles.

“She is.”

Tobias asks, “Emma’s another cousin?” his deep voice reminding me of his presence. I’d gotten caught up in the past. I miss my family a little, if I’m honest. This is the longest I’ve been away from them. But then again, I never get to spend quality time with Sofia Sol…this has been a gift.

At my nod, he asks, “She older than you? That why she’s protective?”

“No, that’s not why.” My gaze drops to my lap.

He doesn’t push me for the reason. Instead he asks, “How many cousins do you have?”

“There are sixteen of us. No, sorry, seventeen. I meant sixteen besides me.”

“Seventeen!” Sofia nods with pride. “That’s a whole lot of crazy right there.”

Andy makes a face, blown away by such a number. “I’ve got two cousins.”

She focuses on him, “How many aunt and uncles?”

“Dad’s an only child and my mother has a sister.”

“My dad has five brothers, that’s why!” she proudly informs him, leaning forward like she won a contest.

Just to add more confusion I add, “Oh, and our grandma’s sister had four kids who live in Savannah. They had kids, so they’re our second cousins! But they’re very tight, too, so they stick together like we do. We saw them on some Christmases, a few Thanksgivings, but the rest of the year it was just us.”

“Just the seventeen of you, you mean,” Tobias laughs. “Huge family.”

Sofia Sol and I both settle a little, feeling lucky. “Yeah.”

She hits the table. “Emma’s coming tomorrow!”

“Oh my God! I forgot!”

Tobias rests his hand on my leg, half on my hem and half on my bare thigh. We lock eyes as his fingers start stroking my skin. “She’s the one who pushed Ethan?”

“You remembered his name. I’m impressed you were listening.”

“I always listen when I’m interested.”

Biting my lower lip, I murmur, “I like that.”

“What else do you like?” he asks, his finger dipping to glide under my hem.

I hold his sexy gaze. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

His smirk deepens. “Then I’ll just have to figure it out and never let you know I did.”

Andy asks Sofia, his vibe friendly, “What are you going to do once she’s here?”

“I’m riding my bike to Fort Lauderdale to pick her up. After that, who the fuck knows?!” She starts digging in her purse for her phone. “Forgot to check for her flight time.”

“I could take you in my car.”

Her eyelashes slowly rise as she regards him. “What kind?”

“Alfa Romeo.”

“Convertible?”

“Yep.”

“Still not as hot as my Triumph,” she mutters, reading, and then shows me the phone. “How excited are we about this?”

I’m laughing now. “Don’t worry, Andy. Sofia’s like that with all men.”

“I like a challenge,” he smirks, taking a sip of champagne.

Our server places appetizers in the middle of our table for everyone to share — crab cakes and fried calamari that make my mouth water on sight.

Sofia lays her napkin across her lap and announces, “Hate to tell you this, Andy, but when you meet Emma, you won’t want me anymore. She’s more your speed.”

“You’re not my speed?”

“Nope.”

He laughs to himself, not offended in the slightest. “You were going to hook up with Jonas, but not me, huh?”

I already knew he didn’t have a chance, and why. But I never get tired of Sofia Sol’s truth-bombs, so I grab a bite of squid and smile as she lifts her empty glass for the server to refill, telling Andy, “Jonas would have been a plaything to throw away after one use. You’re too good for that. You’ve got marriage and babies all over you and I’d just break your fuckin’ heart. Why? Because I’m not looking for good.”

Andy stares at her, dark brown eyes flickering under the impact of her compliment.

As the server places the bottle of champagne back in the ice bucket, Sofia glances to Tobias to add, “You should hire Andy. He won’t fuck you over.”

The two men stare at her in silence. After this and what she said about Chester to Jonas, neither man doubts her instincts.

“We’ll test it out,” Tobias rumbles.

Andy brightens, locking eyes with him. “I’ll show you what I can do.”

“Mmm,” Tobias hums, eyelashes dropping to his fingers as they trail along my flesh.