Aidan sat in the rented house’s living room, his feet propped up on the coffee table and his phone in his lap. The sounds of the waves came in through the open patio door and his dad’s voice crashed in from the kitchen.

Nine AM. Rick was already on his fifth phone call for the day. Mikey had woken before sunrise, ran on the beach, and packed in about ten minutes. And Aidan…Aidan had done almost nothing except stare at his phone.

He tapped his thumb against the side of its case, conflicting ideas and impulses twisting through him like snakes. He’d wanted to text Nicole before he even woke up, swearing that he’d heard her voice in his sleep. Opening his eyes, he’d half-expected her to be there in front of him. But, of course, she wasn’t.

The day before had been amazing. Even after a few hours at the beach, he’d wanted to stay at Nicole’s side. Only Mikey’s complaints about being tired and Nicole’s insistence that she needed to go home and get ready for work the next day separated them. If it hadn’t been such a crazy proposition, Aidan would have offered to come with her and help her with whatever she needed.

Wild as it was, nonsensical as it was, Aidan had gotten a good taste of Nicole Carson and he never wanted to be away from her side again.

Mikey came into the living room, planting his hands on his hips and looking around. “I think we got everything,” he said.

Aidan shrugged.

Mikey inhaled sharply between his teeth. “Look—”

“The car will be here in five,” Aidan’s dad interrupted, entering the room and sliding his phone into his pocket. “You two ready?”

“Ready,” Mikey said. “Bags are by the door.”

“Actually...” Aidan trailed off as they both looked at him, their combined attention feeling like a hot interrogation light. “I was thinking I might stay.”

His dad stared at him, blinking.

“I really like it here,” Aidan added. “And it’s not like I have any obligations in L.A.”

Rick’s face turned red. “There’s a jet waiting for you. A private one.”

“I didn’t order that, Dad,” Aidan said calmly. “You did.”

“You always fly private.” His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I know, and maybe I should stop. It’s a big waste of money.”

Rick’s eyes cut to Mikey. “Are you in on this?”

Mikey put his hands up like he was being held at gun point.

“Mikey and I haven’t talked about this at all,” Aidan said, taking his feet off the coffee table and leaning forward on the couch cushion. “It’s something that’s been on my mind.”

His dad’s eyes narrowed. “On your mind? I have to tell you, Aidan, I’ve been listening to the things you’ve been saying lately and it seems like your mind is all scrambled. You’re not thinking straight.”

Aidan’s fingers tightened around his phone. Years ago—even one year ago—he might have stood up and yelled at his dad, but something was different now. He knew that, no matter how aggressive anyone else got, it wouldn’t help at all if he himself became angry.

And so he just looked back at his father, focusing on breathing. One inhale. One exhale. Repeat.

“It’s what I want to do, Dad,” he answered firmly.

Rick ran his palm over his face and turned away. Aidan glanced at Mikey, who raised his eyebrows.

“Actually,” Mikey said, “I think it sounds like a good idea. If Aidan is staying, then I will, too.”

“Aidan has responsibilities back in L.A., Mikey. He’s not staying.”

Aidan scoffed. “What responsibilities?”

“You have meetings.”

“With that reality network? No, Dad. I’m not doing that.”

“Don’t say no until you’ve at least had a meeting with them, all right? It’s foolish to turn it down without even talking to them.”

Aidan raked his fingers through his hair and looked to the window. Beyond the glass, the sky was a brilliant blue, fluffy white clouds floating lazily around. There was sky back in California. Clouds, too. And warm weather.

But there was no Nicole, and if Aidan didn’t take this one chance God gave him to make things happen with her, she could very well slip through his fingers and be gone forever. He’d lost so much already. His whole life had been upended in one moment. Now that he’d finally met someone who made him think and feel things in a new way, he wasn’t giving up that easily.

“I’m staying,” Aidan affirmed, looking back to his father. “I love you, Dad, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I’m staying here. That’s final.”

Someone knocked on the front door. Rick shot quick looks at the two of them.

“I’ll see you both back in L.A. once you’ve come to your senses,” he said. Turning on his heel, he went into the foyer, snatched up his bags, and left the house.

Aidan’s ears rang. He pressed his palms together. They were hotter than expected. Was his whole face burning as well?

“So,” Mikey said, “Are we going to keep renting this place or what?”