“He’s a friend, Rae,” I say, staring at the girl who looks like she needs to go back to bed and sleep for a week. “Jack, this is my, ah, sister, Rae. Rae, this is Jack.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jack says, staring at her.

I’m sure he notices how young she is. How withdrawn. How broken. Her spirit, the spirit of the girl I used to adore, has long been broken and crushed into nothing. Rae is no more. Instead, what stands before me is the shell of a girl who used to have so much heart.

“I’m hungry,” Rae says, ignoring Jack. “Have you made anything for breakfast?”

Jack looks to me, his face carefully blank, but I know what he’s thinking. Everyone who meets Rae thinks it. Who is this bratty girl and where the hell did she learn to be so ungrateful? I avoid his eyes as I stare at Rae, and carefully say, “No, I haven’t. Do you want some toast?”

I see Jack shake his head, just slightly, but he doesn’t say anything. He’s hardly in the position to say anything. Rae glances at him, narrows her eyes, then looks back at me again. “I don’t want toast.”

“Toast is all you should be putting in your belly after being sick all night.”

She glares at me. “I said I didn’t want toast, so no, I want eggs.”

“Eggs aren’t a good idea,” I try to say through gritted teeth.

She shakes her head, throwing her hands up. “Whatever, Baylee. I’m over you. You’re supposed to be helping me. God, you’re almost no better than—”

“Enough,” I snap, and her eyes get wide. I haven’t raised my voice even once to Rae since she’s been with me, but she’s not going to start mentioning York in front of a random stranger. No.

Nobody ever needs to know about that man.

“Pardon me?” she says, crossing her arms.

“Can you just leave us be?” I say, trying to stay calm. “I have a friend over, now is not the time.”

She looks to Jack again. “Doesn’t seem like the type you’d go for. He’s almost exactly the same, isn’t he?”

I flinch. “Rae, leave.”

She huffs and turns, storming off down the hall.

“Don’t say anything,” I say to Jack as he looks at me.

“Wasn’t planning on saying anything, but you really shouldn’t let people treat you like that, Baylee.”

I glance at him, then keep drinking my coffee. “She had a hard life.”

“That’s never an excuse.”

No, he’s probably right about that.

But I’m not going to argue about it. Time for a change of subject.

“So, have you got siblings?”

Jack gets the point, and doesn’t push further. He leans a hip against the counter and says, “An older brother, Diesel.”

“Diesel,” I say, loving the name. “That’s a cool name.”

“Yeah,” he grins. “And I got lumped with Jack. So ordinary.”

“A name doesn’t define you, take it from me.”

“Are you saying I’m not ordinary then?” he asks, wiggling his brows.

I shift and smother a grin. “Only you could take a compliment out of that.”

He winks at me. “So, I wanted to ask if you want to come sailing.”

I stare at him. “Pardon me?”

“Sailing.”

“No, I heard you, but ... why?”

He chuckles. “Gosh, you really aren’t good at this, are you?”

“What?”

“Having friends.”

I roll my eyes, but he’s right. Outside of Shania, I’m not used to having friends anymore. After York, my life turned into a bitter mess. I can’t remember what it feels like to have fun.

“Why are you going sailing?” I ask.

“My friends from the club and I do it once a year; we drive to the coast and hire a sail boat. It’s really fun, we stay a couple of nights at a house my parents own, then head back.”

“Oh,” I say. “Well ... I don’t know. I have Rae and ...”

“Think about it,” he says, smiling at me. “No pressure.”

I smile back; it’s weak and small, but it’s a smile. “Thank you.”

“I have to go,” he says. “I’ll talk to you later, though. Think about the offer. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be outside your window at exactly nine PM tonight, I’d appreciate a wave.”

I laugh, it’s small, ragged and soft, but it’s a laugh.

He smiles, big and all-American boy next door. He looks gorgeous. He walks over and leans down. “One day that smile is going to touch your eyes, and fuck, it’s going to be the most beautiful thing the world has ever seen.”

Then he turns and walks out.

My heart stirs.

It has hidden itself for so long, but finally it is stirring from its cave.

Could Jack be the one that helps me trust again?

Or will he be the one who forces my heart to hide away for its final time?

I don’t know.

And it scares me.

~*~*~*~

I step out of the restaurant. It’s past midnight, and I’m exhausted. My feet ache from the long day at work. We had a function tonight, so I worked longer than I usually would. I’m not complaining, the money will be amazing and will help with some of the bills that have been piling up lately. God knows, with Rae only six weeks from giving birth, we’re going to need the extra cash.

“Hello there, pretty lady.”

I look up and see Jack standing, leaning against a bike. For a second, I just stare at him, confused. It’s past midnight, so why is he here? My eyes linger on him, for a second too long, because God he looks amazing. Black jeans, tight black tee, and a leather jacket casually resting on his shoulders. His hair is messy, a few strands falling over his forehead.

He looks gorgeous.

“Now I’m really starting to think you’re not joking about being a stalker,” I say, and even I can hear the exhaustion in my voice.

“Went to your house, Rae said you were working, so I came and waited for you.”

I blink. “You went to my house?”

“Sure, I wanted to take you somewhere.”

He does?

Why?

“Can I ask why?”

He rolls his eyes. “Do you question everything? We’re friends, aren’t we?”