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“No, they fight dirty.” He laughed and the sound was the final wave of calm she needed. “You sure you want to hear about this disaster?”
“Lay it on me.”
With a deep breath, she started. Each declaration, every word brought her farther from the pain and heartache. She passed through a level of pissed off she didn’t realize was clinging inside of her then ended on a strange mixture of regret and relief. Regret for allowing Daniel to string her along for so long, and relief for finally getting everything that happened tonight out of her mind. She’d been wallowing in her own pool of pity. She wasn’t ready to get out of the pool completely. Maybe after a few chocolate bars and cocktails, she’d feel differently.
She glanced at Shane who was listening to her intently. She threw her hands up and let them fall into her lap. “And that’s how I lost everything in the matter of minutes, and now I’m heading home with my tail tucked between my legs, moving in with my parents while I try to figure out what’s next.”
“Not going to lie, that sucks.”
“Pretty much.”
“But it also looks like a blessing in disguise.”
That blessing must’ve been in full costume. “How is any of this a blessing?”
“You can start from scratch.”
“Again, how is that a blessing?”
“You have a chance to do it differently. Maybe do it right this time.” The tone of his voice made her wonder if that was exactly what he was doing himself. She was about to ask when the train came to a stop.
“Look at that. Finished just in time.”
But now that she was talking to him, she didn’t want to stop. She wanted to know who his family was. She wouldn’t even spill the beans about what she knew of them; she was just curious who he was getting off the train to go meet. And how he was related to them? There were so many possibilities. Her brain started working, trying to piece it together.
He stood and grabbed her luggage, taking it down for her.
“Thank you. I could have gotten it.”
“I’m the reason it was up there. Taking it down is the least I could do.”
Now that her claws weren’t out, she could see the nice guy he really was. “Do you have a ride to wherever you’re going?” she asked.
“I was going to call a cab.”
She bit her lip to hold back a laugh. He really wasn’t from around here. “We don’t have cabs in Morgan’s Bay, but we do have our own car ride service. I already called him. We can share if you want. Or you can wait until he drops me off then comes back to get you.” Milo wouldn’t mind. He created his business because he liked meeting people and talking.
“If you don’t mind.”
She met his eyes, looking at them for the first time, and startled by the intensity in his brown gaze. “Not at all.”
“Lead the way.” He stepped out of the seat and let her into the aisle. She went to grab her bag, but he waved her off. “I got it.”
She didn’t know if she was just relieved that he wasn’t an asshole, or if he was genuinely a nice guy. Either way, she was happy to have her faith restored in men, even if it was only for tonight.
His arm muscle flexed beneath his t-shirt as he took the weight of the bag in his hold before placing it on the ground. He pulled on the handle and stood there when she realized she was blocking the way. She spun around and headed toward the exit.
The fresh clean salt air rushed over her. It didn’t give her that excited jolt like stepping out into the industrial fueled air of the city, but it did wrap around her in a familiar embrace that relaxed her shoulders and had her walking a little slower.
Shane followed her down the platform. Without the hustle and bustle of the city, the sound of the luggage rolling along the cement rumbled through the dark night.
Olivia glanced toward the parking lot and immediately spotted Milo’s red Nissan Altima parked at the curb. Milo was the only car service in Morgan’s Bay and happened to be one of Olivia’s good friends. He leaned against the hood of his car under a streetlight, arms crossed over his chest, the logo of his family’s business, Amato Construction, poking out above his bicep. His chestnut hair was a stylish, disheveled mess as usual, and his smile reminded her why home was the best place for her right now.
“Look what the train dragged home,” Milo said and pushed off the car. Olivia laughed and hurried to him. He opened his arms wide, and she went willingly. He smelled like the ocean, like home, and she held onto him for a moment, relishing in the comfort of a friendly hug. It was exactly what she needed to end her less than stellar night.
Milo pulled back and studied her face. “Normally I’d say you look good, but unless this black cheek streak is a new trend I haven’t heard about, you look like hell, Liv.”
Olivia choked on a laugh and punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up, Milo. I had a bad night.”
