Page 69 of Plotting Summer

My pulse quickens. “What page are you on?”

“Not on the summer fling page. I’m on the page where I really like you. Where I want to see if this can work out. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like with me leaving in August, but we can figure that out when it comes.” He pauses. “Are you anywhere close to that page?”

I roll my lips inward, trying to prevent the obnoxiously large smile that’s attempting to break free. “I’ve been on that page for an exceptionally long time, just waiting to see if you’d ever pick up the darn book.”

Tristan’s whole face lights up with his smile. “You want to do this, then? You want to make things public between us?”

My mouth opens, then closes again, and my shoulders fall. Up to this point, Tristan and I have been in our own little Sunset Harbor universe. We’ve crossed paths with a few people here and there, but no one outside of my family and Jane would suspect that Tristan and I were anything more than friends. Well, and Beau and Noah. And possibly Gemma now. But other than that, if people know …

He lifts my chin, so I’m looking him in the eye. “What is it?”

“If people see us together—if they know we’re together—I worry they’ll start to make the connection between us and the characters in my book. Especially since two different book clubs on the island are currently reading Secret Crush.” Even saying the name of the book in front of Tristan makes me feel all sorts of self-conscious.

“Can I ask why you don’t want people to find out? I understand why you didn’t, but do you still have reasons to keep your pen name a secret?”

“I’ve thought about announcing it. More in the last few weeks since telling you than I’ve ever allowed myself. I even spoke with my manager about what it could potentially look like if I did. But there are so many unknowns. And so many things I’m not sure how I’d handle.” I shake my head, not certain where to start. “Gossip. About me … and you. How awful it was that I made Bridget the antagonist in my book.” I wince. Even speaking the reminder out loud is uncomfortable, but to acknowledge my pettiness in front of Tristan is physically painful. “The fact that I write romance at all. That I didn’t tell anyone.”

I slowly exhale. “There’s also the fact that being an author is difficult enough when I have a pen name to hide behind. Most readers are kind and wonderful, but some aren’t. Some are awful. The separation between who I am and the author version of myself allows me to cope with the negativity. To keep creating in the face of it.” I lower my gaze from his, my fingers mindlessly brushing across Tristan’s bare skin. “And what if I let everyone down when they find out I’m Sunny Palmer? I’ve been a mystery for so long that I’m not sure I can live up to the expectations. I’m good at being invisible. I’m comfortable being invisible,” I whisper. “It’s easier this way.”

Tristan wraps his arms around me, and I melt into him. We don’t talk but just sit there, watching the sunset together.

“Thanks for helping me to understand,” he finally says, still holding me to him. “And I get it. I’m not looking forward to making the announcement that we’re selling Seaside Oasis, and this is a lot more personal than that. But I wish you could see what I do when I look at you. I can’t think that anyone would feel differently once they were given the privilege to know you better. Including your readers.” He places a soft kiss on my temple, and I feel so seen. So adored. “But I also think it’s okay if you decide not to share that part of yourself with the world. Especially if you go around kissing people to stop them from talking about your books.”

I give a small laugh but quickly sober again when I consider the reality. “The problem is, I’m not sure I’ll have a choice soon.”

He pulls back slightly and looks down with those captivating eyes of his. “Capri, if being with me could cause⁠—”

“No.” I turn my upper body more toward him. Instantly, I know if I have to choose between Tristan and keeping my anonymity, I’ll call the Associated Press myself and hand over my name. Though I’m thankful that’s not actually something I have to do. “I want this.”

He grabs my face with both hands. “Which is why I was going to say that if being with me could cause someone to find out before you’re ready, we don’t have to go public with things yet. We can just keep it between us until you feel the time is right. Maybe once the book clubs are over and people aren’t in the midst of reading our story? Or … even longer if you need.”

I smile at the way he calls it our story. “That could work. But can I tell Jane and Tala about us? And my mom?”

“I’ll follow your lead on this one.”

I shift to face forward again, pulling my hair to one shoulder and leaning back against him. His lips settle on my neck just beneath my ear, making me light-headed and giddy. “That was nice,” I say, smiling up at him. “I’ll have to remember that for my next book.”

He kisses my neck again, a little lower this time, and I feel it all the way to my toes. “If you ever need inspiration, I’m your guy.”

He has no idea how true that statement is. “I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. My readers thank you.”

“What can I say? I’ve always been a supporter of the arts.” His thumb caresses the same place on my neck his lips just were, and my heart pounds like it’s recently taken up clogging. Or maybe that’s because I already know how I intend to respond.

“Then let’s see what else you’ve got,” I say, pulling him toward me again.

Tristan is ready and waiting for my command. The minute our lips touch, he’s all in. My sensory receptors are in overload, and I’m trying to memorize each pleasurable sensation as his fingers move into my hair. His kiss is more certain. More intentional. And all teasing aside, this moment will provide a lifetime of inspiration for all future kiss scenes.

“I knew it!” Jane’s squeal has me holding the phone away from my ear. “I told you Tristan would be smitten with you by the end of summer, and we’re barely into July. Now you’re going to get married and have lots of babies. I’m so happy for you. And only a little jealous.”

My smile is ridiculously big. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s still a lot to figure out.”

“Oh, please. You two have known each other your whole lives. Everyone knows that relationships founded on a lifelong friendship turned to love are a kiss on Monday, married by Sunday sort of deal. And I’d argue that the same goes for lifelong crushes.” Jane’s ability to apply fictional truths to real life is astonishing.

“I think we both want to take things slow,” I say. I haven’t told Jane about the Palmers selling Seaside Oasis because it’s not my place, but I don’t want her to get her expectations set on a happily-ever-after between us that happens to land us here on Sunset Harbor. At least not any time soon. The assistant coaching position is just a rung on the ladder when it comes to a career in coaching. Besides, there aren’t any colleges near enough to Sunset Harbor to make a commute possible even if Tristan eventually finds a position in Florida. Which is sort of my hope since California is way too far from me. “And we’re not telling anyone we’re dating yet. With so many people currently reading Secret Crush for their book clubs, we don't need anyone making connections between us and Trenton and Cali.”

“Book clubs? As in plural?”

I frown. “Sandra informed me there’s another book club on Sunset Harbor also reading it right now.”