Page 83 of Plotting Summer

“Are Grandma and Jane here, yet?”

“Yeah, they’re in talking to Tala,” he says, momentarily dropping his gaze. “And, to make things easy on you, I overheard Grandma mention how you’re Sunny Palmer. I don’t think she realized I didn’t know, but Jane and Tala ended up filling me in on everything.”

Tala and I had taken Grandma out to lunch today to tell her the news. She giggled like a mad woman and then claimed she suspected as much all along. I informed her that she’s not supposed to tell anyone until I give her the go ahead, but my guess is at least Virginia already has the full scoop. And apparently Walker now too. So it’s a good thing I’m coming clean with my secret. “Wow, that was easy. And, since it’s confession time, you should probably also know that Tristan and I are dating.”

Walker is noticeably avoiding eye contact with Tristan. “Yeah, that one was pretty obvious.”

We stand a moment in awkward silence when Tristan’s hand settles on my back. “I’ll head inside. Give you two a minute to talk.”

I squeeze his hand as he passes. “Thanks. Tell them they can start eating and we’ll be right in.”

“Hey, Tristan,” Walker says, pausing him before he can get far. He clears his throat. Then he clears it again. “I just want to say that I was wrong about you.”

Tristan’s gaze slides to me as though he’s second-guessing what he just heard and needs confirmation I heard it too.

Walker blows out a breath like this is painful for him. “With a little assistance,” he says, and I’m certain the assistance he’s referring to is Jane, “I realized you always had my sister’s best interest at heart. I just couldn’t see it.” He takes off his hat, runs a hand over his dark curls, then puts it back on again. “Probably because I disregarded anyone’s needs but my own. But you were there for her. Not romantically like she wanted at the time, but you were a friend when I wasn’t.”

Tristan sticks out his hand and the two of them shake. “I appreciate that,” Tristan says. “And I was wrong about those things I said⁠—”

Walker grimaces. “No, you weren’t.”

Tristan leans his head from one side to the other. “Maybe not all of them, but some were definitely uncalled for. And I’m sorry.”

Walker lifts his chin in acknowledgment, and they drop their hands. Then, in sync, their gazes turn to me.

“I’m not going to lie,” I say, glancing between them. “That was the cutest bro apology I’ve ever seen.”

Tristan chuckles, and Walker gestures to the notebook in my hand. “Why don’t you jot it down in there? You can use it for one of your books.”

“I honestly might have to.”

Walker looks at Tristan. “Have you gotten a glimpse inside one of her top-secret notebooks yet? Because, at least when she was younger, you made countless appearances. And there were Capri Palmer signatures all over those pages.”

My mouth gapes open. “You looked in my notebooks?”

“What?” He lifts his hands at his side. “You literally left them everywhere in our house, Capri. Trust me, I didn’t want to see half the stuff I saw in there.”

Tristan laughs. “I did glimpse a few of those signatures once.”

My gaze flies to him. “When?”

“Right before our sunset boat ride, you dropped your notebook.”

“But it was closed.”

Tristan grins. “When I handed it back it was.”

A blush seeps into my cheeks, though I have no idea why. It's not like he doesn't know how obsessed with him I was. How obsessed with him I still am.

“The only problem was I didn’t know which Palmer brother you were crushing on at the time. I secretly hoped it was me, but Beau’s a hard one to compete with.” I wonder if that’s why he asked me about Beau on the boat that day and on our bike ride home from the lighthouse. I have a sudden urge to tease him, but when I open my mouth, Tristan points at me. “Don’t say it.”

I give an innocent smile as though I have no clue what he’s talking about.

“Are you guys coming?” Tala calls from the door, and Tristan takes a few backwards steps, still eyeing me before he turns and starts toward her.

His long strides make quick work of the distance. “Capri said to start eating. She and Walker will be in soon.”

Tala nods, letting Tristan through to the kitchen and then shutting the door behind them.