Page 23 of Coastal Rewind

Owen grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his middle as a single traitorous tear fell down my cheek.

“I’m sorry you’ve been going through this alone all these years. You should have told us,” he whispered.

I scoffed and pushed off his chest. “Oh, please. You should’ve seen the look on Dad’s face when he found out. It was like he was watching his wife die all over again. I couldn’t put that look in my siblings’ eyes, too.”

“Are you going to tell them before they cut you open?” He gestured into the house where we could see the rest of my siblings laughing around the dining room table through the massive window on the back of the house.

“I will. After Keegan has her baby.” I turned on my heel and started walking toward the house. I was over this conversation and I knew Owen would make some big speech about putting others above myself and being open with the family…blah, blah, blah.

He said the same thing when I told him about my diagnosis years ago, but he didn’t understand. This was my burden. No one else’s.

I pulled open the patio doors and was nearly knocked over with an oomph as little arms wrapped around my legs.

“Hey, Ryleigh.” MJ beamed up at me.

I smiled down at the ball of energy, before saying through a laugh, “Hey, little man.”

ten

Ryleigh

MJ peeled himself off my legs to run over to Nolan who was waiting for him with open arms. I wasn’t sure what Nolan and Maggie’s plans were, but one day Nolan was going to be an incredible dad.

MJ giggled as Nolan scooped him up and carried him out to the pool. The rest of my siblings followed suit, and our normal, casual Sunday dinner turned into a lively pool party in seconds.

I was sitting on the edge of the pool with my feet in the water when a chilled glass bottle appeared in front of me. I shielded my eyes from the sun and glanced up to see Mason hovering above me.

“Keegan said you like these, I hope it’s okay.”

I smiled and took the bottle from his outstretched hand. The moment our fingers touched, electricity buzzed under my skin. “Thank you,” I said softly.

Mason took a seat next to me and let his feet sink into the water.

“So, what are your plans for the summer?” he asked, taking a sip from the bottle in his hand as he leaned back on his opposite palm.

I shrugged. “I’m not really sure. I’m going to head east to see some friends in Nevada. Then maybe venture toward New York and see where I land.”

“So, no definite plans?”

I met his eyes and arched a brow. “Not definite, no. I never really do definite.”

He nodded, taking another sip from the glass bottle. “Cool, cool.”

“Are you okay?” I asked with a laugh. Mason was a lot of things but jumpy and awkward didn’t usually make the list.

His gaze shot to mine and his eyes widened. “Me? I’m good. Great, even.”

“Oh, good. As long as you’re great.” I reached down and dipped my hand into the pool before splashing water right into his face.

Mason burst into laughter and wiped the dripping water off his jaw.

“Okay, okay. Feel free to say no to this, okay?” he started, clearly anxious. “MJ really loved spending time with you, and my parents extended their cruise for a few more months…which means I’m without a nanny for the entire summer. I was hoping if you had no plans that you might, maybe, possibly consider moving into my house and watching my son until September?”

I froze, staring at the beautiful man in front of me as I processed the word vomit that just erupted from his mouth. After a few solid beats, I managed to ask, “You want me to be your nanny for the summer?”

He nodded, rubbing his lips together nervously. I’d never seen Mason Saxley nervous—and I was really enjoying it. It was as if this humanized him from being the perfect specimen he was portrayed as in the media.

Mason was attractive. Every time I’d been around the man since the first time we met a few years ago, my body reacted to him in a way that I didn’t think I was capable of. But we’d never really spent that much time together, just us. Until recently, I’d only seen him in group settings. The few interactions we’d had he was funny, and charming, and caring, and the exact opposite of what I thought he’d be.