Page 143 of Just Another Summer Crush
“Hell of a life,” she says back.
“Can I ask you something?” I ask.
“You can always ask. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“Did you know who Dyson was?”
She sips her champagne, and the last sliver of daylight catches her face. “The moment he walked through that door.”
“How?”
“Honey, I have my ways.” She takes another sip.
“Gran!”
“I’m seventy-two, not dead. I know how to use the internet and hire people to find out things for me.” She swirls her glass. “I saw who he was and who he could be for Wendy, and I decided to keep that information to myself.”
“For theentiresummer? That might be a record for you.”
“Longest secret I’ve ever kept, and that includes your grandfather’s surprise party in 1989, which nearly gave me an ulcer.”
I loop my arm through hers, and the warm water washes over our feet.
“You’re still leaving?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “But I’ll come back and visit often, especially considering my sister is married to Dyson fucking Banks.”
She doesn’t react right away. She finishes her sip and watches the horizon. “You’ve had one foot off this island since you were sixteen, honey. I’ve been waiting for you to use the other one.”
“I love it here. But I need to find out who I am somewhere that isn’t home. Wendy found herself by coming back, and I think I have to find myself by leaving.”
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said in years.” She squeezes my arm. “Does your sister know?”
“I’m going to tell her after all this excitement.”
“Good idea. She’ll cry, but she’ll understand. Sometimes, little birdies have to use their wings.” She pats my hand. “But you’d better call me several times per month, or I’m sending Lucille to check on you. Still staying with Blaire in Colorado?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m really excited about it.”
The music picks up behind us, and I glance back at the reception.
Dyson and Wendy are swaying together under the lights, off-beat as always because the Coconut Crush kills inhibitions. He whispers something in her ear, and she laughs. The sound carries across the beach to where I’m standing.
“You think I’ll find that?” I ask.
Gran smiles. “Without a doubt. Just don’t fall for the first good-looking guy who gives you attention. Bust some balls first.”
Laughter falls from my lips, and I pull Gran into a hug. “I love you. I’m so glad you’re my grandma.”
“Aww, sweetie. I love you too.”
We let go of one another and walk back to the party.
My sister found the thing that most people spend their whole lives chasing. She found it in the last place she expected—home.
I grab a Coconut Crush from the bar. The stars are out now, scattered across the sky as if someone threw a handful of diamonds across it.
Fallon walks over and orders a drink.
“What should we toast to?” she asks, smirking.
“To living the sweet life,” I say with a smile.
THE END
