Page 37 of Coastal Rewind

“Is this us?” I choked out, tears welling in my eyes.

He nodded eagerly with a bright smile.

I blew out a breath. I wasn’t prepared for this when I woke up. I placed the card on the counter and reached into the gift bag until my fingers dusted on a little velvet box. I took it out and popped it open. This time I let the tears fall.

Inside the box was a gold necklace with a small compass charm attached. The compass had a diamond in the center and was inlaid in a green pearl-like stone. I snapped the box closed and placed it down.

“Thank you,” I whispered, wiping my eyes. I couldn’t tell you the last time I received a present on my birthday. I knew it was my fault because I was the one who created the distance with my family, but this still made my heart ache in a way it hadn’t in years.

Mason walked up and pulled me into his hard chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist and just breathed him in for a second. He rested his chin on my head as I closed my eyes. We stood there for a beat too long, probably, because MJ cleared his throat and announced that breakfast was served.

A few hours later, I was sitting on a lounge chair on the back patio reading my book when Mason flopped onto the chair next to mine. I peered over my book but didn’t close it as he coughed, vying for my attention.

I dropped my book on my lap and peered over my sunglasses. “Can I help you?”

He smiled at me in a way that made butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“You actually can. You see, I have this problem. There is a girl who lives in my house and it’s her birthday, yet I don’t know if she has plans tonight.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m having dinner with Owen.”

“You don’t sound very excited.” He arched a brow at me.

I shrugged. “I don’t love my birthday like most people do. I haven’t even been home for a birthday in years.”

“I get that,” he said, sitting back on the lounge and stretching his feet out in front of him. “I haven’t been home on my birthday in three years. We’re always on the road.”

“That must be tough,” I said, mimicking his position on my own chair. The sun was beating down and my skin was tingling. I wasn’t sure if it was from the heat or from Mason’s close proximity, but I felt this need to get closer like he was a drug and I needed my next hit.

He looked over at me with a soft smile. “It doesn’t really matter because as soon as I got home, MJ was here ready to celebrate. It didn’t matter what day it was. To him, it was my birthday.”

“He’s a good kid,” I said softly.

“He is, but the point I am trying to make is that your birthday is only a day just like every other day. What matters is the people who are around to celebrate you when you’re ready to receive it.”

I let his words sink in for a moment. He managed to see right through me, even though we’d only known each other a few months.

“How’d you get so wise, Mason Saxley?”

He shrugged. “I was just born this way. I think it’s genetic.”

I barked out a laugh and glanced at my phone. “I should probably start getting ready. Owen will be here to pick me up soon.” I stood and started walking toward the sliding door. When I glanced over my shoulder, Mason was staring in my direction. His eyes were full of heat, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sway my hips a little harder as I walked inside.

Maybe the girls were right. Maybe there was nothing wrong with having a little bit of fun this summer.

I glanced in the mirror and fluffed my hair, not recognizing the girl looking back at me. I was in a strapless green dress with an A-line skirt that hit my mid-thigh. The skirt was flowy and flared out as I twirled around. I had black, red-bottom stilettos on and my hair was down in messy curls.

This outfit was incredibly unlike me, but Maeve had dropped it off earlier with strict instructions to wear it to dinner. Maeve was always doing this type of thing; she glorified herself as the family stylist. I knew it meant a lot to her to finally be able to dress me so I sucked it up and put on the fancy outfit.

When I walked out into the living room, Mason was waiting with MJ like my own little send-off committee.

“You look so pretty,” MJ said with a huge smile.

“Thanks, little man. It feels like a bit much for dinner.” I glanced over at Mason whose gaze was fixed on my collarbone. I reached up and rubbed the compass charm in between my fingers.

“You look beautiful,” he said in a husky tone, his eyes trailing up to mine.

“Thank you,” I responded softly. My phone buzzed in my hand and I glanced down to see Owen’s text that he was outside. I gestured to the door. “My ride is here.”