HIS FIRST DAY back at work was monotonous, but he would much rather have mopped floors and directed children to see jellyfish than sit another day at Grandma Ruby’s. He spent the first few hours thinking of Manny’s recent proposition to head to Myrtle Beach the week after Chloe’s church dance. Did he want to go to South Carolina? Manny had argued there would be plenty of beach babes and beer. Manny had a distant cousin who could hook them up with anything they wanted or needed. Manny sounded thrilled.
Pleased his best friend asked, Joel wasn’t sure if he really wanted to go. Plus, his family could use the money he’d make in a full week at the aquarium. If he went to Myrtle Beach, the truth was that he’d probably blow a lot of his funds. But then again, the truth remained that he could say sayonara to the town for a week, and get away from the volatile household he’d leave in his wake. Juliet was wearing thin like paper, between her job and the social stigmas surrounding Breezewater women. She had to be at every event while working a full schedule and finding time to raise two children and teach a Sunday school class. Joel had seen his father once since their last run-in, in which the tension was so palpable Joel almost felt the truth simmer from his lips. However, he kept his promise to keep it rammed down. Plus, he still hoped Sarah’s information was faulty, and that in reality, Sofia was not related to him in any way. But why else would Sarah have known after being told by her parents? Why had her parents restricted them from seeing one another?
He was in the midst of a spiel on pufferfish when a familiar face appeared, her tawny hair spilling down her back, her eyes livid. She was as hot as ever, this woman; Brie Fraser was like a dream. A real life dream.
But she wasn’t Joel’s dream.
Brie flashed him a killer smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was gorgeous, but her normal sweetness was replaced by something Joel hadn’t seen her wear: jealousy. She fiddled with a string hanging from her blouse as she stood at the edge of the daycare crowd. Reminiscent of when Sarah had first visited that day weeks ago, looking like his dream, Joel and Brie stared each other down. Memories pained them both: for Brie, there was love involved; for Joel, embarrassment and guilt.
A few moments later, much like weeks ago, Joel handed the crowd to his coworker and diligently walked to his ex-girlfriend. For the first time, he saw the sorrow of heartbreak in her eyes, and this saddened him.
“Is it true you’re dating Sarah Towson?”
Joel stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“You left me for Sarah Towson?”
“Who’s spreading this rumor?”
“Rumors sometimes prove to be true. I wanted to hear it from you. That you didn’t leave me for Sarah Towson.”
“Why does it matter?”
A few tears splattered down her cheeks. Joel regretted his brash tone. “I’m sorry. I just… I liked you, Joel. A lot. And you broke up with me over dinner. Do I need to remind you what you said? ‘We need to sever our umbilical cord.’ That’s the coldest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Brie, I’m sorry.”
Brie shook her head so that her lemon-scented hair touched him. He didn’t realize she was standing so close, and he backed a few inches away. This troubled her, and she croaked, “Why are you doing this, Joel?”
“What am I doing?”
“You give me the world, and then you leave me for another girl.”
Joel shrugged, but the aphorism struck him in the dark part of his mind. He closed his eyes and imagined a strip of beach, somewhere hot and languid. He laid on a towel, soaking up the sun. No one was around, no one to give him hell. He had a surfboard and a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
“Brie, I’m sorry.”
“Well, sorry doesn’t cut it. My aunt went to your girlfriend’s house. She said they were talking about you, and Sarah was embarrassed when they mentioned your name. So there. I feel terrible about saying it, but if she’s embarrassed to even hear your name, what do you think she really thinks about you?”