Page 91 of Only You

“Don’t, Alex. Why did you have to walk up to me outside the flower shop that day?” She slowly shook her head as a tear fell down her cheek. “Just leave me alone.” She turned and walked away.

“Hannah?” I shouted. “Jesus Christ,” I mumbled, rubbing my forehead.

After the wedding, Lucy and I headed home.

“It’s late. You better get some sleep,” I said to Lucy when we stepped inside the house.

“Okay. Night, Dad.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

I poured myself a scotch and took it down to the beach. Sitting in the sand, I listened to the roar of the waves as they crashed against the shore.

“Alex, do you think you’ll ever leave Harbor Falls when you’re older?”

“Nah. Why would I do that?” I asked Athena as we sat in the sand, staring at the ocean.

“Do you promise you’ll never leave?”

“Yeah, I promise. Where is all this coming from?”

“Now that Dad is gone, it’s just the three of us. Mom will need us to help her. We’re all she has.”

“Don’t worry, sis.” I hooked my arm around her. “This town is our legacy. One day, we’ll run it together. You and me—the Harbor siblings.”

“We’ll find our soulmates here, get married, and start our own families.” She smiled.

Tears streamed down my face as I finished my scotch. “I’m so sorry, Athena.”

CHAPTER 31

Alex

I sat behind my desk with the chair turned, facing the window, staring across at the flower shop. Each day that passed hurt a little more. I heard my office door open, so I turned around.

“Excuse me, Alex. Shaun Kind and Asher Remington are here.”

“Excellent. Send them in,” I said, standing up from my seat. “Shaun.” I smiled.

“It’s good to see you again, Alex.” We lightly hugged. “You remember Asher Remington.”

“Asher, it’s good to see you.” I extended my hand.

“It’s good to see you too, Alex.” He placed his hand in mine.

“Have a seat.” I gestured.

“This is a beautiful town. I can honestly say I’m shocked that I’ve never been here,” Asher said.

“Thanks. It can be a paradise for some people.” I smiled. “So, are you two ready to take a ride to the future home of Athena Harbor?”

“We certainly are.” Shaun grinned.

After grabbing the canister with the plans, we hopped into my Mercedes, and I drove out to the land. I took the plans out and spread them across the hood of my SUV. Shaun and Asher looked them over while I took a call from Owen.

“What’s up, Owen?” I answered.

“Hal Cummings is backing out of the property deal.”