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across the street. I’m new. They’re new.”
    She laughed. “Skylar, it was just a joke. Lighten up.”
    I stroked Owen’s mound of soft hair. “It’s not my fault two guys moved in. They could’ve just as easily been girls.”
    “I don’t notice you talking to Chase very often.”
    “He’s got a girlfriend.”
    The corners of Abbie’s mouth quirked up.
    “And what I mean by that is he’s busier.”
    Still Abbie smiled.
    I groaned. “Shut up.”
    “I’m not saying anything.”
    “Well, stop thinking what you’re thinking.”
    “You’re so touchy. If a guy like Justin noticed me, I’d be way more excited than you are.” Her face flickered with a frown. “Of course, we both know my days of that are over.”
    “Guys notice you. Hello, Chris Ross? Your boyfriend?” “That’s because he knew me before. If he met me now, he’d never be interested.” Abbie squeezed one of Owen’s fat bare feet. “But that’s okay.”
    I drew him into my lap. “Why don’t you go hang at the beach for a while? I can watch Owen.”
    Abbie looked toward the ocean. “Yeah?”
    “Sure. The sand is way nicer than this.” I gestured to Grammy and Papa’s lean lawn. “When does he eat again?”
    “Around ten. There’s a bottle in the fridge.” She beamed at me as she stood. “Thanks. I’ll just grab a towel and magazine and go.”
    Halfway to the door, she turned, her face serious. “Connor called your cell earlier. I told him you couldn’t talk.”
    “Why’d you answer my phone?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Why’d you leave it on my bed?”
    “Not so you could jabber with everyone who called.”
    “I think you should talk to him.”
    “I didn’t ask your opinion.”
    “He can’t hurt you way out here.”
    “Unless he called to say he’s dating Jodi.”
    “I’ve seen him with Jodi. It’s nothing like the way he is with you.”
    I had a love/hate relationship with these kinds of comments from Abbie. While nice to hear, they made resisting Connor so much harder.
    When I didn’t answer, Abbie lifted her shoulders in a mild shrug. “Whatever. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
    Ha. More and more, it felt like I never would.

    Mom and Grammy returned from their trip to the grocery store just as I laid Owen down for a nap in the room he, Abbie, and I shared.
    Grammy greeted me. “Justin came by looking for you this morning. Did he find you, princess?”
    I nodded.
    Her eyes twinkled. “He ask you out yet?”
    “Mom . . .” my mom said with a sigh.
    “What? We can all tell he likes her. I don’t understand what he’s waiting for.”
    “Maybe to know her longer than a week.”
    “Your father asked me to marry him two months after we met. Two months .”
    “Well, you’re unusual.” Mom piled mangoes in the fruit bowl. “And we’re not looking to marry Skylar off this summer, okay? Keep that in mind after we’re gone.”
    Grammy ignored this and looked around the living room, kitchen, and dining room. “Where’s Abbie?” Her voice lilted with suspicion, as if Abbie could be running around getting pregnant as we stood there.
    I popped a grape in my mouth. “She’s at the beach.”
    Grammy’s brow furrowed. “By herself?”
    “Well, Dad and Papa are still at the golf course, you guys were at the store, and she can’t take Owen. He’d be miserable in the sun.”
    “It’s good for her to have a break,” Mom said. “That was nice of you, Skylar.”
    Grammy’s jaw clenched as if she completely disagreed, but she surprised me by keeping quiet about it.
    When Grammy turned her back to put away bread, Mom winked at me and I smiled. It’d been years since Mom and I got along so well. Kinda made me sad that in a few days they’d leave, and it’d be just me, grumpy Papa, and meddling, suffocating Grammy.

6
    He happened to call at a moment when I was thinking about him, missing him. That’s why I answered.
    “Oh. Hi,” Connor said.
    “Were you expecting someone else?” I