Brightest (Brighter #2) Read online

  My phone rang. Setting down a picture frame I’d been gazing at, I picked it up and looked at the screen. Mom. She’d been calling a lot lately.

  “Hey, Mom,” I answered, falling onto the futon in the living room. There was a new blanket on it, a lumpy afghan Nora had thrown on it.

  “Hi, honey.” The connection hiccupped, like she was in a place with bad reception. “How’re you doing?”

  Same as yesterday, Mom. “I’m great. Hanging pictures. Moving plants around.”

  “Nervous about tonight?”

  “Not really.” My first shift at Larsen’s started in a couple of hours. Ivy was showing me the ropes behind the bar, but I’d be upstairs, mostly.

  “You’ll do fine.” She cleared her throat. “Just make sure you’re upfront with your feelings. Don’t let Jude act up just because he’s your boss.”

  I bristled, biting my tongue so I didn’t say something rude. She spoke from experience, I knew, but I wasn’t her. We made—had always made—different choices. “I won’t, Mom.”

  “Okay, I just—”

  “He’s downstairs at the bar; I’m upstairs in the restaurant. Two different worlds,” I said, same as I’d said the last time we’d had this conversation. “Ivy’s training me tonight in case of emergencies only.”

  “Okay.”

  “How’s Adam?”

  “Fine. He went to a movie with Lila.”

  “The cheerleader?”

  “She’s sweet,” Mom said, laughing. “Adam’s head over heels.”

  “Are you bringing him when you come down?” I asked, trying not to get my hopes up. My younger brother was a pain in the ass, but I loved him to pieces. He’d adore St. Croix.

  Mom sighed. “I’d love to, you know that, but it all depends on your father. If he’ll spring for the ticket, then sure.”

  “I’ll buy Adam’s ticket.” The words were out before I could consider them, but I meant them.

  “Alina…”

  “I want to.” I thought of Theo, how money was just a tool for him. I wasn’t at that point just yet, but I could do this one small thing. “He should come, regardless of whether or not Dad can get his shit together.”

  “Hey.”

  “Sorry,” I said, but I wasn’t. Not for telling it like it was.

  “When was the last time you spoke to him?”

  “Who, Dad?” Outside, the flamboyant tree danced and swayed, dropping petals like confetti. “Last week. Right before I flew down.”

  “He wanted to see you.”

  “He didn’t try too hard.” I sat up, antsy to move. “Mom, it’s fine. I have no expectations when it comes to him. But Adam’s different. I don’t want Dad to let him down.”

  “I know, honey.” She paused, and I knew she was choosing her words. I hated that she felt she needed to walk on eggshells around me when it came to my father, but I couldn’t help how I felt. “I love you so much.”

  Something in me softened. “I love you, too.”

  “I’m proud of you.”

  “Okay.” I closed my eyes, smiling. “Thanks.”

  “I don’t want you to hate your dad, though, okay?”

  My eyes popped open.

  “He loves you,” she said quietly. “He loves both of you. He’s awful at showing it, but he does.”

  That was probably true, but I’d learned not to pay attention to such things over the years. Some people just couldn’t be depended on. You could know them, and like them, and maybe even love them, but there were boundaries. And that was fine, there were other people in my life I could count on. People like my mom, Caroline, and Theo. Jude. And myself—my mother had raised me to count on me, and I was grateful that she had.

  Still, I didn’t want to stress Mom out any more than she already was. My leaving Miami had done enough of a number on her. “I know, Mom.”

  “I’ll let you go, but let’s talk soon, okay? Give Jude my love.”

  “I will.” I smirked. Jude had won my mother over during our time apart, sending flowers and presents and postcards, always calling and texting. She wasn’t used to attentive men like that.

  Neither was I.

  ~

  “Jude will drop you home, right?” Nora asked, leaning across the minivan’s console. Baby Silas waved his chubby fists, screeching his disapproval from the back.

  “Right,” I said, shutting the door. I blew a kiss through the open window. “Thanks for the ride, Mom!”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Laughing, she rolled her eyes. “Good luck!”

  She pulled away from the curb, joining the steady stream of traffic leaving town. I made my way to the boardwalk, waving to a pair of shop owners I hadn’t seen in forever.

  Ivy was behind the bar when I showed up. “As I live and breathe!” she shrieked, escaping the bar for a hug. She’d missed my surprise party, having been in Boston visiting family with her sister Ariel, so this was our reunion. “Alina!”

  “Hey, Ivy!” I cried, squeezing her as hard as she was squeezing me.

  “You need some sun.” She shook her head, giving me the once-over. “I missed you more than I thought I would.”

  “Aww, I missed you too.”

  We made our way down the hall behind the main part of the bar, where Jude had his office. “Did he say anything about clocking in? I don’t know if you’re on the schedule…”

  “No, he just told me to be here by four.”

  Ivy knocked and then let herself in, clearing her throat.

  My heart gave a little jump when I saw Jude behind the desk, even though we spent most nights together. I gave him a little wave. “Hi.”

  He rose, smiling a little as his eyes snagged on the hem of my shorts. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” echoed Ivy, snorting. “So, how are we doing this? Is she gonna clock in tonight?”

  “Don’t worry about it for now,” he said, his eyes finding mine again. “I haven’t had the time. I’ll add her to the system later.”

  “Cool,” Ivy said, already on her way back out. “I’ll be out front, Alina.”

  The moment she was gone I met Jude in the middle of the room. “Thanks for the employment opportunities,” I said, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek.

  “Any time.”

  “You staying in here all night?”

  “I’m finishing up on payroll.” He ran his hands over my ass. “I’m a little behind because someone’s been distracting me.”

  Back out by the bar, things were slow—typical for a Tuesday, according to Ivy. We chatted as we wiped spills, rang up orders, and served drinks; Maggie and Ivy teaching me how to make cocktails. I kind of sucked at it but pouring draft beer was easy enough.

  “Not too bad, right?” asked Ivy, as our one large group of the evening disappeared onto the boardwalk.

  I shook my head. “Not as long as I leave the fancy drinks to you.”

  She winked, sipping the rum and Coke we were sharing. “Jude just wants to make sure you’re comfortable back here in case it gets crazy.”

  And it would, too. There’d been nights at Larsen’s when the crowd was so thick you couldn’t even see the bar.

  “So, he told me you guys were going into business.” I plopped a lime into our drink. “Wedding planning, right?”

  “Event planning…including weddings.” She shrugged. “I’ve always loved planning parties, you know? I wanted to get into it right after college, but it wasn’t the right time,” she said, topping up our drink.

  I glanced around, wondering if Jude minded drinking on the job. Probably not, considering Bodhi and the cooks’ shenanigans upstairs. “How did you get into it?”

  “Ariel and I worked for a caterer while we were in college. It was hard work, but we talked about having our own business all the time—how fun it would be to plan events for a living.”

  “Very cool,” I said. It was easy to imagine pretty, charismatic Ivy—and yes, even her snotty twin sister—as professional party planners. “What made you decide to go for it now?” />
  “Our friend, Jolie. We went to UMass together, worked at that same catering company. She’s been working in event planning the past couple years, so she knows the ropes.”

  “And she’s moving down?”

  Ivy nodded. “Mid-August.”

  “Good for her. I’m all for leaving the states and following your dreams,” I joked, raising our glass in a goofy cheer. “Cheers!”

  “Cheers!” Ivy swiped a pair of empty beer bottles from the counter, tapping one against the glass. “Anyway, it’s all Ariel can talk about—she’s already ordered business cards. We’re operating out of the condo for now.”

  “That’s cool,” I lied, leaning back. “Is she already back?”

  “Yup. She moved her stuff in right before we left for Boston.”

  Ivy was one of my favorite people, but I wasn’t thrilled to hear her twin was back. Ariel could be such a bitch. I understood why there were bad vibes—she and Jude had history—but they’d never been official. What happened between Jude and I had nothing to do with her, no matter how messily it’d all gone down.

  She’d been living in St. Thomas for the better part of a year, and I’d naively hoped she’d just stay there forever, but she was back. Hopefully, she’d learned to put her claws away.

  “How’s that going?”

  “Fine. She’s dating someone,” Ivy said. “This guy she met at Tommy’s birthday party a couple weeks ago.”

  Tommy was one of Jude’s old friends. I liked him and his wife, Raquel, a lot; they’d always made me feel like I was a part of the group. I remembered Jude talking about Tommy’s birthday one night when we were on the phone—apparently Ivy and Ariel had been there, too. I forgot, sometimes, they were friends with a lot of the same people as Jude.

  An ember of jealousy crackled through me. I hated thinking of Jude going out by himself during the months we’d been apart. Maybe Ariel had a boyfriend now, but I had no doubt she’d used the time I was gone to hang with Jude whenever possible. I knew girls like her, and that was usually how they rolled.

  Jude appeared at the end of the bar, greeting someone who’d just walked in. His eyes met mine for a moment, long enough for me to see the way he looked at me.

  The little flare of jealousy died. None of that other stuff mattered. Jude and I had chosen each other, and anyway…I was back.

  Chapter Three

  Leatherback nesting season started a few weeks before I returned to St. Croix. Despite having an open invitation to go down to Sandy Point with Nora, who went religiously, I didn’t go right away. There was plenty of time for that and right now, all I wanted to do was take it easy and be with Jude. We stayed nights at his place, making love on the couch or in his bed or in the shower, or we spent them at my place, having dinner with Eli, Nora, and the kids before holing up in my apartment to Netflix and chill.

  When Jude was working, I usually was too, taking tables upstairs at Larsen’s. We spent days off together, diving and fishing, and strolling through town like tourists. Sometimes we rode his bike, exploring back roads and shortcuts, but usually we took the Jeep, windows down and music up. “They have good chicken,” he’d say, pointing to some place in a strip mall or on the side of the road, and we’d pull over and get some. Sometimes it was pates, or fish, or johnny cakes…or full plates of food. Other times, bakeries with fresh butter bread and tarts.

  My skin was forever-tan, my heart as full as my belly.

  Eventually, though, I missed the dark shine of a moonlit sea, the salty tang of its air. It was almost like homesickness, craving the camaraderie of a common goal and witnessed miracles. And so, two weeks before my classes started, I met Nora on the porch as she came out one night.

  “Got room for one more?” I asked, handing her a thermos of hot tea.

  “I was wondering when you’d peel yourself from Larsen,” she said, accepting my offering with a smirk. “You ready?”

  Now we were at Sandy Point with several others, watching leatherbacks lug themselves onto shore, their huge bodies leaving trails in the sand. We talked quietly as we jotted notes, switching spots every now and then. It felt good to be where I was needed, recognizing old friends in the dark, whispering greetings.

  Jude texted around eleven, asking if I wanted him to come by the beach.

  Of course I do, I replied. But that’s a trek.

  It took him a minute, but he responded. It’s on the way.

  Sandy Point is on no one’s way.

  It’s on mine. Coming now.

  By the time Jude strode silently onto the sand, his shoes in one hand and car keys in the other, I’d started yawning. It had been a while since I’d done field work like this, and though I loved it, I needed to recondition myself. He dropped beside me, wiggling in between Nora and me.

  “Hey,” I whispered, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

  “Hey.” The breeze ruffled his hair, and he smiled. “How’s it going tonight?”

  “Good.” We leaned against one another, turtle watching for a moment. “How was it downtown?”

  “Slow as shit. I told Ivy to go home.”

  St. Croix during the summer was a far cry from St. Croix during the holidays, which was when I’d left. It was especially noticeable in Christiansted, during the weeknights. People who’d been on island forever were used to it and responded accordingly, keeping shorter store hours and sparser inventories.

  I yawned into my arm. “Not too much action here tonight, either. I have to make sure I’m coming down here regularly if I want good notes.” Not that I minded. Besides being with Jude, few things were better than hanging on a beach at night, watching sea turtles do their thing.

  “Maybe I’ll start patrolling on Thursdays again,” he said. “As long as Ivy or Miles watch the bar.”

  I yawned again, nodding.

  “Want to head out soon?” Jude cupped his hand around the back of my neck, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

  “Yeah.” I closed my eyes, softening beneath his touch. “Okay.”

  “You sure?” Leaning closer, he pressed his lips to my ear. “I don’t mean to distract you.”

  “Yes, you do.” I caught his mouth, kissing him. “I don’t mind.”

  He stood, brushing sand from his butt as I leaned against Nora. “I’m gonna go,” I whispered, sliding my arm over her slender shoulders.

  She nodded, yawning. “I’m just about done, too.”

  “Want us to wait?”

  “I’ll walk back with the others,” she said. “Drive safe.”

  Collecting my things, we eased from the nesting sites, careful not to disturb the turtle mamas. They could be skittish at times. Making our way back to the parking lot, hands clasped between us, I squinted up at the sliver-moon. It was quiet and dark here at night, almost creepy, and I was relieved when the cars came into view. Jude opened my door, stopping me before I ducked inside. Bending down, he kissed me, soft and wet, and I gave myself to it, sliding my tongue across his, shivering when he slipped his hands down over my ass, squeezing. “My place or yours?”

  “How about mine?” I climbed into the passenger seat. “I have some of those cupcakes you like.”

  He smirked, shutting the door and coming around. “Cupcakes, huh?” he asked, starting the Jeep.

  I nodded, remembering the mess Sydney and Sadie had made in my kitchen. “Chocolate and vanilla and a couple with swirls.”

  We rattled up the dirt road and back onto Melvin Evans Highway, trading pothole and rocks for asphalt. “So, Caroline called me earlier.”

  “What’s she up to these days?”

  “You know she and Jeremiah have been on and off for months,” I said, wrinkling my nose. After their epic breakup over the holidays, Caroline had lasted maybe one month before giving her ex another chance. They’d never been rockier.

  Jude glanced at me. “I remember. They working it out?”

  “She found out he’s been messing around with not just one b
ut like two other girls.”

  “Wow.” Jude shook his head. “Player, player.”

  “He’s an asshole.”

  We stopped at a light. “Never said he wasn’t. So, what’s she gonna do?”

  Caroline was easy on the eyes and smart as a whip; why she’d given this loser so many chances was beyond me. “She wants to come back down,” I said, sipping my soda. “She wanted to come before my classes started, but she can’t get time off work until September.”