She let the barb roll off her back and checked her phone. Where were her parents? “I’m meeting someone, so if you don’t mind . . .”

“What happened to us, Louisa?” Eric asked. “I thought we were really great together.”

Why did he want to talk about their relationship now? Weren’t they past analyzing it?

Louisa watched the entrance of the restaurant with intensity, as if she could will her parents into existence. “We were great together until I realized you didn’t believe in me.”

He frowned. “That’s insane. I was your biggest fan. I still am.”

She shook her head slightly. “I’m going to go call my parents. They’re late.”

Eric lifted a hand to stop her from standing. “I’ll go. I just miss you, is all.”

Not even the hint of a flutter.

At that precise moment, Warren and JoEllen Chambers appeared in the doorway of the restaurant and rushed over to greet them.

“Oh, Eric, you’re here again.” Louisa’s mom swooned. “Do you ever stop working?” Then to Louisa: “He is such a hard worker, Louisa. Don’t you think?”

Louisa didn’t respond. Instead, she watched as her parents embraced Eric like he was their long-lost son. Did they remember she was sitting there and they’d yet to see her since they returned to the island? Some daughters might expect a hug. She knew better.

Her mom finally (finally!) sat down next to Louisa, but her dad still stood next to Eric as if they were old friends. They were talking about golf or some such nonsense, and Louisa was itching to run straight back home.

Why had she agreed to this lunch?

“Louisa, Eric has some great ideas on how to make your business legitimate,” her father said.

“I’m sorry?”

“A business manager might not be a bad idea.”

“He’s a hotel manager. Not a business manager.” Louisa’s stomach churned. Could she leave without appearing too rude? “And I think Alyssa and I are doing pretty well for ourselves.”

“Of course,” her dad said. “It’s just a thought.”

“I’ll leave you to your meal,” Eric said. He turned to Louisa. “Maybe we can get coffee sometime? Catch up?”

Louisa mumbled a response and Eric walked away.

“Such a nice young man, Louisa,” her mother said. “I still don’t understand why you ended things with him.”

“No, I don’t suppose you would,” Louisa said.

“I beg your pardon?”

Louisa inhaled. She didn’t need to have an argument with her mother. While she wished her parents—and Eric, for that matter—would view her as an adult, an intelligent adult who was perfectly capable of running her own business, they didn’t. The only way to change that was to act like an adult. And that meant not throwing a tantrum or lugging around her childish feelings.