Cody and Louisa were both born on July 30. Their mothers were certain it was a sign. Of what, they never explained, but their births cemented a friendship that was meant to last a lifetime.

They’d all been coming to Nantucket since college. Daniel and Warren worked as caddies at the golf course while JoEllen put Marissa up in her family’s cottage. The girls waited tables for extra money, but even Cody knew work wasn’t why any of them chose the island as their summer destination. It was an escape—a vacation. And it became the place all four of them returned to even after they were grown.

It was clear that both of these families were destined to live and breathe and play on Nantucket. It was in their blood.

But that was before, of course. Before everything—everything—went wrong.

“Boggs, you’re distracted,” the chief said. “I’m sending you home. I’m sure you’ve got unpacking to do.”

Cody couldn’t deny he was distracted, not without lying anyway. But the thought of going home to bare walls and unpacked boxes sucked the life right out of him.

“I’m fine, Master Chief.”

“Why don’t you go check on Miss Chambers?”

“What?” The man had his full attention now.

“Listen, I’m not going to get into it all now, Boggs, but the Coast Guard could use a win or two. I’m going to let it slide that you left the deck of your ship to go in after that woman, but only because it’s already helping build morale around here and because it’s got the community talking. Let’s keep the momentum of this going. I want the people on this island to know us, to love us, to respect us. Then maybe they’ll wear life vests when they’re out paddleboarding.”

Cody eyed the other man. “What aren’t you telling me, Master Chief?”

“I want to make our presence on this island known,” he said. “That’s all.”

“But that’s not all,” Cody said. “Why do these boys need a morale boost, and why are we working so hard to look good in this community?”

“That’s not an uncommon goal,” Duncan said. “We’ll go over everything else later, when you’re actually listening. Now go check in with Miss Chambers. It’s the right thing to do.”

Cody didn’t try hard enough to stifle a groan.

Duncan’s eyebrow quirked and the man shifted in his seat. “Problem?”

“I don’t know that Lou—Miss Chambers will welcome a visit from me.”