“I know, right? But there’s no way Finley could have planned this. She couldn’t have known.”

“No,” Taylor agrees. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not fate.”

They quickly load a tote bag with bottles of water, sunscreen, towels, and all of Taylor’s cameras before heading to Wyatt’s skiff. He’s talking on the phone as they approach.

“He is seriously cute,” Taylor whispers.

“Dibs,” Willa whispers back.

Taylor laughs. “Easy tiger. I’m just enjoying the scenery.”

“Gotta go,” Wyatt says into the phone, then disconnects the call. He looks a little surprised, as if he didn’t expect Willa to come back. He smiles at her, then aims his attention at Taylor. Willa gnaws the end of her thumbnail. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might prefer tall and blond to short and brown, but now she can’t unthink it.

“You must be Taylor,” he says.

“That’s me.” Taylor steps down into the boat. “But before we go anywhere with you, I’m going to need to see your driver’s license.”

He digs into the back pocket of his striped tan board shorts and hands over his wallet. “Of course you are.”

“Thanks for humoring her,” Willa says as Wyatt helps her into the skiff. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze, and the butterflies in her stomach go a little crazy. He doesn’t throw her off-kilter the way Campbell did. Mostly because when Wyatt smiles, he’s all dimples and sincerity.

“He has a library card,” Taylor announces. “No condoms. Ooh! Who’s the beautiful girl in this picture?”

Willa’s heart does an elevator drop, but he just dimples up and rolls his eyes. “That’s my nana.”

Taylor laughs as she hands back the wallet. “It’s a little weird that you keep a picture of your grandma in your wallet, but it’s also very sweet. Which is good news for you, Wyatt James Kennedy. Unless you have a girlfriend.”

His eyes meet Willa’s. “I don’t.”

“Perfect,” Taylor says, claiming the bench in front of the steering console so Willa can sit beside the cute boy. “Just be warned—the last guy who messed with us was introduced to the business end of speargun.”

Willa covers her face with her hands, trying not to laugh. She loves this Taylor, who is funny and protective at the same time. She feels like a friend. Maybe like a best friend.

“Not gonna lie,” Wyatt says. “I’m a little scared of you right now.”

“We’re harmless,” Willa says. “Mostly. It’s a long story.”

He shrugs one shoulder as he turns the key to start the engine. “I’ve got all day.”