“Who says anything is on my mind?” she counters. “Maybe I just wanted to come out here and watch you work out.”

“You’ve never been a good liar.” I toss the used tape into the trash and wipe the sweat off my face with the towel. “Go ahead, yell at me.”

“I don’t want to yell at you. Don’t get me wrong, I did want to a few days ago. But now, I just want to hug you.”

And so she does. Just wraps her arms around me and presses that round belly against me, holding me close.

It feels nice.

“My sister is a pain in the ass a lot,” she says as she pulls away. “She has a quick temper, and she doesn’t always listen when you need her to. But I know she loves you, even if she hasn’t said the words. Have you thought about going to Ireland?”

“No.” My voice is gruff, even to my ears. “I thought I’d wait until she gets home to try to talk to her.”

“Why? You’re miserable.”

“I told her we needed a break, and I’m giving her one.”

“To what end? So you can both spend the next week absolutely miserable?”

“She’s miserable?” I ask, my head coming up fast. “Have you spoken with her?”

“Not really. She doesn’t want to talk about it, and I know she’s been busy at the inn. But a sister knows these things. She’s been gone for almost a week, and you’ve both had time to calm down and work your way to the lonely and regretful part of things. If you miss her, if you want to see her, don’t be a stubborn ass. Just go get her already.”

I frown down at my hands.

I already considered that late last night as I lay in my cold bed, pining for Maggie.

It’s ridiculous. I’m a grown man. What am I waiting for?

“Thanks, Maeve.” I kiss her cheek and then head for the door. “I have some arrangements to make.”

“Good. What is it with you two always dragging your feet? Just love each other already.”

I laugh for the first time in days as I hurry out to my car. I have to book the next flight and get ready to go.

I open my phone and bring up Maggie’s number and start to type a message.

But what am I going to say? Hey, I’m coming to see you. I miss you. Don’t reject me.

Nope, not gonna do that.

So, instead, I erase the text and get started making arrangements to get off this island and to the one the love of my life is currently standing on.