So Morgan was a teacher. I could see that.

I took my food over to where Morgan sat with Garrett and Sawyer. She flashed me a smile and motioned to the empty chair, then took another bite of her burger.

“It’s not burned?” I asked.

“Totally is. You should stick to saving people, because barbecue isn’t your talent,” she teased once she’d swallowed, but that didn’t stop her from polishing it off.

“Say it,” Sawyer whispered from next to me.

I watched Morgan laugh at something Garrett said. It was small but there and honest. I couldn’t wait to see who she’d be once she came fully out of her shell.

Fuck.

I should back the hell away from her.

Brie was right in a way. Morgan was my neighbor. Starting anything with her could bring a shit ton of awkwardness to my door that I didn’t need—that Finley definitely didn’t need.

I should have moved over to that group of women hanging out with the mechanics and picked up someone who didn’t live next door. Someone who didn’t need me to explain riptides or push her out of a decaying staircase. Someone who didn’t wear red Hello Kitty underwear that I still couldn’t get out of my head.

Mental note: throw away all Fin’s Hello Kitty stuff.

I should have walked the hell away.

Morgan gathered up her things and slipped into her clothes before walking toward me. “My thirty minutes are up. Time to turn back into a recluse.” Her tone was teasing, but her eyes weren’t.

“Okay. I’m glad you came down.”

“I am, too. Thank you for the invite.” She slid her sunglasses on, and I immediately lost the ability to read her.

“Anytime.”

She gave me a half smile and a nod, then walked away. My eyes followed her until she disappeared over the dune.

“Say it,” Sawyer repeated, this time singing his demand quietly. “Call dibs.”

“Fuck off.”

But we both knew he was right.

I was interested.

Now I just had to decide if I was going to act on it or not.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Morgan

I know you. You’ve always been so good at holding it all together.

I know you’ll pick up the pieces.

The construction noise overtook Mama’s voice as I pulled into my driveway. There were two huge cranes and several smaller vehicles surrounding my house.

“…and that doesn’t even start to address my worrying about hurricane season!” Mama chirped.

“Mama, I’m so sorry, but I gotta cut this short. I can barely hear you with all the clamor going on at my house.” I pulled the Mini into the spot on the other side of the boathouse and put her in park.