Brothers of Paradise Series

I had never imagined it mad and crazy in her parents’ greenhouse at ten o’clock at night, and over before it had barely begun.

Sleep doesn’t come easy to me that night, not when I know deep in my bones that she should be lying next to me-that she still cares for me too.

I go for a run the next morning along the beach, catching the sunrise. And with each step, I formulate a plan. It’s what I’ve been taught to do these past years. Strategize, strategize, strategize.

I show up at the marina that afternoon, dressed in chinos and a white T-shirt. I don’t own the kind of boat shoes that everyone around here wears anymore, but that doesn’t matter. I’ve always failed to fit in to Paradise Shores. Why should that change now?

There are sailing boats everywhere, their small white sails like bobbing marshmallows in clear-blue water. Children of all ages mingle around, dressed in life vests. The Junior Regatta is a massive deal for the Sailing Club, just like it was when I was a child here. Henry won his year; I know that Parker did too.

Rhys, of course, didn’t compete.

I scan the crowd for Lily. I’m going to find her and apologize. Properly, this time, with a plan for the future. I’m going to clarify a few things, too. That I’m still crazy about her-and that I want to give us another shot. Fuck all the talk about friendship. It clearly hadn’t worked last night.

I don’t see her, but what I see instead puts a smile on my face. Parker is dressed in the old sailing club jacket, the one he wore all the time in high school. He’s helping a few children get fitted with life jackets. Some of the kids are small, way too small to actually take part in the competition or try sailing today. But it’s not hard to imagine younger siblings wanting to wear one as well, even if they’re safe and dry on the dock the whole day.

I head over. Parker shoots me a tired look when he sees me. “Hey, man.”

“Hey. You look like you need help.”

He hands me a life vest. “Please.”

I crouch down next to him and help the next kid who comes up. It’s a girl, no taller than my hip. She stares up at me with wide eyes and hands me her life vest.

“Here.”

“Thanks.” I flip it over and hold it out above her head. “Pop up in here for me.”

She sticks her head through the hole, arms stick-straight. “What’s your name?”

“Hayden,” I say, bending to reach the straps. I tighten them around her methodically, making sure the thing can’t come off. “What’s yours?”

“Isabella.” She can’t quite pronounce her ls, and the name comes out scrambled. I can’t help but grin.

“It’s very nice to meet you.”

“You too.” She gives the life vest a sharp tug and then smiles, looking up at me. “I’m just like my brother now.”

“Awesome. High five.”

She gives me a high five before running off to join her mom, standing next to us on the dock. I see Parker struggling with finding the right size for his kid and figure I might as well keep helping him. This is what I came here for, anyway-at least outwardly.

Volunteers set up a table behind us on the dock. It doesn’t take more than a glance to see what’s happening. It’s a face-painting booth, and Lily is manning it.

She’s wearing a pair of shorts that show off her legs, tan and freckled. Her hair is in a loose bun, little tendrils of auburn hair curling around her face.

Seeing her nearly brings a blush to my face as I remember last night. She’d been… well. It had definitely taken the edge off ten years of wanting her.

She looks like my past and my future and everything I’ve ever wanted.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I turn back to the line of kids. There’s fewer now, as most have left to watch the start of the race. Parker shoots me a not-so-subtle thumbs-up and a grateful smile.

One of the last kids on the dock is a boy, no older than ten. He has large glasses and looks doubtfully at the life vest I hold out to him.

“It’s your size,” I assure him.

He nods. “Cool. Yeah…”

But as he steps closer, I can tell something’s wrong. I slip it over his head and speak calmly as I crouch down. “What’s your name, buddy?”

“Fredrick.”

“Hi. My name is Hayden.” I fasten the straps on his right side. “How are you doing?”

“Good.” He pauses. “Well… I’m a bit nervous.”

“About hitting the water?”

“Yes.”

I sit back and look at him steadily. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, you know.”

“But my sister’s competing today.”

“And your family wants you to try sailing as well, with one of the instructors?”

“Yeah. My dad thinks it would be good for me. But I…” He looks over at one of the small dinghies resting close to us, its small sail bobbing joyfully. “They’re so small.”

I resist the urge to smile. “I get you, buddy. It’s not easy getting on a boat.”

“No. Have you ever been on one?”

“I have, yes. But I’ll tell you a secret.”

“What?”

“I was just as scared as you were the first time.”

“You were?”

“Yes. I had no idea what to do, or why people would do it for fun.”

“So why did you go?”

I shake my head at my own childhood stupidity, reaching out to adjust his life vest just a tad. The boy is looking at me with rapt attention and I know I have to make this good.

“Because I wanted to impress someone.”

The boy nods, like this is a perfectly valid reason. “Of course.”