Into the Light (Moon Harbor Series Book 3) by Kate McWilliams

Author:Kate McWilliams [McWilliams, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-14T23:00:00+00:00

fourteen

ELLIE

A few days after the party, I was helping my last customer and closing up shop when Raf walked in. I did a double take, not expecting to see him any time soon after the disaster of Halloween, but there he was, strolling in like it was no big deal. His big frame stood out like a bull in a china shop, and when he saw me with a customer, he pretended to be interested in the beaded bracelets in the front case.

I took my time packing up the sea glass pin I’d just sold, placing it in a box and gift wrapping it to perfection. I always prided myself on my packaging but today, it also had the added benefit of making Raf wait.

The customer, a cute little old lady with white hair, thanked me profusely and then shuffled to the door. Raf hurried over to open it for her, causing me to scowl. He really had to be perfect, didn’t he?

“Oh, thank you, young man!” The lady called as she left.

“My pleasure, Miss.”

She erupted into a fit of laughter and turned down the street. I stood there watching with my arms crossed.

“Hey, El.”

“What do you want?”

“To talk to you.”

“I don’t know what you could possibly want to say.”

“I know. And I’m sorry. I got carried away the other night.”

My back straightened, and he rushed to explain before I ripped him a new one.

“I don’t regret it. I mean, I do, if it hurt you. I never want to hurt you. But I don’t regret showing you how much I want you.”

“But what’s the point of it if you can’t do anything about it? If the second you see my brother’s name, you back off like I’m untouchable.”

“I just feel so much guilt. I’ve been looking out for you since you were a kid, and Sam trusts me. I’d hate him to think that I’ve been taking advantage of you both.”

“But you’re not, right? I mean, you’d only be taking advantage if you, I don’t know, say… Danced with me, touched me, led me on, and then poof, decided ‘nah, not for me.’”

He hung his head.

“Okay, I see your point, but that’s not how it was.”

“Well I don’t know how it was because you never explain it!”

“I’m sorry, El. I’m just… I’m no good for anyone.”

“You’ve said that but I don’t believe you. It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m just no good!” I’d never really heard him raise his voice, but I know it was out of frustration toward himself and not toward me, so I let him continue. “I’m… I don’t know, I’m cursed, okay? Everyone who gets too close to me gets hurt. And I’d die if that happened to you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted. The only one I really care about. But if I ruined you, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. So, yeah, my guilt because you’re my best friend’s little sister is real, but it’s way more than that.”

I stared at him, unsure what to say.

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