THE LOVE I COULD HAVE HAD the perfect uplifting story to read this summer full of love, loss and romance by C.J. CONNOLLY

Author:C.J. CONNOLLY [CONNOLLY, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe books romantic fiction
Published: 2023-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18: Olivia

July 15

“Bye, Juliette. Have a good dinner shift.”

Deb holds the restaurant door open for me as our boss waves back. She’s managed to hire a couple more servers, both fun and friendly, since we got slammed on the holiday weekend. That means that Hayley and Kevin are outnumbered by people who like me. Plus, I sometimes get to do only the lunch shift. A win–win.

“You riding your bike?” Deb jangles her car keys as we step down to beach level. “I can give you a ride home if not.”

“Thanks, but yes, I’m on my bike. And I think I’ll stay on the beach a while. It’s so beautiful today and I’ve got my new book. You get home to Frank.”

Deb waves farewell as she heads for the parking lot, and I step out onto the sand. It’s just past 5 p.m. and the sun is still high. The air out here feels almost as hot as the Beach House kitchen, with its sizzling pans and deep-fat friers. But I’ve always loved the heat.

I plop cross-legged onto the sand and rub sunscreen into my skin. It’s the same brand as the one I’ve always used — was using at the quarry lake the last time I saw Jake. My Jake, the real one. He was rubbing it into my back just before I fell over the cliff. The tropical coconut scent of the lotion reminds me of him, of our summers together. So many summers. I never got sick of him. Nor that smell.

I pull out my journal and pen, along with the novel Mom discarded after she was done with her latest book club. Since she’s lived at Landfall and joined the ladies book group, she’s bought a hot new title every month, so her bookshelves are now crammed with great reads. In my old reality, I often borrow Mom’s new books once she’s done with them, and I’ve picked up that habit here. Guess some things are the same in both worlds.

I’ve started writing a list of elements in my life that are the same, and those that are different, to see how I’ve affected things. I open my journal to the page I’ve dog-eared for the purpose.

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