Love Bait

41| Take me home

The afternoon goes quickly – quicker than I'd hoped – and before I know it, the sun has set, turning the horizon a crisp, burnt orange. I say goodbye to Lina and cycle back home, where Dad's old Sudan now sits in the drive, clearly parked in haste.

At the sound of my wheels on the tarmac, he bursts through the door and hurries toward me, throwing his arms around my neck. "Thank god you're all right. Why haven't you answered any of my messages?"

"Sorry," I say guiltily. "I've hardly checked my phone today. Is Lexi all settled in?"

"She's fine." He pulls away slightly, briefly taking in the carnage on the streets. "Was everything okay here? Where's Jordan?"

My heart pounds twice as fast. I ditch the bike and grab his arm, leading him inside the house. "Everything's a mess," I say as we sit at the table, and I tell him about everything that's happened – minus my steamy night with Jordan. He listens intently, his expression softening when I get to the part about the cafe being destroyed. Then he sits back, folds his arms, and grows really quiet while he processes everything I've said.

I nervously tap my nails on the table as a list of emotions cross his face. Even though he's never really said as much out loud, the cafe meant a lot to him, too. "Dad, are you okay?"

He looks up now and reaches out, wrapping his large, soft hands around mine, cradling them on the table. "I'll be okay. What happens now?"

"I have no idea." My eyes flit to the window, where streaks of light fall in through the glass and cast a lattice pattern on the table. "I guess that's up to Jordan."

"You haven't talked to him?"

"I'm scared to. He's going to tell me he's selling to Landon, I just know it, and even though it's not his fault, I don't want that to happen." I suddenly put my head in my hands, breathing in deeply. "Why does it feel like every time something good happens, it never lasts? It's always followed by something bad."

I don't look up, but I can feel his fingers move across my arm, where he squeezes affectionately. "Bad things happen, Evvy. You can't control that. It's what you do after that counts."

I sigh because he's right, even if I hate to admit it. I might not be able to change what happened to the café, but I can be there for Jordan, who needs my support more than ever.

"I hate when you use wisdom on me," I say.

He grins and says, "That's what happens when you have such a wise man for a dad. Make sure you're not back too late, the storm looks to be over but the weather is still temperamental right now."

I tell him I'll be back soon and grab my bike. It feels like I search the whole island for him, but he's nowhere to be found. I start with the cafe, then the inn, which is still closed down, and even head to the secret beach, but it's like he's vanished completely.

The tiniest doubt works its way through my stomach. Has he already hot-footed it to the mainland? Is he secretly off meeting with Landon somewhere? Has he suddenly left without saying goodbye? I pedal faster, scanning every face for his, but he's gone.

I circle back to the cafe again. The street outside is completely deserted, and it hurts to see how quickly it's been abandoned – yet another thing to be mourned and forgotten. I lay down my bike and inch my way forward. The place looks like it could cave at any moment, but I maneuver through what's left of the door and scan the interior for Jordan. Even though I'd expected as much, my heart deflates when it's empty.

Defeated, I'm about to head home when I look into the distance, toward the cove on the horizon. It's the one place I haven't looked, the last place he'd be, but I pedal toward it anyway, ditching my bike at the rocks before making a valiant climb over.