A warm breeze blew on shore as the sun warmed Tom's skin. The sand felt soft under the blanket they shared.

When Katie looked at him, her beautiful, pink lips pointed down. "Why don't you know if she's happy?"

He matched her frowned. "Because I don't ask and no one tells me."

He was lying next to Katie, trying to think of anything but her perfect body in her bikini. He didn't want to think about Tori, the girl whose bikini he used to peel off.

"You would like Bea's daughter, Sage. She's like a sister or cousin. The Petersen's only had one child, so she was close to all of us."

"Petersen reminds me of the name on all those shipping containers by the port." Only Katie would notice the name. She was so astute. He hid his smile and looked at their joined hands.

"It's the same, isn't it? How rich are your neighbors?"

How did she know? It was like she could read his mind. The thought scared him, because it was often filled with how much he loved her and things he wanted to do with her. Usually he sweated out his pent up frustration from sharing her bed, but after a day on the beach, he'd take care of himself in the shower. His fantasy always started with her telling him she loved him..

Unable to lie, he confirmed her suspicions. "Very wealthy."

"What about Tori's family?"

He nodded. "Calhoun Construction. Have you noticed that name?"

Her mouth dropped open, and she sat up. "And your father is a judge? How is it you live next to those millionaires or billionaires? Whatever they are!"

He laughed and suspected the B was correct. "My family has old money, generations of it."

"Don't tell me you have a secret stash of money!"

Two. The Hayes trust and his Quinn fund, from his mother's family. "Luce, look at me! You know me. You can practically read my mind. I'm me and who my family is doesn't change anything."

"No wonder you own a tux."

"That I'll never wear again, unless I go back to visit. I'll buy you a beautiful gown and we can dance in Bea's ballroom."

"Ballroom! I think you should dance with Tori. You belong together."

"I disagree. I've changed. I haven't lived their life since I was still a kid. I had a taste of it in Augusta."

"With Bella." She saturated her voice with dislike.

"I was bored. I like eating wings and hanging out with you better."

Her phone distracted her. "How about hanging out with Laurie and Dean? She's inviting us to dinner."

He had planned to take her out to eat but would have dinner with their neighbors. It was probably wiser, because every time he took her to a nice restaurant, it felt too much like a date. Being a married couple was safer than being on a date. Could his situation be anymore screwed up?

He smiled. "Okay, but we'll have to shop if we plan to bring something."

Katie nodded and replied to Laurie via text. Being with Laurie and Dean was like having in-laws. Laurie had taken Katie under her wing, and he owed her for helping to bring back her smile and laugh. Maybe someday she would convince Katie, it was okay to love again. Could she love him or was he forever in the friend zone?

"Luce, let's get some lunch and enjoy another hour before we need to go clean up."

Could he last another hour before his shower?

Food trucks littered the beach parking lot, and they wandered until they decided on poke bowls. He liked how they could have each chosen something different, but always preferred the same thing. Tom sighed, because Katie hadn't forgotten their earlier conversation.

"So is your house a mansion or something?" She bit her lower lip.

"It's big, but I told you I don't care about any of it. Besides, it's my parent's house. You know how I live and Jon practically lives in a tent." That was an exaggeration. He was in a village with housing, although they were shacks. He moved around, but had been in his region for a few years. "Don't start thinking I'm a different person from the one you know and love." He said it, but he knew she loved him as her best friend. She bit her lip. She was worried, because typically she would tease him when he said she loved him. "Luce, look at me. I'm not leaving you. My life is this one. The one I've been living. Sure, I miss my Mom and my friends, but even if I decide to visit one day, I'll still be me and will still be here for you until the day you tell me you're in love with someone else." The day my heart breaks in two.

"That could be a long time, because I don't think I can ever be in love with someone else."

He looked away; his tears had started. He turned back to her, because they couldn't avoid talking about him. "I think about him every day." He often wondered about horrible things like how he died and if he was scared and in pain. He was certain his friend was thinking of Katie. If Tom was in an accident, hers would be the only face he saw.

"I know we both loved him. I am finding it harder to see what my life was supposed to be with him. Would he have broken down and given in to his mother? Do you think he would have married me?"

Tom put his arm around her. "As your husband, I can honestly say he would have been a fool if he hadn't. I know one-hundred percent he loved you. It doesn't mean you can't find another man to love you. You deserve happiness. We both do. I think Laurie is an inspiration. She was married and had children with her husband, and she found a way to move on. She doesn't feel guilty every time she laughs."

Katie smiled. He let out the breath he was holding. Sometimes he feared he pushed it too far.

Tom felt better after his shower, although it didn't last long. Shopping with Katie often left him longing for the shower. It was better than a date at a fancy restaurant. He honestly thought he knew everything about her but always learned something new.

"Do you know that was my favorite cereal?" She pointed to a box with colorful cereal, which contained more sugar than grain. "My stepmother refused to buy it for me. I would complain to my Dad and he would tell her to buy it. I feel bad, because maybe my dad wouldn't be alone if I hadn't been a brat."

He shook his head. "You were a kid who lost her mother and your father was deployed. You deserved to be a brat. You didn't deserve a stepmother who didn't love you. If she had loved your father enough, she would have loved you too."

She bumped his hip. "You're too smart."

She frowned. He knew she was thinking about Paco. Paco was a genius, but he wasn't people smart. Tom saw time and again ways that Paco missed cues with Katie and he had to smooth over the edges. He nurtured their relationship when he was jealous as hell over it.

"I just know you, Luce."

Dinner next door was a cookout in the backyard. They had little postage stamp yards. Laurie had flower beds, but he and Katie hadn't cared to garden. They weren't staying long enough to bother. He felt a tug of worry that leaving Laurie would be hard on Katie. She didn't need another loss in her life.

He smiled as Katie told them about her decision to go back to work. "I'll need to get a license to practice first, but hopefully it won't take long."

Laurie frowned. "I was hoping you'd take a different path."

She intrigued Tom. "What different path?"

"You know the pitter-patter of little feet."

He looked at Katie, who was staring into her glass. He squeezed his brain for a response. Although Katie having his child would be a dream come true, it wouldn't happen when he was forced to rely on his showers.

"We're not here long enough. The timing isn't right." The timing wasn't right for so many reasons, but it was a reasonable response. Katie's eyes met his in a silent thank you. He stood up to get another beer. As he passed her, he put a light kiss on her forehead. She smiled at him.

"They are so in love!" Laurie's words sounded like a sigh. If only she knew the truth.

Katie said, "And you two aren't in love!"

Dean winked at Laurie who blushed and Tom felt jealous of the other couple. Whenever they were with them, he and Katie played the part they expected. Tom would stand behind Katie with his arms around her. Other times, she would kiss his cheek. It was a game which Tom's balls were going to lose. After an evening of touching and feeling like an actual couple, he had to share a bed with her. The worst was when she cried for Paco while he only wanted to kiss every inch of her. There had better be a medal waiting for him in heaven, and Paco should be the one to pin it on him.