Logan

I fought it all day, but at seven I caved and hopped in the shower to get ready to meet Grant. I can’t help it. I have to know why he’s here. I have to know what his plan is and how it will affect me. And the kids. Especially Olivia. She’s the sensitive one.

After my shower, I pad across the bedroom to my walk in closet and dressing area. Spinning in a slow circle, I survey the racks of clothing that wrap around all sides of the room. I don’t know what to wear. Is this meeting business or pleasure?

I wish I could ask Paige, but she’d kill me if she knew I was meeting him tonight.

I hope this isn’t a mistake.

Business. Definitely business.

Dropping my towel at my feet, I turn to the section of the closet where I keep my slacks and pick a pair of black trousers. I spin around and choose a pink silk blouse. I grab my Prada pumps from the shoe rack to complete the outfit.

When I’m dressed, I survey myself in the mirror. My tan is perfectly displayed. My clothes fit well. A good tailor goes a long way. Attractive, but not too sexy. Perfect for a meeting with my ex-husband.

I search my closet for the perfect handbag and find it on the top shelf. The black patent leather Prada I purchased in Italy.

My phone buzzes and I glance at the screen. It’s Paige asking if I want her to come over tonight. I type a quick reply – I tell her I’m taking a bubble bath and calling it a night – and hit send before I have a chance to feel guilty about lying to her.

On my way down the stairs, I pass Jax on his way up.

When he sees me, he stops dead in his tracks.

“Wow, where are you going dressed like that? You have a new boyfriend we don’t know about?” He laughs.

“I’m having dinner with Paige at Marino’s. I wanted to look nice. Is that a crime?” My voice has an edge to it.

I turn and continue down the stairs without saying goodbye.

“Good night to you, too,” I hear him call out to me when I’m half way out the door.

Heart hammering, I slide into the front seat of my car and drive around the circular driveway, turning onto PCH toward town.

At five minutes past eight, I pull up to the valet and step out of the car when he opens my door for me.

I glance at the entrance of the restaurant, which is softly lit giving off a very romantic feel. Not the atmosphere I was hoping for.

So I take in as much air as my lungs will hold before slowly letting it out.

“Miss?” The valet is looking at me curiously. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, taking a couple of confident steps toward the door. “At least I will be as soon as I have a glass of wine.” I say more to myself that to him.

Once inside, I head straight for the bar and order a glass of pinot, hoping to gulp as much down as I can before facing Grant.

I’m seated at the bar, half the glass empty, when I feel someone touch my shoulder.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” Grant says from behind me.

His breath tickles the back of my neck. I have a sudden urge to turn on the barstool and kiss him.

Instead, I take another big drink before spinning to face him. “I almost didn’t.”

“You look beautiful.” He smells like cologne. The same cologne he’s worn since our first date.

“I know,” I say, with as much confidence as I can muster.

He laughs. “You haven’t changed a bit, Logan Kelly.”

“Neither have you.”

“Would you like to finish your drink here? Or we can be seated. Our table is ready.” He touches my back and my breath catches in my throat.

“Is there a rush?” I ask, taking another drink of pinot.

“I have all night, baby.” He takes the seat next to mine and orders a scotch on the rocks.

“Do I dare ask what brings you to town?” I meet his gaze and narrow my eyes. He looks away first.

“Later. I’ll explain everything.”

When I’ve finished my second glass of pinot, we’re seated at our table overlooking the ocean. I can barely make out the whitecaps below, and beyond, the water stretches out endlessly into the inky black night.

“I forgot how beautiful it is here,” Grant says, his head craned towards the view.

“I don’t ever see myself leaving,” I say.

I see him nod out of the corner of my eye as I search for lights on ships out at sea.

Just then the waiter comes by our table to take our order. I order the salmon. Grant orders a steak. Rare.

“So…” My voice trails off.

He meets my eye and once again, my breath catches in my throat.

Damn him and those hypnotizing eyes.

“Why are you here?” I fold my hands in front of me on the table. “Why did you come back?”

“It’s a long story,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

My face heats up and my hands shake as I reach for my wine glass. And I remember so many of our past conversations containing the exact same words. The exact same shrug of the shoulders. It’s like I’m being transported back ten years. Fifteen years.

“I hope you have more to say than that,” I say as slow and calm as I can.

He stares at me, wide eyed. A flame ignites and burns through my body. When he sees the look on my face, he says, “Okay, I got it. You want the story? Here’s the story.”

He pauses.

“I was seeing someone. It was serious. I asked her to marry me. She turned me down. It broke my heart. I got in my car and started driving. And I ended up on your doorstep. All roads lead me back to you. It’s always you.”

A shiver snakes its way up my spine.

“God, you’re still the best damn liar I know.” My voice shakes.

“It’s not a lie. I never stopped loving you. You’ve always been the one for me. That’s why it didn’t work out with Jenna. Because I was meant to be with you.” He lifts his drink to his mouth and drinks what’s left in one gulp.

“You’re a selfish bastard,” I say.

“What’s so selfish about loving you. About wanting to be part of your life?”

“You being here affects more than me and you. Did you forget about your children? The children you’ve made no effort to contact for the last five years. Did you forget they existed?” My voice rises to a pitch not suited for a restaurant with this type of ambience.

“I think about my kids every day.” He motions to the waiter and orders another drink. I point to mine. I need another with the way this conversation is going.

“Oh, really, now. You think about them so much they’ve seen nary a Christmas card from you for the last five years.”

The waiter sets a glass in front of me and I take a big drink, trying to stifle my rage.

“It’s complicated,” he says. Again, he shrugs.

“Olivia knows you’re in town. Jax does not. Yet. But he will soon. This affects them, too. You need to think about that before you come traipsing into our lives without notice.”

Silence. He just stares at me.

“Okay, then. If that’s that, then I might as well go.” I twist in my seat, reaching for my handbag.

“Wait. Don’t go,” he says.

“There’s no reason for me to stay and talk. This conversation is over.” I stand up.

Grant stands, as well, reaching one hand out and grabbing my arm.

“I need a place to stay. I was hoping I could stay at the house.”

My knees go weak and I slump back down into my chair.

“No way,” I whisper. “There is no way that’s a good idea.”

“Just for tonight. I can stay in the guest house out back. I’ll leave before the kids get up. They’ll never know I was there. I’ll figure out what I’m going to do in the morning.”

His face is serious. His eyes are piercing.

“Okay. One night.”

Oh God. What am I getting myself into.

Jax

Something tickling my cheek jolts me awake and I sit straight up in bed. It’s so bright my eyes water as I look around at the room I don’t recognize. My phone is on the nightstand, so I grab it and look at the time. It’s noon. And I have eighteen texts waiting for me since last night.

Groaning, I roll over and come face to face with a pretty blonde.

What’s her name again?

Ashley?

No that was that brunette I met at the club in LA last week.

Taylor?

I don’t think that’s it, either.

“Fuck, I have to pee,” I whisper, sliding out of the bed without bouncing the mattress. Once I’m up, I swipe my jeans and t-shirt off the floor on the way out of the room, hoping she doesn’t wake up before I leave. There’s nothing worse than that awkward morning after a one-night stand conversation.

After stumbling to the bathroom and peeing, I let myself out of her apartment. She doesn’t stir. Thank God.

Every bone in my body is tired. I twist and stretch and yawn, but it’s like I’m swimming through mud. I need caffeine pronto. Once I’m outside, I take a look around and I’m in luck because there’s a Starbucks across the street.

I head straight there and order a venti coffee. Black.

“Morning,” I say, smiling, to the barista making my coffee.

“Actually, I think it’s afternoon, now,” she says, smiling back. “Have a nice day,” she says, sliding my coffee across the bar to me.

I laugh, shaking  my head, as I walk out of the restaurant.

Coffee in hand, I dig in my pocket for my keys and hit the clicker, open the door and slide into the cool leather seat.

I rev the engine a few times, listening to the engine roar before pulling out onto Pacific Coast Highway. The ranch is ten minutes north of town and the view is killer.

When I drive through the gates, I see Olivia’s white Mercedes and park next to it, shaking my head. Such a girlie car.

“Olivia,” I call out, slamming the door behind me. The sound echoes throughout the downstairs.

Silence.

“Mom,” I yell.

More silence.

My stomach growls, so I grab a banana from the kitchen on my way up to my room. As soon as I walk through the door, I start peeling off my clothes on the way to the shower.

When I toss my jeans on my bed, my phone slides out of the back pocket just as a text beeps through. I pick it up and read the screen.

“Thanks for last night. When can I see you again?”

Hitting the delete button, I toss the phone on the bed before striding to the bathroom and turning the shower on as hot as it will go.

Twenty minutes later I’m back in my car driving down PCH to the high school. Even though they let me graduate with my class last week, because I got an incomplete in English I have to sign up for summer school before I can get my diploma.

Bastards.

When I drive into the senior parking lot, I pull up next to a familiar blue BMW just as Julianna is stepping out and closing the door behind her. She smiles when I park in the spot next to hers.

“Hey,” I say, closing the car door behind me. “What are you doing here?”

“Ugh.” She makes a face. “I have to sign up for freaking summer school. Can you believe it?”

“Dude. Did Mrs. Miller give you an incomplete, too?” This summer is looking up. Way up, if I get to spend the summer sitting next to Julianna.

“Yeah. Dumb, huh?” She tosses her hair over her shoulder and starts walking toward the school.

“Yeah. Me, too. I’d so rather be surfing that spending the summer at this place.” I match her stride for stride.

“I’m so over high school.” I look at her and she rolls her eyes.

I hold the door for her and she scoots in the building ahead of me. She passes so close to me that I can smell her shampoo. Something flowery. I take a deep breath.

“Are you still seeing Luke?” I ask her, knowing good and well they broke up right after prom.

“No.” She frowns.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” I say.

“Whatever. He’s a jerk.”

“Yeah. Besides, isn’t he going to school in New York?”

“Columbia.”

“What are you doing in the fall?”

“I’m going to FIDM, in LA.” Her phone buzzes and she grabs it out of her purse, reading the screen. she frowns again before firing off a reply, her fingers flying as she types a response before putting the phone in her back pocket.

“Oh, yeah? Cool. I’m going to UCLA.”

“Maybe we can hang out, then,” she says, finally smiling. “I bet they have some great parties at that school.”

“Why do you think I’m going there? It’s not for the education,” I say, laughing. She laughs, too. A cute, high-pitched hahaha that turns me on.

We follow the summer school sign-up signs to the library, where a registration table is set up and ten or so other kids are standing around filling out paperwork.

“Mr. Kelly. How did I know I’d be seeing you here today.” The Principal, Mr. Ashforth, or Mr. Assface as I like to call him, smirks at me.

He’s had it out for me since I was a freshman and pulled off a practical joke at homecoming. He left his office unlocked and when he showed up at school the next day, his desk was in the pool. I got suspended for three days, but it was worth it. Except that I’ve had to endure his wrath every day since.

“Is he still pissed about the desk thing from freshman year?” Her eyes are wide.

“Afraid so.” I step up to the desk and collect my paperwork.

When I’m done registering, I wait outside the library for Julianna. I check my phone and return the texts that I got in the last half hour.

“Ready to get out of here?” Julianna says, walking out of the library. Her heels clickety clack on the tile floor.

“Yeah, I’m heading down to the beach to go surfing with Noah and Blake. What are you up to?”

“I’ll probably hang by the pool while I can. Before I’m stuck in summer school hell.” She pauses and looks at me. “I’m so glad you’re in class with me. I thought for sure I’d be stuck with a bunch of geeks all summer.”

“I know. Me, too.”

We start walking again, side by side, until we reach the parking lot.

“We should hang out sometime,” I say. “I mean, outside of class.”

“That would be cool. Hey, Ashley Miller is having a party next weekend. You should stop by.” She reaches in her purse and pulls out her keys, jangling them before hitting the button and turning off her alarm.

“I’ll be there,” I smile at her and walk away.

The summer is looking up.

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia

I let myself in the house after my run and it’s so quiet my ears ring. Mom must have made it to pilates today.  Shocker.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I head for my room in the east wing of the house. In my room, I open the window that faces the ocean to let in the fresh salt air. And when I look down, I see my mom laying in the sun in a chaise.

I should have known. She’s probably been passed out down there all morning, burning herself to a crisp.

Sighing, I go back downstairs and pour a glass of iced tea and take it out to her. She’s totally dazed and out of it. I know she’s been taking her pills again. When she looks at me it’s like she’s a million miles away. Her eyes look dark and unfocused.

After our  non-conversation, I take the stairs back to my room and shower.

I’m looking forward to meeting up with Cate later, but I’m going to miss her like crazy this summer. It’s our last summer before college, and she won’t be here to share it with.

Fifteen minutes later I’m dressed and twisting my hair up into a knot on top of my head when my phone beeps.

“Out front.”

I grab my bag and run down the stairs and out the front door.

“Hey, you,” I say, swinging the door open and hopping into the front seat of Cate’s BMW. “Where to first?”

“I haven’t packed, like, a single thing,” she says, frowning. “So, um, everywhere, I guess.”

I laugh. Typical Cate. “Flying by the seat of your pants, as usual, huh?”

“Yup, pretty much,” she says, giggling.

“I’m so jealous.” I stare out  the window at the ocean. It’s perfectly calm. There’s barely a wave out there.

“You could have come, you know. You’re the one who turned me down.”

“I know.” I sigh. “I’m taking that prep course this summer…” Truth is, I’m afraid to leave my mom alone. Not that she’d be alone. Jax is at home. But he’s hardly trustworthy.

“You need to loosen up.” She shakes her head. “The summer after senior year is for partying. And boys. Not studying for school that hasn’t even started yet.”

“So, what are you the most excited about seeing?” I figure it’s best to change the subject.

“The European guys. I’m really hoping to find myself a super hot French guy. I’m getting turned on just thinking about the accent.” She fans herself with her hand before turning the volume up and singing along with the music.

We sing at the top of our lungs to Lady Gaga all the way into the middle of town, where Cate pulls into a parking spot in front of Starbucks.

“First, coffee. Then, shopping,” she says, stepping out of the car.

“I’m down with that,” I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

Ten minutes later, coffee in hand, we head down the street to my favorite boutique.

“I must have a new white bikini,” Cate says as we step inside the store and make a bee line for the rack of bikinis off to the side of the shop.

“The one in the window is super cute,” I say.

“That one would look really good on you,” she says, reaching for a black one and twisting it back and forth, examining both sides. “I’m going to try this one.”

“I like it,” I say, following her to the back of the store to the dressing rooms.

When I have mine on, I step out of the stall and examine myself in the three-way folding mirror. I hear a whistle coming from behind me and turn to see Cate smiling my direction.

“You need to get that one. You’re guaranteed to get laid at the next pool party you wear that to.” She joins me in front of the mirror. I glance at her in the mirror.

“No way, your body is way better than mine. Just look at your boobs. They’re perfect,” I say.

“I know. They are great.” She laughs. “Hopefully they’re great enough to land me a hot French guy.”

“Oh, they are,” I say, turning and heading back to the dressing room.

After I get dressed, I carry the suit to the cashier and pay for it. Cate joins my soon after and buys a bikini for herself.

“What next,” I ask her as we start down the sidewalk.

“Let’s hit up CVS. I need everything from toothpaste to tampax.”

I laugh. “Okay, sounds good.”

As we’re walking down the aisles of CVS, Cate quickly filling her shopping cart to the brim, my phone vibrates. I look at the screen. My blood runs cold when I read the words.

“What is it?” Cate asks. “You look like you’re going to hurl.”

“It’s a text from Ashley. She says she saw my dad in town.”

When I say the words out loud, the air leaves my lungs, like I was punched in the gut, or something. I haven’t seen him in five years. What’s he doing here? I wonder if my mom knows. She’s going to flip her lid.

“Your dad? I thought he was out of the picture?” She squints her eyes, looking confused.

“I did, too.” It comes out as a whisper.

“Do you think your  mom knows?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I should call her,” I say.

“I’ll finish up here and meet you outside,” Cate says. She puts her arm around me and squeezes me tight. “If he is here. If this is true. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

“I hope you’re right,” I say as a tear rolls down my cheek.

The bell above the door tings when I walk out into the sunshine.

I dial my mom and put her on speaker phone. She picks up on the first ring.

“Hi, honey.”

“Mom, what’s going on? Is dad really in town?” More tears roll down my cheeks. Everything inside me screams, please say no. Please. Say. No.

There’s a pause, then she says, “Yes, honey, your dad is in town.”

“Why?” It comes out as a whisper. “After all this time, after everything, why now?”

“I don’t know, honey. But I will find out. And I will protect you. You don’t need to worry.” Her voice is calm. And for a minute, I almost believe her.

“I don’t want to see him. Ever.”

“I understand. I feel the same way you do. I promise you, baby. I’ll get to the bottom of this. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come back into our lives and make a mess out of everything.” Her voice is soft. Like she’s unsure.

“Promise?”

“I promise,” she says, her voice firm.

“Okay. I’ll be home soon.”

“I love you, honey. I’ll see you when you get home. Have fun. Try to enjoy your afternoon.”

“Love you, mom. Bye.”

I hit the end button on my phone and stuff it in my back pocket.

My mind is racing. Remembering my dad before he left town. I was thirteen. A kid. He left in the middle of the night. He didn’t even say goodbye. I still haven’t forgiven him for that. For breaking my heart.

“Everything okay,” Cate asks, joining me on the sidewalk loaded down with plastic bags.

“Yeah. My mom says she’s taking care of it,” I say, taking some of the bags from her.

“Well, knowing your mom, she will,” Cate says.

“I hope so,” I say.

Porcia History

Porcia was founded in 1822 when James Porcia set up camp after reaching the ocean with his family and small crew. His intention was to travel south, but after a few days he fell in love with the area and decided to make it his permanent home.

Over the years, the town grew slowly as more of Porcia’s extended family and friends from the east coast decided to join him out west.

The town was officially incorporated in 1846, and James Porcia became the first Mayor over a population of 472 residents.

As time wore on, Porcia became a hide-a-way for a number of famous people looking to escape somewhere beautiful and exclusive.

One of those people was Logan Kelly, the two-time Oscar winning actress. After an infamous run in with the law, she left Hollywood for good and purchased her house on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in 1995.

In addition, a famous drug and alcohol rehabilitation center was constructed just outside of town in 1975, and many well-known personalities have been known to attend the center and are often seen in town.

Today, Porcia is an exclusive get-away for the rich and famous, where summer homes rent for upwards of $25,000 per month.

Logan

I’m late for pilates.

Damn.

Add it to the list of failures this month. But, really, there’s no point. I haven’t had an audition in over a year. It’s not like I need to be in the shape for anything.

I crane my neck toward the ocean and squint my eyes, focusing on a boat in the distance. I always lose track of time when I’m out here. I’ll never tire of this place. Buying it at the rock bottom price of five million fifteen years ago was the best decision I ever made. It’s worth at least fifteen now.

When I turn my head back and try to focus on the magazine in my lap, everything keeps spinning, so I lean back on the chaise and close my eyes.

“Mom.”

Someone calling my name startles me out of a dreamless sleep.

“Mom.”

Again.

I open my eyes a slit. Olivia is staring down at me, holding a glass of ice tea in one hand. Her other hand is on her hip. Her shirt is soaked through with sweat.

“Oh, hi, honey.” I close my eyes again. “How many miles did you do today?”

“Ten.” She pauses. “I thought you were at pilates.”

“Class was cancelled,” I say, waving my hand at her, hoping she’ll get the hint and leave me alone.

“Do you want something to drink? It’s hot out here.”

That’s my girl. Always taking care of me.

“Sure.” I keep my eyes closed. The ice cubes clink as she sets the drink down on the table next to me.

“Marge isn’t coming today, you’re going to have to make your own lunch,” she says.

“I know. I’m perfectly capable,” I say, feeling the tug of sleep behind my eyes.

“I’m going upstairs to take a shower,” she says. Her footsteps grow fainter as she walks away. When she is gone, I open my eyes and reach for the drink, taking a sip. It goes down cold.

A bead of sweat rolls down between my breasts, tickling me. Without thinking, I stand up and dive into the water, swimming along the bottom of the pool until my lungs burn. Only then, I emerge, graceful, like a synchronized swimmer.

I swim a couple of laps to make up for the missed pilates class before climbing out and drying myself off. I need to figure out what to do with the rest of my day.

Back inside the house, I come face to face with Olivia again.

“What are you up to today?” I ask her.

She looks up from her phone and cocks her head to the side, studying me like a child.

“Cate is leaving for Europe tomorrow, so we’re doing some last minute shopping.” She puts her phone in her back pocket.

“That sounds nice,” I say, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

“Do you have any plans?” She narrows her eyes.

“I’m going to read through a script that came in the mail yesterday.” It’s a lie, but I’m too tired for a confrontation with her this morning.

“I’ll see you for dinner then,” she says, turning and striding toward the front door. I hear it open and slam shut.

Feeling exhausted, I take the stairs one at a time up to the second floor where the master suite is located at the very end of the west wing of the house.

My pill bottle is sitting on the nightstand and I reach for it, giving it a shake only to find out it’s empty. I must have taken the last one before I went to bed last night.

I need to get to the pharmacy for a refill.

Keys jangling, I open the front door and come face to face with the last person I expected to see.

“What are you doing here?”

His eyes meet mine and I look past him at the red Ferrari in the driveway.

“Hello to you, too,” he says, smirking.

‘I asked you a question.” I cross my arms and frown. This is the last thing I need right now. This interruption in my life.

“I heard you.” He pauses and runs a hand through his hair.

He hasn’t aged a day since I last saw him, what, five years ago. Or maybe it was six. Same lean surfers build. Not a single grey in his sandy blonde hair. Green eyes that make my knees weak.

I meet his gaze and the pace of my heart picks up. I take a deep breath and try to stuff the emotions back down inside as deep as they’ll go. I’m pissed that I’m still attracted to him. After everything we’ve been through.

“I missed my kids,” he finally says, shrugging his shoulders. “Are they home?”

“No. I’ll tell them you stopped by.” I take a step back and close the door with as much force as I can muster.

The doorbell rings and I ignore it.

“I’ll be back,” I hear him call through the solid door.

Sighing, I lean back against the door and succumb to gravity as my legs buckle under me. Slumping back against the door, I let my head fall back and I close my eyes.

I can’t get through this day without my pills, especially knowing Grant is back in town. So, I manage to pull myself off the floor and drive up PCH without seeing the road in front of me.

When I come out of the pharmacy, I walk across the street to Starbucks.

“Logan,” a voice I recognize calls from the other end of the coffee bar.

“Paige,” I turn my head toward my best friend and smile. I take a few steps and she meets me, hugging me tight.

“Oh, my God. You’ll never guess what happened this morning,” I say taking a step back.

“I was just going to call you. I saw his red Ferrari speed by not two minutes ago.” She shakes her head. “What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I say, the exhaustion creeping back in.

“What does he want?”

“He said he wanted to see his kids.” I laugh. Grant has never been involved in their lives.

“There’s got to be more to it than that,” Paige says. “He’s a fucker for coming back here.”

I nod.

“I know. I don’t trust him. I wish I  knew what he wanted from me.”

“Money,” Paige says, taking a sip of the coffee she’s holding.

“Isn’t it always about money,” I say more to myself than to Paige.

“Do the kids know he’s here?”

“Not yet. But I guess I’m going to have to tell them. I bet half the town already knows.” My phone buzzes and my suspicions are confirmed. It’s a text from Monica telling me she just saw Grant at the gas station. “Oh, God. What am I going to do?”

“Want me to get my shotgun?”

I laugh. “I’m glad someone has my back.”

“Always for you, hon.” She takes another sip. “What are you going to do now?”

“I’m going to get a coffee and pretend the fucker doesn’t exist.” I turn and order a venti coffee.

When the barista slides it across the counter, I pick it up and take a gulp. The hot liquid burns my throat on the way down.

“I’m only a phone call away,” Paige says as I follow her outside. The sun is so bright, it temporarily blinds me. I slide my sunglasses down over my eyes. “And Jeff is going out of town for the week. Business up in San Francisco. I can stay at the house with you if you need me.”

I smile, thinking about all of the times Paige has stayed at the house. We usually stay up all night drinking red wine and watching black and white movies.

“Thanks, I’ll let you know.” I pull my keys out of my purse and hit the clicker, unlocking the door to my Black Audi.

I give Paige a hug before sliding into the leather seats.

“Call me,” she says, waving as she turns toward her own car.

I drive home and let myself in the house. As I’m walking through the foyer, my phone buzzes and I pull it out of my purse and read the screen.

It’s a text from Grant. My heart stops. “Dinner at 8. Ocean view table at Marino’s. See you then.”

My face heats up. How dare he assume I’ll show up on demand. That I even want anything to do with him at all.

I fire off a text to Paige before throwing my phone across the room.

There’s no way I’m meeting him. No way in hell will I have anything to do with that man.

Welcome to Porcia!

Hello and welcome to Porcia, a quaint town located along the central California coastline.

While you’re here visiting, relax and dip your toes in the water. There’s a good chance you will run into our town’s most famous resident – Logan Kelly the two-time Oscar winning actress who moved here after retiring from Hollywood.

Logan has two children – twins Olivia and Jax. Her children just graduated from High School and will be spending their last summer in Porcia letting loose and having fun. That is, until their estranged father returns to town and causes trouble for everyone.

Stop by often. New chapters will be posted in each character’s point of view throughout the week.