Chapter 62: Beach Access

"Are you sure you're okay? I can drop you off with Tabitha or Ridge."

Bennett's hesitancy stretches my lips across my face into a large smile. "No, this is great."

Liam runs back to us, his little feet smacking the pavement with each step making the lights on the back of his shoes flash. "Can I get the chocolate flavor?"

"Sure, buddy."

Bennett's house isn't far from the water — no one in Pelican Bay proper is — so when Liam suggested we take a Sunday walk for ice cream, none of us were going to say no. The way his eyes lit up and his face exploded in excitement when his dad told him he could get any flavor he wanted was enough to remind me there is a reason to smile today. In fact being around his constant ball of energy I haven't had much time to sit and fret about what I'm going to do when Bennett finally lets me go back to the bakery.

The wind blasts cool air off the top of the ocean right down the road blowing my hair every which direction. When it settles I attempt to fl