The Kiss on Castle Road (A Lavender Island Novel) by Lauren Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

always with a guy. I’m not afraid to commit.”
    “Oh, please. Just because you’re always with a guy doesn’t mean you know how to commit.” Paige turned her shoulders back so she could continue brushing. “Commitment is something deeper. You go through guys like eyelash extensions.”
    “I don’t wear eyelash extensions.”
    “Even worse then.”
    Natalie rolled her eyes. “I’m not afraid. I’m just not ready to settle down.”
    “I respect that—I’m definitely not either,” Paige said. “But for me, it’s a choice. For you, I think it’s fear.”
    “I’m not afraid of commitment.”
    “Natalie, you break up with guys because they wear tightie-whities instead of boxers or because they floss their teeth after every meal or because of the way they use ‘literally’ in every sentence.”
    “What about Ted with the restraining order , or Milo with the wife ?” Natalie threw in.
    “You do have some legitimate breakups. My point is, you don’t differentiate. You look for reasons to break up, whether they’re legitimate or not.”
    “Maybe I’ve just met terrible guys.”
    “Or maybe you know they’re terrible, or unavailable, and that’s why you date them,” Paige said. “So you can have your fun, but you know there’s an out for you in about a month, when you can break up and say things like ‘He didn’t have a job’ or ‘He had too many tattoos’ and no one will fault you.”
    The truth of that philosophy floated before Natalie’s eyes for a second, drifting back and forth, back and forth, like a feather that Natalie wanted to watch until it fell at her feet.
    The brush went softly through Natalie’s hair three or four times in silence.
    “Well, my mancation is to step away from it all,” she said. “I just want to get to know myself a little better, figure out what I really want.” It sounded silly when she said it out loud, but she squared her shoulders to bolster her resolve.
    “You won’t last a week,” Paige said.
    “Paige!” Olivia lifted her head from the couch.
    “Sorry, I think it’s true,” Paige said. “But I’d love to be proven wrong.”
    “I’ll prove you wrong.”
    “How long is this mancation supposed to last?”
    “Three months.”
    Paige burst out laughing.
    Natalie could feel all her defenses coming up around her again. The soft euphoria of their senseless laughter earlier was now falling away, replaced, unfortunately, with the sharp edges of jealousy and irritation. She’d always been close to Paige, since they were barely a year apart, but they’d also always fought like cats.
    Olivia met Natalie’s eyes and shook her head. “Don’t let her get to you. I think it’s a smart idea, and you’ll do great.”
    “I’ll bet you three hundred dollars you won’t last three weeks ,” Paige said.
    “I’ll last three weeks!”
    “Three hundred and fifty.” Paige held out her hand. “I need some new clothes.”
    Natalie shook Paige’s hand without thinking. It was what they did. They’d been betting each other since junior high, sometimes Paige winning and sometimes Natalie. But as soon as she shook on this one, she had a brief panic. Could she last three weeks? She certainly didn’t have an extra $350. But she could, right? She was on an island, for goodness’ sake, with a shortage of twentysomethings. What could be the problem?
    “I’m going to take a walk,” she suddenly announced. She stood and started looking for her hoodie. She needed to take a few gulps of fresh air and clear her head before letting her hurt feelings come between her and Paige.
    “What?” Paige said.
    “A walk. Down by the beach.”
    “Now?”
    “Yeah, a little nighttime stroll.”
    “Not now , Natalie. That’s crazy . It’s dark.”
    “I can see.”
    “Are you angry? About what I said? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. We don’t have to bet if you don’t want—”
    “No. That’s silly. I just want to take a walk.” Natalie