Summer Ever After (Falling for Summer)

by Kortney Keisel

To all the girls and women out there still waiting for their happily ever after. You’re beautiful, and your turn will come. Don’t ever give up on the hope of love.

Best book dedication ever

Sunset Harbor is a fictional island set off the west coast of Florida. Each book in the Falling for Summer series is set in this dreamy town and uses crossover characters and events, creating fun connections throughout the series. Be sure to read all seven books so you can fully experience the magic of Sunset Harbor!

I LOVE SERIES LIKE THIS!

I swoon over book boyfriends, feel my heart pound during love declarations in movies, sigh at sweet lyrics in songs.

But if I’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s that a person can be happy and lonely at the same time.

THATS SO ME!!!!

I can’t wait to be in love someday. I’ll find a guy who loves me and will dance in the rain with me. And everybody will say, ‘I have never seen a couple so in love.’ We’ll be perfect for each other. I just know it. Jane

Beau wore his navy police uniform. To a date. Making me entirely overdressed.

NOOOOOO

Are you two ready to order?” I hand her back the menu. “I’ll just have my usual.” “I’ll have my usual too.”

“I talked to Freddy.” Freddy’s been busy today. “He said you fired him, and pulled out of the U.S. Open next weekend, and gave your caddie the summer off.” I didn’t give Mick the summer off. I just told him to take a vacation for the next week or so. But Freddy loves to dramatize things.

Oh..!

I’d delete that message twice if I could.

DANG

“So, are you friends with Tiger Woods?” I can see where this is going. “Yeah, I know Tiger.” “Do you have his number in your phone? Like, could you text him right now?” “If I had something I wanted to say to him.”

DANG

He shakes his head, donning another smirk.

CAN BRO NOT SMILE LIKE A NORMAL PERSON?!?!?!?

“You have a piece of rice stuck in your hair.”

WHAT THE SIGMA HES THE ONE HES THE ONE HES THE ONE

“Well, I guess I’ll see you in another ten years.”

DANG

“A bouquet of flowers doesn’t make it okay that you haven’t visited me in the past three years.”

Grandma is so real

“Well, what do we have here?”

Nobody likes you (edit: guys i dont know what im talking abt)

First, Walker pulls something out of my hair, and then he wipes something off my cheek. This is trope Hell. And I definitely feel the heat.

“Fine.” She huffs, sitting back in her chair with crossed arms. “Are you seriously mad about this?” “No, it’s fine.” Her glance away and lifted chin says it’s not fine. “You’re just throwing away every good opportunity in life. First golf. Now Jane.”

“I hear the pressure of the majors can just suck the fun right out of golf.”

Golf isnt even fun

“You can’t get lost on an island. Just go around in circles until you find your way.”

“It’s not deep. Head wounds just bleed more.” His expression turns skeptical. “Are you just saying that so I’ll bleed out and die?” “It’s not a bad plan, but then I’d have to discard your body somewhere, and that’s more effort than I want to exert on a Wednesday night.” “Saved by laziness. Lucky me.”

Laughter across the room pulls my gaze to Jane, and instantly, the tightness in my stomach eases. She’s with Cat Keene and another woman I don’t recognize, but she’s happy. A bright light in my dark thoughts.

If people know me, then I have to pretend to be what they want. It’s too much pressure. I’d rather keep relationships at a distance. It’s much easier this way.

“Since when do you want to hang out with Capri?” “Since it’s the only way I can hang out with you.”

He played dolls with Serenity, taught Jack how to golf, and even held Lucas. And on top of all that, he stayed and talked after dinner.

Mayor Barnes nods in appreciation. “Nobody takes care of this island like you do, Jane. What would we do without you?” “You’ll never have to know. I’m here for the long haul.” They couldn’t get rid of me, even if they tried.

Walker grabs the book out of my arms, looking it over. “Secret Crush.” His glimmering eyes lift to me. “Sounds fun.” “It’s a very good book.” I square my shoulders, answering like any devoted friend would. “In fact, it’s my favorite romance book of all time.” “Your favorite romance book of all time? Well, heck, if it’s your favorite, I better read it.”

“It was good to see you, Jane.” I turn the engine on. “You always say that.” “Because it’s true.” His perfect lips turn upward into the perfect smile—just a lot of perfection going on with him. “It’s always good to see you.”

“The ‘good girl’ romance trope is when there’s an innocent female main character and a morally gray, alpha, possessive male character, and he calls her a good girl when she obeys him. Or he says things like, ‘such a good girl,’ or nicknames her ‘his good girl.’”

NUH UH NUH UH NUH UH WHYD THEY TELL HIM

A man in his mid-forties, wearing a button-up shirt, pleated khakis, and a bald spot, glances around the restaurant as if he’s looking for someone.

NO. WHAT THE SIGMA

“You’re older than I was expecting,” he says. Creepy Brian likes to rob the cradle.

WHAT THE SKIBIDI

“That’s right. Walker Collins, the golfer. I remember when you came on the scene about ten years ago. I remember because I had just turned thirty.” He pauses. “Or was it thirty-five? I don’t know. The older I get, I can never remember my age.”

NUH UH. JANE, RUN

“That’s Greg Tolley, who just moved into the Pattersons’ Airbnb. He’s here to pick up Marlyss’s daughter, Hailey, for her babysitting job tonight.”

NOOOOOOOOOO IM CRYING

I told Capri I’d stop by tonight and say goodbye before she leaves town tomorrow morning.” “So you’re choosing my sister over me?” His words steal my breath for one quick second. But I meet his sparkling blue eyes with the one truth I’ve known my whole life. “I’ll always choose Capri over you.”

oh dang

“No.” He grins as he treads water.

Im so bad at treading water

It’s stuff like that that makes it impossible for me to get over Walker. I’m afraid I’ll have a crush on him my whole life. Jane

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

I LOVE THAT SONG IT ALWAYS MAKES ME CRY

“I love this song!” “Oh, I know!” Walker laughs, glancing over at me. “I can’t listen to it without thinking of you.” “Really?” My lips shift into a crooked smile. “Yeah, you and Capri made me play it over and over in high school until I finally broke down and bought you the CD. Do you remember that?” How could I forget? I could live a thousand lifetimes and still never forget that gesture.

Nice gestures don’t equal love. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

“I wanted Walker, but it’s Beau.” It sounds like she’s crying. “And now my eyes are broken because I only see Walker.”

I’m starting to wonder if you’re my lucky charm.” I shrug. “Well, being with you is my lucky charm.” Her lids blink a few times before opening. She runs her fingers over the sides of her jaw. “I can’t eat Lucky Charms. I don’t have any teeth.”

(she js got her wisdom teeth removed btw)