He shook his head. He wasn’t sure how this growing attraction happened, or the significance. But now he hardly spent a waking hour without Maven’s smile or giggle coming to the surface, blotting out the days and making his life harder. It wasn’t a bad thing. It just wasn’t what someone close to their demise needed to dive into—for the sake of the living.

Flynn shoved Henri in the arm. “Earth to Henri, Dad told me to tell you to leave.”

Henri looked up from the Styrofoam cups. “Ok.”

Flynn ran a hand across his chin, studying Henri’s detached behavior. “Everything okay? Don’t you have an appointment today?”

Henri shook his head. “No.”

Flynn’s eyebrows lifted in unease. He wasn’t an idiot, his mother made sure to mark them on the wall calendar that hung in their kitchen—a constant reminder to Henri when he needed to get his behind to the doctors. “Is that so?”

Henri sighed, untying his apron, he wanted to ignore Flynn altogether, but he was known for administering a mean headlock. “It’s simple blood work or something. Just give me a break for one week.”

Flynn studied Henri. He wasn’t an expert on heart conditions, but his cousin seemed fine on most days. He didn’t like to know the details about Henri. He just knew it wasn’t good.

The night his mother told them all that Henri was sick he put his fist through his closet door. He didn’t like to see his mother crying—or even his aunt.

Henri and Flynn had always been close. His family regularly visited Henri’s in Tennessee. His mother and his aunt Charlotte were twins, the bond between them had remained strong their entire life. He was sure it was the only reason Henri was allowed to take off like he did and come stay with his family.

Flynn remembered his entire life with Henri. He was older, but that never changed the bond the two of them had. Henri had a way to get inside anyone’s heart. Flynn always wanted a brother and Henri was the closest thing he would ever have to one. So it was understandable he had a lot of pent up emotions about Henri’s health.

“Fine. As long as you’re doing something worthwhile,” Flynn told Henri. “Like hanging out with blondie and I don’t mean a walk on the beach.” He shot Henri the look. Henri was dying. If he was dying he knew he would be out nailing as many women as possible. Even if Henri wasn’t the same, he figured one girl was plenty to cross a few things off the bucket list.

But judging by the look on Henri’s face he didn’t think so.

“I forgot how much of a bigot you were,” Henri said.

“Years ago you had your moments too, Henri.” Flynn poked at the rag on the counter, then dropped to his elbows, staring out the small window at the vacant picnic tables and the dark skies.

“Yeah, well.” He hopped up on the counter not worried about customers. It was going to rain. “Once you know you’re dying you don’t worry about getting laid so much anymore.”

Henri watched Flynn make a face at his words. He stayed arched over the counter staring out the window. It wasn’t something they ever discussed. Usually it was a lot of code words and hints to the issue, but never direct communication.

“I don’t think I would ever be able to forget about sex. It’s the best part about girls.” He grinned, shooting Henri a look. “And blondie, she’s pretty hot. And so damn innocent. I bet sex would be interesting.”

Henri refused to smirk at the thought of it. He didn’t want to join in on the sex talk with Flynn about Maven. She wasn’t the kind of girl that you shared those intimate details with your buddies. That didn’t stop him from thinking about her all the time. Sure, he imagined what it would be like. How great it would feel to get that close with her. All the things he imagined would happen and all the things he hoped for. He was a guy after all.

“Are you going to the Hop?” Henri asked, changing the subject so Flynn would stop drooling over the thought of sex.

Flynn quickly nodded. “Tori’s coming down for the weekend. She already has a dress picked out.” Tori was Flynn’s girlfriend. More like his buddy or pal. But the problem with that—Tori saw their relationship as exclusive and wouldn’t bat an eyelash at making Flynn miserable if he ever thought to look at another girl. Henri wasn’t a fan of Tori because he knew Flynn wasn’t ready to settle down. And he knew Tori and her entire family was under the assumption that Flynn was an honorable guy who was going to do just that. Flynn liked her because she was nice-looking. He put up with her because he enjoyed having a sex buddy that lived far away.

“Good. Because I’m taking Maven and it would be nice to see a familiar face in the crowd.”

Flynn punched his arm. “You are so serious all the time. It’s a dance just have fun and don’t forget to breathe. Maybe this weekend will be your big night with blondie.”

Henri dropped from the counter. “Her name is Maven. And I doubt that. And if it was, you would be the last person I told.” Suddenly, he grabbed the doorknob, stumbling into the counter.

Flynn jumped up. “What was that?”

“Just a little lightheaded, I stood up too fast.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I got to go.”

Flynn grabbed his arm. “I think you should see the doctor today. Just to make sure everything is alright.” Henri gave him a dirty look, upset he was pushing the issue again.

“Better get those umbrellas down, storm is rolling in.” He twisted the knob, taking off before Flynn could argue with him. One appointment wasn’t going to make a difference. He shook the cloudy fog from his head and hurried toward the beach.

Maven jumped at the loud boom right outside her bedroom window. She closed her book, pulling back the curtain. The rain was falling in a steady rhythm. The sun was gone and the sidewalk outside was busy collecting puddles.

Her phone chirped. She grabbed it from the nightstand and flopped down on the bed. Ever since Jake had shown up she had been in a bad mood. She didn’t want to leave her house for fear he would show up again.

Jake and Tatiana weren’t together anymore. At one time it would have been the happiest moment of her life. Because at one time she prayed they would break up and that Jake would see what he had been missing and come back to her. And somehow she would forgive him and move on. But not anymore, now she was angry.

And now there was Henri. She didn’t know exactly how he felt about her, but she knew the way he made her feel. And she wasn’t willing to accept Jake’s crummy attempt at getting her back any longer. Henri had shown her that nice guys did exist. And she didn’t want to go back to Jake after meeting someone like Henri.

She pushed the button on her phone.

Raining like cats and dogs. I’m down at the beach sitting under that tree we first sat under. Care to join me?

It was Henri.

She stared off, debating on going or staying put. Jake couldn’t get to her from her room.

You could come here.

But this is such better scenery. I can’t believe you don’t like watching thunderstorms.

I do. I guess I’m a bit down today, Henri.

That’s a perfect reason to watch the storm with me. Cheer up, buttercup, there is always sunshine after the rain. :)

Maven burst into tears. She dropped down on her bed, clutching her pillow. The phone sliding to the floor, it chirped again.

She gathered her calm and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Lifting the phone from the floor, she gently wiped at her eyes with one hand while reading the text with the other.

Sorry you’re having a bad day. Hope it gets better. If you change your mind I’ll be down by the water.

That’s all it took. She wasn’t going to leave Henri alone because of her own selfish sadness. She slipped into her favorite yellow sundress, shoving on her sandals and hustled down the stairs.