Fatty Patty: A Romantic Short Story (San Juan Island Stories #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

found them. She seemed completely unsurprised
that they were together, and followed them up the long dock in
Friday Harbor. "Are you catching the last ferry? Julian, you don't
have a place to stay."
    Julian waived to his client as she left with
her fiancé. His dad had passed away last year. He had nowhere else
to go on the island.
    "Julian?"
    The last state ferry rested in the docks,
engines idling. Tourists passed by with Lopez Island Creamery lemon
raspberry ice cream cones, steaming white bags of fish and chips,
and fragrant brownie squares made with culinary lavender. The trio
reached the crowded traffic circle and came to a standstill, and
still he didn't answer Mia.
    Someone behind them called Mia's name and she
left her Burberry shoulder bag with them. Obviously certain that
Pepper and Julian wouldn't go anywhere without her. Because why
would they? They hadn't spoken in five years and surely weren't
that good of friends.
    Pepper's hand, where Julian had unpeeled it
from the railing, still carried his scent. She cupped her hands
before her mouth, as if to hide the secret of him to herself just a
little bit longer. "What are you going to do now?"
    Gazing away from her, he waved to passing
classmates. Then he showed her that wonderful lazy smile. "I go
where the current takes me."
    "Does the current want to take you to my
parents' house?" She heard the echo of that long-ago pleading day.
Tremulous.
    He stepped closer. His eyes darkened, deep blue
and tender green. "You don't mind introducing a stupid, lazy surfer
to your brain trust?"
    She had so misjudged him. They were both
scarred by the taunts of the past. Both made fragile, and strong to
hide it, and secretly growing to heal. "You're not
stupid."
    He snorted. "Even your friends are smart. How
can an average man compare?"
    Mia marched towards them, a frown on her face
from the way they stood too close. "Julian, you can stay with me
tonight. There's an extra room at the house I'm staying
at."
    Pepper grasped Julian's hand.
    His head bobbed, surprised.
    "He has a place to stay," Pepper
said.
    Mia stopped. Her frown deepened. "No, he
doesn't."
    His fingers curled around Pepper's.
    "His place is with me." She tugged him forward.
Because she was braver, thinner, more successful. More certain of
herself. More true.
    They passed Mia, her mouth hanging open, and
all of the others. Allison did a double-take and nearly walked off
the dock.
    Julian's voice dropped low. Just for her. "I've
waited five years for this invitation."
    "There won't be cake now, probably." Her hand
slicked and began to slide from his palm. "My dad turned diabetic
and they've got a raw foods intern."
    "I don't need cake." Julian threaded his
fingers through hers and walked with her, under the pergola, into
the town of her past that was the town of her future and the town
of everything. "I only need you."
     
     
     

     
     
     
    Thank You

    Thanks so much for reading! You are the reason
I've written this story. I love that I could share my characters
with you!
    This is the first in a series of stories set
around a San Juan Island High School five-year reunion. Visit my
website at wendylynnclark.com to read
the latest news.
    If you enjoyed your experience, please consider
giving me an honest review on your favorite book-selling website.
Help others find out if they would enjoy reading this story
too!
     
     
     
    Acknowledgements

    This story would not have been possible without
the wonderful support of my friends and family, my award-winning
editor Christina (Berry)
Tarabochia , and my dedicated copyeditor Aaron Joslin.
You rock. Thanks for being a part of my life!
    The cover
image was provided under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license courtesy
of Ritzee Rebel. You can order her awesome art at her store on
etsy .
    The lady icon was designed by Sarfraz
Shoukat .
     
     
     
    Biography

     
    Wendy Lynn Clark is an award-winning author of
romance, young adult, and science fiction. A lifelong resident of
the Pacific