Page 154 of Lost & Found

“I agree and, more importantly, create a signal between the two of you that lets him know you’re about to go deeper. I do that with Andy, and he knows that it’s about to get ugly and that I need his stability. It can be anything,” Tori added.

“I can do that. And he makes me feel safe.”

“I love this so much. Kinsley our girl is growing up,” Tori said, her voice hitching.

I may have even heard a sniffle or two. Surprisingly, not from Kinsley. Instead, a soft chuckle reached my ears.

“I never doubted she wouldn’t. But you know what this means? Triple date nights,” Kinsley sang.

I could envision her shimming her shoulders as the sound of an egg being cracked reached my ears. But even better than that, I could feel the pride coming through the phone from Tori. I couldn’t help but smile.

Their advice was so important to me. We’d endured hell together, so it was only right that we were healing together too.

“Well, I should get going. We are having a picnic on the beach and I should get dressed. I love you both so much. Kiss Declan for me.”

As I pulled my shorts on, that lightness stayed with me. Not a single part of me was afraid. Those thick waves of nausea that always found me when I thought about having to share my past weren’t hovering, threatening to overtake me.

I could do this.

The salty breeze tugged at my hair as I spread the blanket across the warm sand. The ocean stretched endlessly before us, waves rolling in steady, predictable rhythms. I hoped it would be enough. Enough to steady her. Enough to steady me.

The sun hung high overhead, and I angled the enormous umbrella until the shade fell just right across the blanket. I wanted everything to be perfect for the conversation Isabella said she needed to have.

Even if I had no idea what was coming. We were on borrowed time. Sooner or later someone back home would realize the wedding had been called off. Questions would follow. Decisions would have to be made. We couldn’t stay here forever. A selfish part of me wished we could.

Maybe not forever. Just longer, the two of us alone.

I called her name. She turned slowly, kicking off her flip-flops as she walked across the sand. The moment she lowered herself onto the blanket, my breath caught in my throat. God, she was beautiful.

But the smile on her face was different. Not tense. More like determined and a little sad. That alone set every nerve in my body on edge. I reached for the bottle of wine and poured two glasses. My hands stayed steady despite the unease fluttering in my chest.

“I see you opted for wine instead of champagne.”

“Yeah, but maybe I should have gotten some brandy instead. Champagne seemed a bit celebratory, and something tells me this is anything but.”

“Very astute of you,” she offered, accepting the glass. She drew in a slow breath before speaking again. “You said I can always count on your promises.”

“And I meant it. Always.”

“You also said you’re a man of your word.”

My attention sharpened immediately. “I am.”

“So I need you to make me a promise right now.”

“Whatever you need,” I answered, relieved my voice didn’t betray the tension tightening in my stomach.

“Some of what I want to tell you will be hard to hear. It’s about my past. Do you think you are ready for that?”

I didn’t answer her right away. The ocean sounds filled the space between us. I’d come out here expecting something I could handle—Bash, logistics, next moves. Something I could get my hands on and fix. This…wasn’t that.

My eyes moved over her face, catching the tension she was trying to hide, the way her shoulders were tight. She was bracing. Already. For rejection. From me?

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Hey…” I lifted my hand, brushing a strand of hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. My fingers lingered there.

“I’m here,” I said, and this time there was no hesitation. “Whatever it is…I’ve got you.”