“Yeah.”
Neither of us moved.
“Dex?”
“Yeah?”
“I think this is going to be really amazing.”
“Yeah, me too.” He kissed my forehead. “Now come on. Let’s get you home before your mom sends out a search party.”
We drove back as the sun rose, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. A new day. A new beginning.
Dex walked me to the door, kissed me goodbye like he had a hundred times before.
But this time felt different. This time felt like a promise.
“See you at the wedding?” he said.
“See you at the wedding.”
I watched him drive away, then went inside to finally try to get a few hours of sleep.
Today Trace and Delaney would get married.
And the day after, Dex and I would start building our future.
Together.
Chapter 29
LEIGH
Icouldn’t sleep.
Again.
It felt like a running theme for the night, and right now I was lying awake, staring at what had become a very familiar ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t quiet.
But this time wasn’t about fear or uncertainty or saying goodbye.
This time was about joy. And hope. And the man sleeping peacefully next to me in the pre-dawn darkness.
Dex.
Hopefully no one would mind that I’d snuck him inside early this morning. It seemed safer than making him drive home when he was so tired.
We’d talked until almost five in the morning after we’d gotten back from the lookout. Lying in his bed, wrapped up in each other, making plans. Real plans. For a future that suddenly felt possible instead of impossible.
He was moving to Blue Point Bay.
It still didn’t feel real.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. 6:47 AM. A text from Delaney in our group chat.
Delaney:I’m getting married today!!!
Blake:sleeping emojiIt’s not even 7 AM
