My throat closed.
I thought of Eleanor’s tears. The warehouse. The drugs. Syd. The numbness.
“I’m scared,” I said.
“I know.”
“I’m scared of Syd. Of you putting everyone else first. Of me being the last person you think about when things get hard.”
He exhaled against my neck. “I know.”
“She still texts you.”
He stiffened. “I’ll block her. Today. Right now if you want.”
I turned in his arms. Looked at him.
“Words aren’t enough, Cal.”
“I know.” He took my left hand. Slid the old Vegas ring off. It felt lighter leaving.
He slid the new one on. Perfect fit.
“I promise,” he said. “I’ll be more present. From today. Sydney won’t be a problem. I’ll prove it.”
I stared at the diamond. Blue fire in the moonlight.
I sighed. Long. Heavy.
“Okay,” I whispered.
He kissed me then. Deep. Desperate. Grateful.
I kissed back.
But inside, quiet, steady, I kept one wall up.
Because promises were easy on a beach under stars.
Real life waited back in Beverly Hills.
And I wasn’t sure which version of Cal would come home with me.
Chapter 27
Hadley
The flight back to LAX felt longer than the one to the Bahamas.
Maybe because leaving paradise always stretches time. Maybe because reality waits like a bill you forgot to pay.
Eli slept the entire way, curled toward the window, noise-canceling headphones hugging his ears while his tablet balanced perfectly across his lap. Even asleep, his fingers occasionally twitched like he was still building redstone circuits in dreams.
Cal sat beside me, quiet. Not scrolling his phone. Not drinking. Not fidgeting like he usually did during flights.
Just… present.
His hand rested lightly over my bump the entire time. Not gripping. Not claiming. Just there. Warm. Protective in a way that felt instinctual rather than performative.
