I stumbled down the hall, lost, half wanting to collapse in his arms, half desperate to escape before I lost myself completely.
The storm swallowed me as I returned to the living room, the ache of him a bruise under my skin I knew I’d never outrun.
12
AMELIA
The sun had barely clawedits way over the ocean, gray light creeping through rain-streaked windows. Everyone else in the house was still asleep, sprawled and tangled in the aftermath of too much liquor.
I padded barefoot through the kitchen, the hush broken only by the distant hush of the tide.
I poured a glass of water, hands shaking, and stared at the bruises blooming faintly on my wrist. Proof I hadn’t dreamed him. Proof of my own recklessness.
The storm had finally spent itself, leaving the world washed raw and aching. Mist drifted over the dunes, blurring the line where land met sea, everything liminal and half real.
It felt like the inside of my chest. Uncertain, empty, and desperate.
I pressed my forehead to the cool glass of the window, watching the pale suggestion of waves.
I remembered Colorado. I remembered the way I’d watched Caiden through glass, his eyes wild and wounded, both of us waiting to be rescued and knowing no one was coming. That hunger wasn’t just for food or freedom. It was the ache fortouch, for someone to drown out the terror, even if it meant drowning in them.
The fair was alive with color, sound, and the intoxicating scent of popcorn and sweets. Bright lights flashed against the sky, illuminating the faces of the crowd that swarmed like bees to honey.
The sky had turned to a blend of gold and orange, a prelude to dusk.
I stood at the entrance, the excitement buzzing around me, but inside, I felt a storm brewing.
We kept our moment in the fort private. We didn’t tell the others about our trip down the tunnel, or about my panic attack triggered by the suffocating darkness.
The way Caiden soothed me, how gentle and patient he was, stuck with me. But now that we were back in reality, he had gone back to his distant and brooding demeanor.
“Amelia! Come on, let’s go!” Sabrina called, her voice cheerful and inviting. She grabbed my hand, pulling me into the throng of people. I couldn’t help but smile at her energy; it was infectious, a bright spot in the tumult of my thoughts.
As we moved through the crowd, I caught sight of the Ferris wheel towering above, its lights twinkling like stars. The sight was beautiful, and for a moment, I let myself feel the thrill of it all.
“Look! We have to go on that,” Sydney exclaimed, pointing to the giant wheel, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Yeah, let’s do it,” Shane chimed in, pulling Sabrina along.
I stood back for a moment, watching them, my heart racing. The truth was, I wanted to enjoy this trip and forget about everything that had happened in Colorado.
But every time I glanced at Caiden, it was hard to shake the memories.
“Are you coming or what?” Caiden’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see him standing there, hands shoved deep into his pockets, a frown on his face.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I replied, forcing a smile. But inside, the conflict churned. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much his presence affected me.
As we approached the Ferris wheel, the lights twinkling like a constellation of stars, I felt the thrill of enthusiasm pulse through the group.
We split up into two groups and climbed into one of the cars, and as the wheel began to turn, I caught a glimpse of Caiden sitting across from me, while Sydney sat next to me.
He looked up, his eyes sparkling with admiration, as he observed the sight. It made my heart race. There was a softness in his eyes just now as his gaze drifted across the scenery, and I couldn’t help but cling to that softness.
“Hold on tight!” Shane called as the wheel started to ascend, and I felt the rush of adrenaline as we climbed higher. The view of the carnival below was breathtaking, the lights twinkling like fireflies in the darkness.
“This is incredible!” Sydney squealed, her excitement bubbling over.
“Yeah, it’s not bad,” I admitted, trying to focus on the moment, but my gaze kept drifting back to Caiden. He was sitting there, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he watched the world below. It made me feel things I didn’t want to feel, things that scared me.
