Luckily, she’s little enough to forget I ever existed.She’ll find someone new to terrorize.
I glance out toward Chloe’s quiet cottage and empty driveway, wishing I could forget as easily.
My heavy heart drops deeper in my chest as I send her one more lame message explaining that I came by, but she wasn’t there.Then I grab my keys and lock up for the last time.
I pause at the top of the stairs and then wander around to the back side of the deck.I can’t deny it—Inner Shores has given me a kind of peace I’ve never known before.Mom and Dad are going to love it here, and thanks to me, their house is safe.
I lift up my phone and snap a selfie with the renovated deck behind me.Checking the photo, I frown at the screen.Who the hell is that guy?My hair curls around my neck, scruff peppers my tanned face, and one side of my mouth quirks up in a half-smile.Despite the shadow of heartbreak in my gaze, I look relaxed.
I text the pic to my family group chat with the caption, “Pretty nice digs… might move in.”
I consider sending the pic to Chloe, but I shove my phone into my pocket instead.Surely two unanswered messages is the limit before I start qualifying as a stalker.
Besides, it’s not like I’ll never see her again.At some point, I’ll come to visit Mom and Dad, and maybe I’ll be lucky enough to run into the girl next door.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes, but I brush the bastards away with the heel of my hand.
It’s better this way.A drawn-out goodbye would only hurt worse.
She’s made the choice to stay away, and I’m choosing to let her be.
There are only so many things that I can control, and Chloe has never been one of them.
At ten o’clock, I gather Kat onto my chest and set her on the seat beside me.Together, we pull out of the driveway.
My hand rests on her tiny back, my fingers weaving into her soft fur all the way to the shelter that Gray helped me find.Too soon, I’m turning into the parking lot, my heart busting inside my chest as I gather Kat into my arms and bring her out into the sunny day.
“You got a goodbye for me?”I ask, her fluffy legs dangling as I lift her close to my face.
She stares at me.
Jack shit.No reaction at all.
I love her anyway.
A smiley young woman who works at the shelter takes her from me, and I get halfway back to my truck before the tears start rolling down my cheeks.
I wipe my eyes and kickstart the engine, making a plan to grab lunch on the road once I’ve got Inner Shores in the rear-view mirror.Tuning the radio to my favorite news channel, I force myself to focus on the coverage and not the cute little coffee shop sailing past my window.
Don’t fall back in, Ethan.You’re a strong motherfucker.Stay that way.
This is how it has to be.
Every part of me tightens up anyway.I glance at the parking lot behind Mugs, scanning for Chloe’s yellow Volkswagen.
There it is—in her usual spot.
Dizzying relief whooshes through me.She’s at work.She’s fine.She didn’t drown in the sea last night after all.
But then a fist of iron punches me in the gut.She’s fine, and she never responded to my texts.
You’d think that would be enough to have me flooring it out of town without looking back.
But I have to clench the wheel so hard it almost snaps in two to keep the truck driving straight.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
CHLOE
