Page 48 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

Pained noises fall from my lips as I sniffle and wipe my eyes. Barney whimpers beside me, pawing at my leg. I type faster, trying to outrun the truth.

I miss our friendship, our teasing, and your restless energy and impossible drive. But more than anything, I miss what we found on that island. For two magical days, the world finally stopped spinning.

I know I’ll never feel that again.

Sincerely,

Ellie aka Taylor

I stare at the screen, telling myself to read the email to make sure it’s error free, but I can’t breathe, and the tears keep coming. I hover over Send, close my eyes, and click the mouse.

The sound is barely audible, but it echoes in my heart like thunder.

Chapter Sixteen

Seth

The Melbourne sun beats down like it’s got a vendetta, turning the warehouse parking lot into a furnace and my patience into kindling. I toured five properties in Sydney. Two are solid contenders, both waterfront, both overpriced. Melbourne is slightly more affordable, and the area is more appealing to me. It’s less flashy, more artsy and lifestyle focused. This should be the more enjoyable leg of the trip, if my broker, Gus Wilson, ever shows.

I roll my shoulders back, trying to shake off the restlessness that’s been riding me since I found out Ellie is Taylor. If that isn’t a mindfuck, I don’t know what is.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see my grandfather’s picture on the screen. He’s halfway around the world in Alaska, probably standing on his porch, wrapped in a parka, enduring the kind of cold that bites to the bone, while I’m melting into the pavement. Funny how the world can hold fire and ice at the same time. Like my emotions.

I put in my earbuds and answer. “Hey, Gramps,” I say, immediately chiding myself for sounding as agitated as I feel.

“Don’t hey me, boy.” His gravelly voice fills the line. “You sound like you’re ready to wring someone’s neck.”

“It’s been a long day.”

“Uh-huh.” He has a way of making two syllables pack a disbelieving punch. “Either your deal fell apart, or someone stole your calculator.”

A breath of amusement escapes me. “The deal is still in the works, and the calculator’s safe.”

“Good. How’s it going in the land down under? You find anyone who understands the word expedite yet?”

“Barely.” I smile at how well he knows me. “How’s Gram?”

“As beautiful as ever. Still trying to feed the research team like they’re her grandbabies. If she could knit soup, she would.”

I chuckle. “Glad to hear it. And the expedition?”

“Cold, but good. I’ve got my eyes on something else. Something big.”

“What kind of something?”

“I can’t be talking about it yet. Don’t want your grandmother to hear me.”

My grandmother says something in the background, but I can’t make out what it is.

“Damn it,” my grandfather whispers. Then he shouts to my grandmother, endearingly but loud, “I’m not talking about another expedition! Stop eavesdropping.”

“I’m not buying your malarky, Bradshaw,” my grandmother hollers back. “Tell my grandson I can’t wait to see him.”

“Tell her I said I’m looking forward to it, too, and to feel free to leave you at home,” I tease.

My grandfather chuckles, then shouts to my grandmother, “He says he’s excited to see me.”

I hear her laugh. Their loving banter hasn’t changed since I was a kid. It’s comfortingly familiar.