Page 102 of Lost & Found

But Pasha is okay, right? The last few times you’ve referred to him as yours?

KINS:

Oh, honey, he’s all YOURS now. Wait until he sees you. Please text us an update. You should totally take a picture of his face when you walk down there.

BELLA:

What, you’re not going to send him this one too. Yeah, don’t think I don’t know about the betrayal from this morning.

KINS:

Don’t be mad, I love you. Low key, say the word, though, and I’ll send this one to him on your behalf. #rideordiesister

BELLA:

Fine. But don’t send it until I text you. I may chicken out and throw one of his shirts on before I go down. Serves him right.

KINS:

Deal.

TORI:

Have fun.

With one last deep breath, I turned to face the mirror. Kinsley was fucking brilliant. The cut highlighted my hips instead of hiding them. The top framed my chest rather than shrinking it. Nothing about the bikini asked me to be smaller. It just fit—every curve, and somehow it made my imperfections less noticeable.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

With a slow inhale, I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. I walked out of the bathroom and pulled on my jean shorts. Flip-flops were next. His discarded shirt from earlier was within reach, so I grabbed it.

For a moment, I debated putting it on. To hide or not to hide, that was the question. I draped it over my shoulder. The cotton brushed against my skin as his scent rose. It was warm, clean, and distinctly him. Breathing it in felt reckless and grounding all at once.

I took the lift down and walked toward the beach. Outside, the air shifted. Salt and sunlight wrapped around me, and waves crashed in a steady rhythm. The private stretch of sand gleamed beneath the afternoon sky. I scanned the area for the group. It wasn’t hard to find them. Their laughter drifted over.

Allow yourself to be fully immersed in the moment.

That is what Marcel would say if he were here with me. I walked closer, thankful no one noticed me, yet. Pasha was handing the book I’d bought earlier to Chase. I smirked and pulled out my phone. My fingers trembled as I typed out a message to Kinsley.

BELLA:

I see him. Send it. Wish me luck!

With a quick tap, the message was sent. My phone disappeared into the back pocket of my shorts as I lifted my gaze and waited. A slow inhale expanded the lion on his chest.

Heat flooded my skin. I kicked off the flip-flops and put them in one hand before slipping the T-shirt from my shoulder. One final adjustment to the top to ensure a nip wasn’t on display and my spine straightened. I stepped forward, the sand warm beneath my feet.

I’d just tossed the book to Chase when my phone buzzed, alerting me to a text message. A quick glance down showed Kinsley’s name flashing across the screen. Relief hit first. At least it wasn’t Sebastian again.

I opened the thread without thinking.

KINS:

Eat your heart out.

I nearly dropped the damned phone. My mouth actually fell open as the image loaded. For a second, I considered the injustice of viewing something like this on a six-inch screen. I needed a goddamned projector. A wall. A stadium display.

Stunning didn’t even begin to cover it.