Page 1 of I’m Already Gone

Part One

Lily

Ethan’s fingers traced a slow, deliberate path from my temple, over the curve of my cheekbone, and along my throat. “You know,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble against the quiet roar of the ocean, “I didn’t know what true happiness was before I met you.”

Stretched out on my stomach on the sun-warmed sand, I smiled.

My eyes drifted to the familiar landscape inked onto his right bicep. It was a beautiful sunset of fiery oranges and deep indigos swirling above Sunset Cove Beach. And in bold black ink written on the sand was his nickname for me: Sunshine.

Propped on one elbow and turned fully toward me, our faces were so close I could lean in an inch and press my mouth against his full, tempting lips.

“Is that so, Mr. Hartley?” I purred, letting my gaze linger on his mouth for a beat too long before flicking up to his eyes. “Because I’m pretty sure you became my favorite part of my days from the moment you said hello.”

His grin grew until his perfect white teeth gleamed against his tan. “It must have been one hell of a hello since you married me,” he teased.

“The very best,” I confirmed, a soft smile playing on my lips. “I bet you don’t even remember that day.”

The blue in his eyes, already dazzling, seemed to catch the sun’s reflection like scattered diamonds. He held my gaze before he answered.

“You were wearing a sleeveless periwinkle summer dress with white glitter gel sandals. Your hair was pulled up into a ponytail wrapped in a purple satin ribbon. And you had a smile that lit up every room you walked into.”

My breath hitched, my heart doing a little kick against my ribs. “You remember that?” I asked.

“Every detail,” he affirmed, his thumb brushing over my jawline. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to marry that girl one day.’”

I felt my neck warming, and not because of the sun.

“I don’t know why you’re so surprised. Every day since, you have taken my breath away.”

He shifted, his hand moving from my jaw to cup my chin and pull me into him. His lips found mine in a slow, sweet kiss that spoke of years of love that had deepened over time, and welcomed two children later.

“You have no idea how much I love you,” I murmured against his mouth.

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” he breathed back, his lips lingering.

“Mom! Dad! Look!” Jake, our ten-year-old, bellowed.

We blinked, pulling ourselves reluctantly away from our shared moment. Ethan and I looked to see Jake standing proudly beside the sandcastle he had made with his seven-year-old sister, Maddy, who was bouncing with excitement.

“Do you like it?” Maddy asked, beaming so hard I thought her face might split in half.

“We love it!” I exclaimed.

“Watch out for the waves, though!” Ethan called out.

Jake and Maddy spun around as a foamy wave surged closer. They scrambled to protect their masterpiece. “Come on, Maddy! Sit in front of it,” Jake ordered. Maddy always did everything her big brother said, and she plopped herself down, using her little body as a barricade.

Jake was spreading his legs apart, planting his fists on his hips like Superman as if he had the power to hold back the disaster that was about to happen.

Suddenly, a larger wave crashed into Maddy, knocking her back into the castle.

“Oh, no!” Maddy cried out, pushing herself onto her feet.

“Ah, man!” Jake stomped his bare feet into the wet sand.

Ethan sprang to his feet, brushing the sand from his hands. “Come on, Sunshine,” he said.

I peered up at him from my comfortable spot on the blanket, a playful pout on my lips. “Why? I’m fine where I am.”