Page 79 of Not Until I Found You

The sun is warm against my shoulders, and I tip my head back, close my eyes, and inhale a deep breath. When I open my eyes, Zane is beside me, lifting his kayak and nudging it into place with his foot.

“You did it.”

“I did.” I nod, pushing damp hair back from my face as a smile spreads across my lips. My arms feel pleasantly heavy from the effort, my heart humming with leftover adrenaline. “And I loved it.”

He bumps his shoulder into mine, the warmth from his sun-kissed skin sending a zip of awareness through me. “I knew you would.”

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“Of course.” He tips his head toward our parked vehicles, where Luke and Olivia are standing in a tight embrace, oblivious to the rest of the world. “If you hadn’t come, I would’ve been stuck third-wheeling it with those two lovesick puppies.”

He winces for effect, and I chuckle.

“That would’ve been tragic,” I say solemnly.

“But really,” he adds, turning back to me, his voice dropping enough to seem more private. “We wanted you to come. Luke and Olivia like having you around.”

“Just Luke and Olivia?” I ask, lifting a brow.

He shrugs, the corner of his mouth curving up. “No. Not just them.”

His expression softens, the edges of his usual teasing easing into something that’s meant only for me.

“I, uh—” Zane starts to say when Luke cuts our conversation short.

“Do y’all wanna grab some lunch?”

Zane looks away first, but not before his fingers brush against mine as he reaches for his towel. “Of course.”

While the two of them discuss our next plans, I reach into the small waterproof bag clipped inside my kayak and pull my phone free right as it begins to vibrate. I see my mom’s name light up on my phone’s screen.

“I’ll be right back,” I excuse myself before taking a few steps away toward the trees.

Placing the phone against my ear, I answer, “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, honey.”

Her voice sounds normal as we fall into easy conversation. I fill her in on the day, ask her about work, and let the familiar rhythm of it carry the discussion. Then something changes in her tone. There’s a slight pause before she answers. The way her words come out a little too quickly, like she’s trying to keep up with her breath.

“Are you feeling okay?” I ask finally.

She pauses for a moment.

“I’m fine,” she finally says after a loud exhale. “I’ve just been tired. I probably pushed myself too hard this week at work.”

The words feel as if they land physically on top of my shoulders, and guilt squeezes against my throat. I’ve spent this summer trying to mend one broken relationship with my parent, never realizing the other one was quietly fraying at the edges. Mom and I haven’t stopped communicating, but I hadn’t noticed I created some space between us, until now.

“You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?” I press, wondering if this is partly my fault.

“Of course,” she says, softer now. “I’ll be okay. I just really miss you.”

“I miss you too, Mom.”

“How is Ashton doing?”

I shrug, even though she can’t see me. “He’s busy with work, but he’s doing good. I know it’s been a big help for him to have me here. I’m glad I came.”

There’s another pause before she clears her throat. “I’ll, um… I’ll keep counting down the days until you’re home again. Listen, I’m going to try to rest and see if that helps me feel better.”