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I couldn’t let her slip away. She was my only hope. I grappled for something to hang onto, anything to keep me from plummeting to the ground.

“Krystina!”

“Alexander.” Her distant voice echoed through the endless abyss that threatened to swallow me whole.

I sat up like a shot, sweat-drenched and shaking. The sound of rain lashing at the windows disoriented me, and it took a moment or two before I remembered where I was.

Boston. The hotel. Only a dream.

But I could still smell the damp air. I still had that sinking feeling in my gut from falling—the kind you get on a roller coaster after it goes over the first crest.

It was the second time in a week a dream had shaken me up. I could blame the dreams on my heightened emotional state since meeting Krystina. Or maybe it was an underlying fear my sister’s ex-husband would dredge up the long-buried past. Or perhaps tonight, it was simply because I’d had bad fish for dinner.

I lay back down against the overly soft pillows and tried to shake off my unease.

A shrink would have a field day with me.

I rolled onto my side in an attempt to get comfortable again, but my efforts were futile. I couldn’t downplay certain elements of the dreams. They left me with a feeling of emptiness that made my heart ache. I could not ignore the fact that while I was sleeping, I had been searching for my mother.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Krystina

Murphy’s was as loud as ever when I walked in to meet my friends from Wally’s. I pushed my way through the crowd of people and scanned the room for a familiar face. I wasn’t sure if anyone else had arrived yet.

“Hey, baby. Fancy meeting you here,” I heard from behind me. I spun around, shocked and pleased to hear the familiar voice.

“Alex!” I impulsively threw my arms around his neck. Resting my head against his chest, I breathed in his scent. He may have only been away for a few days, but it had seemed like a lifetime.

“Glad to know you missed me,” he said with a laugh.

I pulled back, apprehensive over how elated I was to see him. I convinced myself the previous evening that I could manage to keep Alexander at arm’s length. But after taking just one look at him, my optimism began to fade rapidly.

So much for taking the road that would create a little distance, Cole.

My chest tightened at the thought of facing the alternative option.

“What happened?” I asked, trying to shake off my unease. “I thought all flights into New York were still backed up.”

“I have my ways. Besides, I told you I’d be here. So, here I am.”

“Well, I’m happy you made it,” I said.

“So am I, angel. I’m glad to see you wearing the necklace I bought you, too.”

I reached up to touch the emblem around my neck and felt my cheeks flush.

“I started thinking about the quote you sent me with the flowers. That was sneaky of you, by the way. But, if it makes you happy for me to wear it, then I don’t see the harm.”

His eyes glimmered wickedly dark as he circled his arms around my waist.

“What do you say we ditch this joint? I want to go home and see you wearing nothing but that. And maybe those fuck-me shoes that you have too,” he whispered into my ear.

“As enticing as it sounds, I can’t really ditch my own party before it even starts,” I said begrudgingly. I pulled away to scan the crowd. “I’m not sure if anyone else is here yet, though. Let me ask Will. Come on.”

I removed Alexander’s arms from my waist and took hold of his hand.

“Uh, no. Krystina, I’ll just wait here,” he said, pulling free of my grasp. His face looked conflicted.