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I nodded. “And the boy that was next to you? Did he…”

I didn’t know how to ask my question of a girl that I barely knew.

“He didn’t touch me,” she said, her voice small. “He was just coming on strong, like you said.”

“And you didn’t like it.”

It wasn’t a question, but she shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”

Turning to look at me again, she seemed so vulnerable, younger than her years.

“I’m going to tell you something else I know.” We were getting closer to the resort, but I figured I had a little time to impart some final wisdom. “You always have the right to leave a situation that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. You don’t need to worry about being likable or seen as dramatic or any of that. You don’t have to worry about people that give you a hard time like that. You know why?”

Her lips curled in a small smile, and it felt like a victory. “Because they don’t matter?”

“Bingo. Too many women sacrifice their own safety or peace of mind because they want to be likable. It’s not worth it.”

The bungalows came into view ahead, and spotted Greyson standing in front of his. Audrey was beside him, and even from a distance, I could see tension in both of them. Their raised voices made it clear that they were arguing but just as we got close enough to make out the words, they both saw us.

Greyson’s eyes met mine for a split-second before shifting to his daughter. Then they came running toward us.

Chapter Eighteen: Greyson

Christine lied to me and her mother. It was a classic manipulation of telling each parent she was with the other one.

We probably wouldn’t have figured it out, but Audrey’s plans with some of her new friend on the island got canceled at the last minute, so she came to my bungalow, believing that Christine was with me.

“The app says her phone is in your bungalow.” Audrey’s voice was loud and threaded with panic, which wasn’t good for my tension headache. “Do you think she left it behind on purpose?”

I glanced down at the tracking app open on her phone screen and raised an eyebrow. “Of course, she did. You think she’d go to all the trouble of lying to us both only to carry around an object she knows you can use to find her?”

“Your attitude isn’t helping, Grey.” Her bottom lip trembled, and I felt bad for getting annoyed with her. “The sun is setting. What if she’s out on the island somewhere when it gets dark? She could get hurt.”

“She might be inside the resort somewhere.”

I meant for my words to be comforting, but her eyes went wide with panic. “Oh my God, the resort is huge. It could take forever to find her in there.”

“She might not be in there.”

“Then, where is she?” Her normally husky voice cranked up to a shrill screech that made me feel like there were nails being driven into my skull. I groaned and rubbed my temples.

“Can you take it down a notch?”

“Are you kidding me? Our daughter is missing!”

“And getting hysterical isn’t going to help anything!”

Now, we were both yelling.

Fuck. This wasn’t getting us anywhere. I was about to suggest that we get resort security involved when I felt eyes on me. Looking toward the beach, I was shocked to see Christine with Heather.

Audrey reacted just before I did, starting to rush toward the two of them with a small cry. I caught up immediately with my long legs, and we reached them at the same time. Audrey pulled Christine into a tight hug, her body shaking.

“Oh my God, I was so worried. Where were you? Why did you sneak away? Are you okay?” Before Christine could answer a single question, Audrey released her and turned on Heather. “And you! What were you doing with my daughter?”

“Audrey, calm down,” I said, not liking the way she talking to Heather one bit.

“Calm down? Are you insane?”