Page 123 of Broken

“Yes.It does. If it’s not my fault, then it’s not yours, either. You had no control over what I did with my feet. You were protecting me from someone you knew could hurt me. You got upset. End of story.”

The stare between us was intense, but eventually, I relaxed my gaze and gave her a nod. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

She tucked her hand back under my shirt just as more lightning flashed, lighting up the entire sky around us so bright that it could have been day, and Izzy buried her face back into my neck with a small screech. I held her closer, running my hands along her back.

“Do you think that’s our cue to head back?” I smiled by her ear. She didn’t move, her body still tense. “You’re not ready to go back, are you?”

“No.”

I frowned. “Izzy, you’re so cold.”

“I don’t mind. I just need you.” She sighed, relaxing her head against my shoulder.

Sighing my consent, I pulled out my phone and sent out a text to everyone involved with the search, realizing I should’ve done it before.

“Come on.”

“But–”

“Just trust me.”

I shifted her from my lap so we could both stand and scrolled through my phone, turning up the volume before sliding it back in my pocket, and Izzy looked up when it started to play.

“Our song.” She smiled, and I held my arms open for her to step in.

“Didn’t your dad remind you to dance?”

“You saw the letter.”

“I did. Now, are you gonna get your pretty ass over here to dance with me or not?”

Beaming, fresh tears in her eyes, she stepped into my arms.

ISABEL

“Tell me a secret,” Tucker’s voice vibrated against my ear through his chest. I was lying half on top of him in his truck, where we’d ducked out of the cold and wind, and sounds from the ocean still carried in, washing over us in the predawn air, though we were now warm. My fingers trailed along the contours of Tucker’s chest as his fingers played with the ends of my hair. I was just basking in the comfort of being in his arms again. I think we both were.

“What kind of secret?”

“Anything. Something I don’t know.”

“A hard demand from someone I’ve known my whole life,” I teased, and I felt his smile even though I couldn’t see it. “I hate my nickname.”

Tucker stilled. “Princess?”

“No. Izzy.”

I lifted my head to place my chin on my cast to look at him, finding the surprise in his face I figured I’d see.

“Seriously?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Always have.”

“Then why haven’t you ever said anything?”

I shrugged. “Annie came up with it, and it made her happy.”

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