Page 154 of Bring You Back

I glance at Camille whose eyes are on Tommy, imploring him to stay, but the rest of her face is resigned to what’s coming, her shield tightening over her chest.She already lost.

I look back at Tommy who’s now holding Camille’s stare, their eyes speaking in ways separate from me, and my voice sounds tired, strained, as I say, “Pick a problem.”

And he does.

He has.

In the moment Tommy’s eyes were locked with Camille’s, he decided.

As he walks out the door, like we knew he would, I pull Camille to my chest and hold her there. Let her know I’m here.

I’m choosing my girl, too.

38

The Lighthouse

Thomas

Julian can believe what he wants. I chose to look like a complete asshat, omitting Reyna’s possible location, because if she’s where I hope she is, it’s only me she wants knowing.

And Julian’s an asshole, which is worse in my book.Hedrove Reyna away. He drove her away while holding her hand. He pushed her to this point.

I still don’t believe she took it as far as she’s making everyone think. Reyna’s not vengeful. Sure, she had some reservations about how Grumbles came to be here, but only because she doesn’t believe in stealing. And she’s not uncaring. She wouldn’t throw Grumbles to the streets; she would try to right a wrong. She would take the cat back to Ohio, to her rightful owner, and unless she has super speed. . .

She wouldn’t do that.

I’m not in denial. I know Reyna better than I know myself, and I have so much faith in my being right about this, I don’t even waste time looking for the cat.

Julian was hearing her, but he wasn’t listening.Big surprise.

But let’s say if—bigif—Reyna did let Camille’s cat out, our world has officially been turned on its head, and I need to find her.

I have to be present. I have to listen. I have to show her she’s enough, that she hasn’t lost me.

I’ve learned a lot from Reyna, but it all comes down to how to love her.

To how I love.

Reaching her myself and showing her that love is my only priority.

I’m climbing small rocks, jogging through streets to get there before the sun goes down. The fence is before me and I jump the pickets. I had a growth spurt two years ago, and now I’m the right height to do so. Back then, I always snagged my legs along the top, chipping paint and skin before falling into the grass. Reyna would rush to my rescue, trying not to laugh while checking my injuries. I’d laugh first so she’d feel comfortable to laugh with me.

But I could never get her to jump with me.

I’m moving too fast, my speed causing my overrun thoughts to overestimate the jump, and I fly too high, landing hard on my feet as I lurch forward, catching myself with my hands.Shit.I dust them off and keep moving to the water, my need to be with her outweighing any physical injury.

The lighthouse is barren, left to age at the base of a rugged cliff. It’s been our secret for years. Our meet up spot. Our place to get away when we want to be lost, then found by each other.

The town forgets it’s here. There are newer lighthouses, better ones that are unbroken with less turbulent waters. In my eyes, nothing is better than this one. Nothing means more to me.The lighthouse with no light,as people have called it. The light’s still there, inside. You have to know when to look.

Please be inside, Reyna.

I’m at the door, out of breath, telling myself not to charge in like a white knight, desperate for the girl. But that’s what I am: desperate to see her, desperate to hear her voice, desperate to check on her.

I halt right inside, the space showing Reyna sitting back against the wall, next to the lit lantern we keep here, and all the anxiety of her possible absence leaves my body in one breath. My eyes skim her outline, my relief lolling me back against the door frame as I try to even out my breathing.

She came.

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