Page 92 of Phoenix

I take it from her and wrap it around my body. “Thank you. How did you know I was here?”

“You left your purse by the door, so I knew you were at least nearby. I took a guess. I was right.” She pats the sand by here, urging me to sit. “Want to talk about it?”

“There isn’t much to talk about.”

“Honey, you don’t just spend an hour in the ocean for shits and giggles. Grayson filled me in on what happened with Case at the party. It explains a lot.”

“That poor man. The terror he has to deal with in such basic situations. I feel horrible for him.”

“But you shouldn’t feel bad for what happened yesterday. You didn’t know. You were just trying to flirt and have fun.”

“Blew up in my face, huh?” I smile a little. “He explained it all; then I told him about my parents. It seemed fair.”

“And you stayed the night, so clearly you made up and all is well?” She nudges me with her shoulder.

“There was definitely some making up happening. It was incredible really, the whole night. Until I got a call from work this morning, confirming the day I’ll be returning so the schedule could be made.” I stare off into the horizon.

“He got upset?”

“He said he wanted me to stay.”

“What? Really?” She scoots around so she can see my face. “Case asked you to stay here?”

“He said what we have has never been casual, and if I said otherwise, I was lying to myself.”

“How do you feel about it and him?”

“I like him, Amelia. I like him a lot. I could easily like him even more than that, but...”

“But what? There are no buts. Trust me when I say—you have to always go with your gut. Do I want you here? Of course I do. I’d do anything for it, but I can’t make you stay. You have to make the best choice for yourself. I know you don’t want to leave Marco.”

“He said I should just come here and be a writer,” I say quietly.

“Honestly, I don’t disagree, but it’s hard for me not to be biased.” She smiles.

“And he’s a cop, Amelia. I can’t be attached to a cop.” I shake my head.

“Why the hell not? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You know how most girls want the hero? The man who will always swoop in and go save the day? Well, that scares the shit out of me.” I slide my toes in the sand.

“Why?”

“Because heroes don’t always have a happy ending. I’ve mourned a hero once; two of them, actually. I can’t do it again. I won’t.”

“I don’t understand it, but at the same time, I do. I’ll always support you and any choice you make. Always remember that.”

“I want to help him, Amelia. I care about him. I want to show him he will be okay—like my brother did for me when I was a kid.”

“Then do that for him. Even if you can’t be with him the way he wants, show him you still care and you want him to be unafraid.”

Case scares me. Caring for him scares me. Seeing my own fears in his eyes scares me even more.

I need to help him.

He, more than anyone, deserves it.

“I love you.” I wipe tears from my eyes.

“I love you too.”

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