Page 20 of Drown My Sorrow

I spot them instantly. Kelly has a surfboard under his arm and is being followed by a group of women who have flocked to the island to watch them compete. The women aren’t wearing much, and I can’t help but compare how gorgeous they are to me.

Ezy and Gael aren’t far away either, but just when I go to look away, Ezy spots me.

He stills and, with a glance at Kelly, immediately jogs towards us. I don’t know if the three of them have pack bonds, but Kelly and Gael turn and spot me, too, so I’m guessing they have them.

I watch the three of them approach, and, in the periphery, I catch sight of Shale and Beau slinking around.

Safe. I’m safe.

Kelly approaches and looks me up and down. I’m wearing a simple cream dress. It’s modest, covering me to my knees, but I feel exposed.

“Did you win?” It’s the stupidest thing to say, but I honestly can’t think of anything else.

“Yes,” Kelly says with a probing look. “We did.”

“I want to apologise for blocking you. I thought you were someone else playing a game and messing with my head, and I just was in a bad head space. It never occurred to me that you were real,” Ezy spits out quickly. He looks anything but easy.

Keagan presses a kiss to the back of my head, and I lift my arms, holding onto the one wrapped around my middle for support.

“It’s okay. I understand.”

Ezy doesn’t look appeased. In fact, he looks more frustrated.

“And you?” I level Kelly with a look. “Did you mean what you said the day we met?”

“No! Of course not.”

I wait, but nothing else comes out of his mouth. No apologies, no sincere words.

All of a sudden, this feels like a horrible idea. A terrible idea. I force a smile and meet their eyes one by one.

“I’m glad to have met you. Good luck with the rest of your surfing competition.”

Ezy’s mouth drops open. “That’s it? You’re just going to walk away and leave it like that?”

I hesitate, confused and growing more anxious.

“What else can I say? You’re leaving tomorrow, right?” My voice comes out a bit fast, a bit panicked.

Kelly nods. “We are.”

I beam. “What else is there to say?” I look at Gael, and something in me stills and gets a little achy.

He’s staring at me with an intense and sad expression that makes me think he’s desperately lonely.

I squeeze Keagan’s arm harder, and Gael’s eyes drop down to where he’s holding me and then back up to my face.

But then Gael looks at the cane, and he studies my face a beat too long, and his expression clears.

“You look so good from the last time I saw you, Aspyn.”

His husky voice hits a part of me that yearns for home and times I thought I didn’t remember.

“When did you see me last?” I ask curiously.

“Well, the first time was through a window at school. Noah had gotten into trouble at school, and we were late for a meeting with the principal. I saw you and asked who you were. Noah said you were one of the nicest people. He really liked you a lot.”

I stare at him, my mind ripping open the memories of that place.

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