Page 267 of Ruin My Life
By the time we reach the island, my chest feels lighter than it has in weeks.
We follow the winding route we always take—through New Shoreham and out to the dirt road threading through the trees. When Rebecka’s house comes into view, the front door swings open before we’ve even parked.
She’s waiting at the steps, her arms already opening for me.
Damon slows to a stop in the driveway, but I barely wait for the SUV to be in park before I’m unbuckling and throwing the door open.
Rebecka meets me at the bottom of the porch and wraps me in a hug so full and warm it nearly knocks the air out of me.
“You’re finally here,” she says, her hands rubbing my back. “I’mso proudof you, sweetie.”
She’ll never know how much those words mean to me. They bury themselves somewhere deep inside—between every scar and every survival story.
“I didn’t even know we were coming, but I’m so happy to see you,” I say, laughing as I pull back a little.
“Well, you know Damon and his secrets,” Rebecka teases, giving her son a mischievous brow wiggle. “He planned this weeks ago.”
“Why am I not even a little surprised?” I laugh, just as Damon steps up beside us. I rise on my toes and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
His hand finds the small of my back, warm and steady. He leans in, his voice soft but smug. “I’ve got a few more surprises up my sleeve. Dinner, for starters.”
I smile, remembering how his stomach growled halfway through the drive. When I asked if he wanted to stop, he swore he could wait. Now I know why.
Rebecka heads inside first, and Damon follows close behind me through the front door. But the second I cross the threshold—
“Surprise!”
A chorus of familiar voices echoes through the living room.
I stop dead in my tracks.
Silver and gold balloons hover near the ceiling. A shimmering banner stretches across the far wall, bold and glittering:CONGRATULATIONS.
Beneath it stand the people I love most.
Monroe.
Chavez.
Lee.
Dahlia.
Lola.
Even Hope is here—her hands clasped tight, eyes bright with quiet joy.
“What… what is all this?” I breathe, turning in a slow circle, my heart hammering behind my ribs.
When I find Damon, he’s not looking at anyone else. Just me. His eyes hold a thousand words. Pride. Love. Relief. Everything we fought for.
“Surprise,” he murmurs again, softer this time, just for me.
Tears prick hot at the corners of my eyes. Damon leans in and kisses them away—one, then the other.
“This is—” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. Not with them. “You guys are incredible.”
“You’re the MIT graduate,” Chavez says, smirking. “Pretty sure that makes you the most impressive one here.”
