Page 87 of Aftermath
The tourists were well down the beach, and the portion I sat on was practically empty. I tucked my knees in, holding them to my chest. I could spend hours just watching the way the waves moved, listening to their lulling sound.
I sat for what felt like hours without moving, just sitting with my thoughts.
Maybe I’d misread everything. Maybe I really just was Stone’s partner.
I’d slept wrapped in his arms, free from nightmares for the first time in years. That couldn’t be nothing. I needed it to be something.
I continued to watch the sun move across the sky and the ocean. Birds flew overheard, and a few locals walked by every now and then. I barely moved. There was not a single piece of me motivated to return to the empty rental.
If I did, I would just curl up in bed with a book and hide until Stone finally came back. Could I just pretend like this meant nothing to me? Maybe I could go back to sleep and wake up to forget everything?
I could just go back to cuddle with Alonzo and Birdie.
And that was when I realized I had become completely pathetic. Spending my birthday with my cats as company? I didn’t expect to reach this point until at least sixty, not my late-twenties.
A shadow grew over me, and I forced myself to turn to see who had blocked my sun. I squinted as I glanced up, still partially blinded by the sun.
Towering over me, staring down at me with his curious brown eyes, Stone held out a hand.
20
STONE
I had justone day of freedom left before I knew I had to face my Supervisory Agent. I’d made the call and agreed to meet him in Briarport. What he didn’t realize was, I was already there. It bought me a few days, but Sunday, I had to finally meet him.
For now, I had one last day.
It was Len’s birthday, and instead of spending it with her, I was running around town to find everything I needed to make it perfect.
This was what unprepared felt like?
Not a feeling I was familiar with.
When I got back to the house, finally, Len wasn’t anywhere to be found. I was slightly thankful, since I would have the opportunity to finish what I started.
Everything I planned was almost completed. There was just one last thing to do.
What I hadn’t expected was for it to take me another few hours to finish. By the time I was done, it was already well into the afternoon. Len still hadn’t turned up at the house, and I had a sneaking suspicion I knew exactly where she was.
I packed everything I prepared into a picnic basket and closed the lid. The basket had been laying around in the house, perfect for the rest of the day I planned for her.
The door shut behind me as I walked out of the rental and made my way through the garden. I could hear the ocean and knew if I just followed it down the path, I’d find Len.
I took the first outlet I saw to the private beach, free from tourists but a perfect spot for locals. I spotted her long, curly hair straight ahead of me, sitting in the sand, her favorite place.
“There you are,” I said, reaching out a hand as I approached her.
She was already turning around, tipped off by my shadow. There was a gloom in her eyes that made my heart sink.
She took my hand and stood without a word.
“Come on. I’m taking you somewhere new,” I said, trying to be upbeat.
You’re imagining it. It’s her birthday; she can’t possibly be this upset, right?
She barely reacted.
Wrong. Time to work double time to fix it.
