Page 71 of The Unbound Bookshop
Visions of Kevin trapped and alone, the tide rising, flooding the cave as he called for help that never came.
Called for him….
His chest constricted with a piercing stab of pain.
As he yanked and twisted in a blind panic, the bracelet dislodged, along with the box, and the unexpected shift sent him backward, plunging into the dark pool. Fully submerged, the icy surface closed over him like a frosted blanket, biting and abrasive. Clutching the box, he resurfaced, choking on salt water and a sob buried deep in his throat—deep in his soul, where it clawed to get out.
By the time he made it back to the beach, he couldn’t contain his tears.
He collapsed in the sand and let them fall, blurring Sage’s outline as she knelt beside him, gathering him in her arms.
Chapter 40
FLYNN
Flynn scrubbed his damp face,drying the tears. If it had been anyone else but Sage on that beach, he would’ve been embarrassed by the outpouring of pent-up emotion. But part of him appreciated the ability to be vulnerable with someone who understood his grief. At least, partially understood. He still hadn’t told her the whole story.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, stroking his hand as they sat side by side in the sand. “It must have been awful.” Her voice carried on a tentative breath, as if she couldn’t even imagine what he’d experienced.
She sat so close he felt the heat radiating off her body. She didn’t seem to mind his wet clothes and hair soaking her own as she sat pressed up against him, her head bent toward his.
Cap didn’t seem to mind, either. The compassionate pup nestled his muzzle in Flynn’s lap, gazing up at him with comforting big brown eyes.
Flynn scratched the scruff at his neck, letting him know everything would be okay.Eventually.
“Are you going to open it?” Sage asked softly, casting a timid glance at the time capsule resting in the sand beside him.
“Yes, but there’s something I need to tell you first.” A tremor of foreboding traveled through him, scattering goose bumps across his skin. He didn’t want to open this particular wound to the harsh light of day. But if he didn’t, he knew it would never heal.
“What is it?” She threaded her fingers through his and folded them closed, clasping his hand in a tender, reassuring hold.
“The night Kevin died—” His throat constricted around the words, raw and swollen. The backs of his eyes stung.Come on. Keep going.
He gulped air, forcing himself to continue. “The night Kevin died, I was supposed to be with him. We agreed to meet at the cave before high tide. I was supposed to bring my letter and the item I’d chosen, and then we’d bury the time capsule together. Only, I never showed.”
The confession burned like acid, and it hurt to swallow. He pictured his brother waiting for him as the hours ticked by, the tide getting higher by the minute.
He felt Sage’s gaze but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He couldn’t bear to see disapproval and disappointment in her eyes.Once again, he’d left someone hanging.
Instead, he stared straight out to sea, watching a bird dip its wings in the water. “I’d planned to be there. But that morning, you texted, asking to get together that afternoon to go over a new route for our post-graduation sailing adventure. I knew it was cutting it close, but I thought I could hang out with you, then meet up with Kevin afterward.” A sad, sardonic smile tugged the corner of his mouth. “Except, I should’ve known better. With you, I always lost track of time. And—” A fresh surge of grief grabbed hold of his heart, gripping tightly.
He squeezed his eyes shut, forbidding the tears from falling.
Sage pressed her fingertips against the back of his hand, firm yet gentle, encouraging him to go on.
“When I finally checked the time, I realized I’d never make it, so I decided I’d stay with you and apologize to Kevin later. I figured he’d get bored waiting around for me, go home, and we could try again the next day.” Shame coated his words, thick and rough so they scraped his throat on the way out.
“I didn’t even call, counting on an apology later to smooth things over. But I never got the chance.” Blinking, he glanced up at the sky. Puffy white clouds dotted a blanket of blue, looking down on him, passing judgment. Judgment he deserved. “Kevin went into the cave at high tide because he’d wasted time waiting for me. If I’d been there like I’d promised, he would still be here.”
Anger and self-loathing sat in his stomach like a smoldering coal. A reminder he carried with him, eternally stoked by his regret.
“There’s no way you can know that for sure.” Her tone was kind and gentle, but he heard the quiver of pain. And it pierced right through him.
“I can be pretty darn certain,” he said bitterly. “If I wasn’t such a selfish jerk, my brother would still be alive.” Pressure built in his chest, making it hard to breathe. “This,” he rasped, “is why I’ve devoted my life to achieving all the things Kevin couldn’t. Because of me, he never had the chance.”
The horizon line blurred, becoming a jumble of muted blues. He thought of how he’d given SageMiraand turned down the promotion. Was he being selfish again? What would Kevin want him to do?
As if she could read his thoughts, Sage gave his hand the kind of squeeze that said,You’d better listen up.“What happened to Kevin was an accident. A horrible, tragic, heartbreaking accident. I know you miss him. So do I. But you loved Kevin. Fiercely. You’d do anything for him. And he knew that, without a doubt. One decision you made at eighteen doesn’t change the bond you two had or how much you loved him. Or how much he loved you.”
