Page 51 of The Sound of Forever
“I wasn’t expecting that,” she says softly, her voice tinged with surprise but no regret.
“Me either,” I admit, my hand still cupping her cheek. “But I’m not sorry.”
A small smile curves her lips. “Neither am I.”
The sound of Rayne stirring pulls us back to reality, and Julianna turns toward the bed, her fingers brushing her lips briefly before she stands. I follow her gaze, my heart still racing but my focus shifting. Rayne mumbles something unintelligible, her small face peaceful even as she sleeps.
Julianna looks back at me, her expression unreadable but warm. “We should get some rest,” she says, her voice steady now. “Tomorrow’s going to be another long day.”
“Yeah,” I agree, though I know sleep won’t come easily tonight.
As she settles into the extra bed, I take the recliner near the window, glancing out at the city lights beyond. Tonight it feels like things might actually be okay.
I might actually make it back from the dark.
ChapterForty-Nine
Julianna
Being backat the house feels . . . grounding. After a week in Seattle, I’m ready to stay in Luna Harbor forever. Well, maybe not forever, but long enough to let the pieces of this new life settle. Who knows what’ll happen next? Right now, my focus is on Rayne—her health, her well-being—and, maybe, a little on Keane.
It seems like we’re dating. We haven’t hadthetalk yet. But since that first kiss at the hospital, we’ve been holding hands, stealing touches when no one’s looking, and exchanging glances that linger just a little too long. Have we kissed again? A few times, but it hasn’t been as intense as the first one.
There’s a quiet ease to it, a rhythm that feels natural. We’ll have to discuss it at some point—maybe later tonight when Rayne’s asleep. Or maybe we won’t, because what is there to say? Is this something I want to pursue? The question lingers in my mind, tugging at all the fears and doubts I try to shove aside. He’s everything I’ve sworn to avoid—intense, complicated, carrying a past that’s as messy as my own.
And yet, when I think about him—when I think about us—the answer comes without hesitation. Yes, I want to be with him.
The knock at the door snaps me out of my thoughts, sudden and loud enough to send a jolt through my chest. I pause mid-step, the dishtowel in my hand slipping from my fingers, dangling loosely as I stare at the door. Rayne is in the living room, curled up on the couch with Fufu Floppy, her wide eyes fixed on the animated movie playing on the screen.
The knock comes again, harder this time, the sound reverberating through the quiet house.
“Stay here,” I tell Rayne, my voice steady despite the unease curling in my stomach.
As I approach the door, my pulse quickens, the uneasy twist in my gut tightening. When I open it, the man standing on the other side is someone I’ve never seen before. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and his eyes are cold, like he’s used to getting what he wants without question. The way he looks at me—like I’m in his way, an inconvenience—makes my spine stiffen.
“Where is she?” he demands, his voice rough and clipped, full of accusation.
I tighten my grip on the door, my heart slamming against my ribs. “Excuse me?”
“Rayne. Rayne Valencia,” he snaps, his tone impatient. “I’ve come to take her back.”
Back from where? The words slam into me like a physical blow, my mind scrambling to process them. “Who are you?” I ask, my voice firmer now, sharper. “And what do you mean, take her back?”
“I’m her uncle,” he says, his jaw tightening, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “Her father’s brother. He died before she was born, and Elena took her away from us, her family. I’m here to bring her home.”
His words crash over me, pressing hard against my chest. Rayne’s father. Her family. Everything converging into a storm I didn’t see coming.
“She is home,” I say, forcing my voice to stay calm even as panic roars beneath the surface. “I’m not sure who you are, but Rayne is safe here with me. You have no right to barge in here making demands.”
His eyes narrow, his gaze cutting through me like he’s measuring my resolve. “She’s family,” he says coldly, “and you’re not.”
My grip on the door tightens until my knuckles ache, but I don’t back down. “If you think for one second I’m going to hand her over to a stranger, you’re out of your fucking mind.”
“Is that right?” he sneers, taking a step closer, his presence looming. “You don’t know who I am. But if you don’t give her to me right now, I’ll make sure you’ll regret it.”
“You’re not taking her with you,” I snap, standing my ground as every instinct screams at me to shield Rayne from this man. “And if you think you can intimidate me, you’re wrong.”
Behind me, I hear a soft shuffle, and my stomach sinks. Rayne is at the edge of the living room, clutching Fufu Floppy to her chest, her wide eyes flicking between me and the stranger at the door.
