“Yeah. I want you both to go with me this time.”
Relief settles in his gaze. He braces his hand on my face. I feel my brows narrow at the sight, at the way he’s holding my cheek. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because the jetty is something you’ve kept to yourself,” he replies.
“Maybe I just like walking there alone.”
“Is that it?”
I lock eyes with him a few seconds longer. “No,” I say, swallowing. “No, the jetty… It’s the last place I saw my father. On my birthday.”
Nick’s chest falls. “Fuck, Juniper,” he whispers. He leans in, kisses my forehead, and pulls me in for a hug. I don’t know what it is about the embrace, about every time he has his arms around me, but I want to weep. He hugs me tight, swaying me slightly as he strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head.
“We’re here when you’re ready,” he says when we part.
“I know.”
Nick bends down and presses his lips gently to mine—a soft declaration that makes my legs feel like jello.
“Hey, I was thinking that print there would look stunning above your bed, darling,” I hear Jax saying as he approaches us.
I separate from Nick and clear my throat, unable to keep a serious face at the sight of Jax talking animatedly about redecorating my house.
“—is unless we’re commissioning a painting of the three of us naked. What—What’s this? Who died?” Jax frowns and looks between us. “Hey.” He turns me toward him with a press of his fingers to my hip, his other hand stretching around my throat.He fluidly tips my chin back with his thumb, causing me to exhale at his concern.
“What’s the matter?”
“Juniper was just saying she wants us to go to the jetty with her tomorrow,” Nick says.
Jax’s brows shoot high. “What? Really? You know, I have always wanted to eat birthday cake on the beach. I didn’t realize it wouldn’t bemybirthday, but I won’t be picky.”
My jaw drops, and I push him slightly. “Jax!”
He staggers off balance and grips his chest as if I’ve hurt him.
“Oh my god. You are ridiculous. As usual. What am I going to do with you?” I tease him.
He scoffs and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I believe we’ve already established that, love.”
Heat creeps up my chest, but I smirk at him to hide my nerves. “I have to get to work,” I say, shaking my head.
Jax snickers and kisses me hard. “About that painting.”
“I didn’t know I gave you permission to redecorate.”
“We’re moving in. I told you already.”
Differently colored stones and gems decorate the alleyway. Spirals of shells and pebbles dot the beach. There’s a thin layer of frost remaining on the dune beachgrass, which is weird because it typically melts the moment the sun hits it. I can see the children having fun playing around with the rocks and stones in the sand. Gathering them up and creating new designs. Happiness lights up on their faces at just how magical the island feels today—more so than any other Rumpus festival I’ve seen.There’s something in the air that has a lump in my throat, and I haven’t been able to swallow fully since Nick and Jax left me at work.
“The town must have had a bunch of new volunteers that worked overnight. Those spirals weren’t out there when I was closing last night,” I say to Jasmine as we set up for the day.
Shit.
Stop mentioning closing last night.
The very last thing I want is her realizing there’s an hour gap in the camera footage.
“Or maybe the brothers just decided to work some magic,” Jasmine says, smirking my way.
