“Because you don’t mean it, or because you wish you hadn’t said it?” He holds up one hand. “You know what? Don’t answer that. I think it’s better if I don’t know.” Raking his hand through his hair, he says, “It probably doesn’t matter anyway.”
“It does matter. What I said had nothing to do with you, actually—”
“Even the bit where you said I’m a moron and I’ll drag her down with me?”
Urgh. Right. That part. My face grows hot with shame. “To be honest, even that part. I know it’s not a good excuse, but I was really drunk at the time, and I’ve been worried about her not wanting to have her own career. But honestly, it’s nothing to do with you as a person. It’s just… I thought she was giving up on her dreams.” I ramble on while he watches me, his face full of scepticism. “I meant the dreams that don’t have to do with marrying you and having children. Herotherdreams. Anyway, I am so, so sorry, Dane.”
He stares at me for a moment, he then tilts his head. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask, my heart daring to lift in relief.
Shrugging, he says, “Yeah, it’s okay. Everybody says dumb shit when they’re drunk.”
“Thanks, Dane,” I say, giving him a grateful smile. “Now, let’s say we find your bride. Did she leave any clues of where she might have gone?”
Shaking his head, he pulls his phone out of his pocket. He swipes the screen and shows it to me.
I’m sorry to do this to you, but the wedding is off. I don’t think we want the same things out of life, and it’s better if we realize it now than later. Please don’t try to find me. I’ve made up my mind, and it will only make it harder for both of us.
“All this over her not wanting to become Amber Hammer?” I ask, handing the phone back to him.
Dane sighs, rubbing the back of his neck and looking like the most upset man in the world. “For some reason, I thought it sounded so nice, but I can hear it now. Stupid, Dane. Stupid. To risk what we had together over something so dumb.”
“Okay, I’m not going to agree or disagree with you, but I will say this isn’t the hill for either of you to die on. Not when you’re as in love as the two of you are.”
Dane swallows hard. “Exactly. I want to spend the rest of my life with her whether she wants to become a Hammer or not. She’s the only woman I’ll ever love, Bree. I need to find her.”
Snapping my fingers, I say, “I think I know where she might be.”
***
I pull into the Hidden Beach parking lot, a wave of relief coming over me at the sight of Amber’s car. The entire ride over, Dane’s been sniffling and letting the odd sob escape his chest while he stares out his window so I won’t know he’s crying. The old me would be thinking, ‘hey, genius, you’re not fooling anyone’ but the new me just feels bad for the poor guy.
Parking, I take the key out of the ignition and turn to Dane. “Why don’t you wait here and…compose yourself while I’ll go see if I can warm her up a bit for you?”
Nodding, he gives me a hopeful smile. “Thanks, Bree. I really appreciate it.”
It takes me nearly fifteen minutes of walking along the beach to find the hideaway cave. The rain spits down at me, and the wind howls, causing sand to stick to my now-wet pants. It’s a miserable day to be out here, which is kind of fitting since it’s been a miserable day for Amber and Dane so far. And for me, if I’m really honest, because coming back to Hidden Beach reminds me of a certain man I’m refusing to think about. And all this talk of marriage and love is making me entirely too aware of the fact that he’s gone for good.
When I reach the cave, I crouch so I can make my way inside. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dark. Amber sits on a log at the back, a pile of twigs in front of her on the sandy floor. She looks up at me. “Oh great. Are you here to say you told me so?”
“No. I’m here to apologize.”
“Oh,” she says, taken aback.
“I’m sorry, Amber. I was a total shit on your hen’s weekend. I had no right to say what I did. This is your life and it’s not for me to decide how you spend it.”
“Took you long enough to realize it.”
“That’s a fair point.” I keep my head ducked while I make my way over to her and sit down with a heavy sigh. “This cave is much smaller than I remember.”
“Right? I thought I’d be a lot more comfortable but it’s cold and damp and I forgot to bring matches. Stupid.”
I put my hand on top of hers and give it a little squeeze. “I don’t think we ever once remembered the matches.”
She chuckles at the memory but says nothing.
“I heard you called off the wedding?”
