“You know they aren’t going to do anything,” Miles replies, his teeth clenched, his hands balling into fists.
“Maybe so, but at least we’ve done what we can, put the police on notice that Isaac is causing trouble.”I shrug, looking up at Miles as he processes what I’ve just said.
I get that he’d rather just go fuck up Isaac’s world, and honestly, I would too, but again, that’s just what Isaac wants.He’s playing the victim here, but we need to take that away from him.
“Fine,” he mutters begrudgingly, slinging an arm around my shoulders.He walks us back over to the table.
“Ready to put the finishing touches on this place?”I ask him as we sit down, joining Sloane and Owen now.
“I am.”
We finalize the order for the sign based on Sloane’s design, and I can’t wait to see what it looks like in person.I can’t even believe she was able to take such little direction on what I wanted, sharing the colors and a few inspiration ideas I pinned on Pinterest, and ultimately coming up with the perfect design.
“You doing okay?”Miles asks as we crawl into bed, exhausted from the day.It’s not just everything with Isaac.That’s a big part of it, but opening this bakery has consumed so much of our time and energy.
Some days I can’t believe we continue to work our regular jobs, spending any free time working on the bakery.I can’t remember the last time we went to bed before two in the morning.
Tonight being no different.
“I’m good,” I tell him, and while it’s not entirely a lie, it’s enough that he can sense it in my tone and the way I wrap my body around his.
“Tomorrow we’ll go file for a restraining order,” Miles says reassuringly, but I’ve already talked myself out of it again.
“Do you think we need to?”I ask, and Miles props himself up on his elbow, looking down at me, his gorgeous brown eyes shining in the moonlight.
And as beautiful as his face is, with his strong jawline and stubble from the busyness of our days, his perfectly sloped nose and soft, full lips, it’s enough to remind me that I’m safe with him, safe in his warm and comforting embrace.
“Daze,” he purrs sweetly, but behind the kindness is concern and the pressure to move forward with the restraining order.“I think you need to, and if you don’t, then I will.”
It’s not a threat or a demand, but more a need to protect me, and if I won’t do it myself, he will do what he can to do it for me.
“Okay, tomorrow.I promise,” I tell him, resting my hand on his cheek, leaning in to kiss him gently.“Thank you for coming back.”
And for a split second, I don’t know if I’m thanking him for coming back instead of going to Isaac’s or for coming back to Maui.
“All I ever want is for you to be happy and safe, Daisy,” Miles whispers, the softness of his breath peppering my lips.
Easing back down onto our pillows, we both close our eyes, listening to the quiet stillness of our cottage, of our life together in a place that we call our own.
I let out a slow exhale, hoping I can sleep tonight as I run through a mental list of all the things we have to do tomorrow.Adding the restraining order just feels like an added stress I don’t want or need.So in my head, I’ve decided against it again.
Everything is so messed up, and I’m over it.
I wake to Miles dotting soft kisses along my shoulder, then my collarbone and to my neck.A sweet and gentle early wake-up.
“Let’s surf,” he murmurs, his lips caressing the shell of my ear.“The swell is perfect.”
It’s music to my ocean-loving ears.It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve been out on the water, felt the salt on my lips, the waves under my board.
“Yes,” I whisper back, closing my eyes, picturing us out there, and a calm washes over me.
In the darkness of the room, we move silently.Miles pulls on a pair of boardshorts, me slipping on a bikini and a rash guard.
And after brushing our teeth, we have our boards tucked under our arms and are walking across the street to our favorite spot.
It’s still early, just before six, and the sun is just peeking out on the horizon.The white crests of the waves are all we can see.
Perfection.
