I get up, shaking my head, and wander through the shop and then outside. She can see the beach from here, but she can also see the lighthouse.
“It’s kind of perfect, isn’t it?” Devon says.
“It is.”
“If she takes it, she’s putting down roots.”
“If she takes it,” I agree quietly. I don’t want to get my hopes up.
Devon sighs. “I should have told her how I felt.”
“You didn’t know what was going to happen.”
“I got comfortable. I didn’t want to lose them. Her, Sebastian, the Sols. I should have said something back when it could have made a difference.”
I put a hand on his shoulder. “It happened the way it was supposed to happen.”
“I can’t lose her again. It killed me when she left. Watching her go, not saying anything because they all said she needed to spread her wings and try. But it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“So, we’ll go with her.”
Devon lifts his head, staring at me. “What?”
“If she leaves, we’ll go with her. Do you need to stay here?”
Devon looks down at his hands. “No, I don’t. Okay, yes. I’m in.”
“Elijah?”
He turns to us with a frown. “What?”
I choke on a laugh. “What were you thinking about?”
“Adult feelings. I don’t feel that ridiculous excitement anymore, my heart pounding long into the night. This time, it feels deeper, slower, more steady. There’s still excitement, but it’s tempered with a need to protect her and care for her. I’m just wondering when it changed. I love her more now.”
She comes out smiling, but it fades when she sees us.
“Are you taking the store?”
She shakes her head. My heart falls. “I want to think about it.”
The fact that she refused to take the store to me means that she’s not planning on staying. How are we going to convince her to take us with her? What if it’s us she’s not sure about?
“You’re thinking too hard, Mack.”
I shove it all away and grab her hand, lifting it and kissing her palm. Devon snaps another photo.
Elijah leads the way, ambling back towards Main Street. Everyone is gone, and I think we came in last again, but I’m not worried. Today has been interesting. Sunshine is teeming with good memories and bad, and the act of sharing them has made me feel closer to my pack and to her. I will give it to Lorelei. Her plan is effective.
“Can we head back to the house? I want to get Danger.”
“Sure, we can,” Devon says.
It only takes us a few minutes to get there. The little dog howls the whole way we walk up the drive. As soon as Imogen opens the door, he takes off, racing around Sofia, screeching with excitement.
She kneels down and waits for him to come to her. He rolls onto his side and then back, wiggling with so much excitement that he’s barely able to keep still.
“You are so cute; look at you. Did you miss your mum? I came back, though, see? You’re all good.”
