"I'm trying to make you understand that I see you. Not the fixer. Not the woman who deflects every compliment. Not the person who's been taking care of everyone else since she was old enough to hold a job."
I hold her face between my hands.
"I see you, Jane. And I really, really like what I see."
She's full-on crying now. Face pressed into my chest.
"I really like you too," she says. Muffled. "So much it scares me."
"Good. I'm terrified."
"That's not better."
"Sure it is. Means we're both in this."
We sit there. Holding on. Neither of us saying the three words we're both carrying.
Finally, she pulls back. Wipes her palms across her cheeks. Takes a breath.
"So what do we do?"
"We get through tomorrow. Make sure Natalie's safe."
"And then?"
"Then we go back to real life. You to Boston. Me to wherever I land. And we see if this still feels real when we're not in paradise."
"That sounds terrifying."
"Yeah."
"But also... maybe possible?"
"Maybe possible."
She leans her forehead against mine. Her breath is warmon my mouth. "I don't want this to end."
Neither do I.
But we both know it's ending tomorrow. The deal's done. The mission's over. The fake dating expires when we leave this island.
What comes after—if anything—that's the gamble we're both too scared to name.
"Your mom and Aunt Milly are going to be disappointed if we don't work out," she says.
"Grace will be too."
"She'll get over it."
"Will you?"
Quiet. "I don't know."
"Me neither."
Minutes later, Jane tugs me toward the bedroom, her tears dried, something lighter entering her expression. The resilience that keeps astonishing me.
"Come on. Now that I'm officially off the clock, I want to enjoy this island as a free woman." She glances back at me over her shoulder, and the look in her eyes is pure mischief despite the tear stains.
