I freeze. Mille. Kenna’s younger sister. She looks so different from the last I saw her. I thought she was Kenna’s other sister when I walked in.
“Yeah, that’s me.” I say, shifting on my feet. My voice sounds smaller than I want it to—exposed.
Millie studies me for a moment, and I can feel the weight of her judgement, her eyes narrowing as if she’s peeling me back, trying to see who I really am underneath all the layers. Like she’s looking through me instead of at me. She remembers the boy who broke her sister’s heart and wonders if I’ve changed enough to be worth anything now.
Then she speaks again, softer, but still with that edge.
“You better prove to her you've either changed or still love her. She never got over you. And I won’t let you hurt her again. I don’t care what your intentions are.” She gestures around the room. “This place is my life, and so is my family. So if you’re playing games, I’ll know.”
I nod, trying to keep my composure. I didn’t come herelooking for a fight, but I get where she’s coming from. If I were in her shoes, I’d probably be just as cautious.
“I’m not here to play games,” I mumble. “All I want is a shot. I’ve spent the last nine years thinking about her. I want—I need to show her I’m worth the effort.”
Millie’s gaze softens, just a little. “You better be,” she mutters under her breath. Then louder she adds. “If you want to be with Kenna, just give her space. She’s been through enough.”
Her words land like anchors in my gut. I know that. I know how much she’s endured—not just because of me, but because life never gave her a break. She kept going. She built a life out of broken pieces. She made something of herself when I disappeared.
I leave the café with a determined pep in my step, even though the rest of my body feels like a ton of bricks. Because for the first time, someone said it out loud. She never got over me.
There’s still something left. Something worth fighting for.
And I will.
Every damn day.
Chapter Three
ANCHORED IN SAND
COLE-PAST
The wind feltgood as it ruffled my hair, and the air smelled like saltwater and sunscreen. There was something nostalgic about it. Something that reminded me of long-lost summers, of bare feet and late-night bonfires. Of being young and not knowing what the hell that meant yet.
The bright blue sky is dotted with a few lazy clouds and the sun beats warm on my skin. Everything seems to be in perfect balance. Like nature itself took it easy for once.
It’s a perfect beach day. The sun’s out, the water looks good, and everything feels slow in the best way. But for me, today isn’t just perfect because of the beach, though it’s certainly a bonus.
It’s perfect because ofher.
I spot Kenna from a distance, standing on the sand with a blanket spread out in front of her. She is bent over, working fast, like she had some sort of mission. I can’t see exactly what she’s doing yet, but I can already tell she’s focused. Her energy, her spark, is unmistakable. It’s the same energy that makes her one of the most captivating people I’ve ever met. Like the sun moves closer to Earth when she smiles, and the tide knows her name.
It’s not just the way she moves. It’s the intention in everything she does. Even setting up a picnic blanket is a tiny act of magic.She tucks the corners down into the sand like she’s anchoring something more than fabric. Like she’s claiming a piece of the world for us to exist in, away from everything else.
As I jog closer, I can see the way her hair falls around her shoulders, the way she moves with purpose and grace. She whips around, and when she sees me, that familiar glow takes over her face. Her eyes, a gentle green I still can’t quite get used to, light up, it’s a look that makes my heart skip a beat every single time.
I love that about her—how she looks at me like I am the most important thing in the world. It makes me feel...something I am not used to feeling. Something good. Like I matter. Like I belong.
“Kenna!” I call out to her, my voice barely rising above the sound of the waves.
She whips around, and when she sees me, that familiar glow takes over her face—those bright eyes lighting up, the look that makes my heart skip a beat every single time. It’s like I’m the only one she sees in that moment, like everything else fades away, and it’s just us.
“Hey!” she calls out, her voice light and teasing. “You’re late. I was thinking you’d leave me here to enjoy the view by myself.”
I let out a chuckle, shaking my head, already knowing how this was going to go. “I wouldn’t leave you stranded here. But I might need a little more convincing to enjoy all this,” I say, gesturing to the picnic set up in front of her. The blanket is lined with snacks, drinks, and a few things that look way too good for a regular beach day.
She smiles at me, all confident and cute, like she knows exactly what she is doing. “Well, I brought us a picnic. But there’s one catch,” she says, her tone suddenly serious.
I raise an eyebrow, already suspicious. “What’s the catch?”
