When his caretaker arrives, Aiden and I clear the table together.
“Would it be okay if Skye stays with Neptune?” I ask as we finish loading the dishwasher. “They can keep each other company while we’re gone.”
Aiden glances toward the living room, where both dogs are stretched out next to each other. “You sure?”
“Yeah. They’ll be happier together.”
He nods. “Okay.”
I gather both leashes, and both follow without being asked. Skye is carrying a toy in her mouth, as if already knowing she’s going to stay at her friend's house. They follow me out the door, and we cross the yard into mine. I unlock the front door, and they run in, already making themselves comfortable in Neptune’s bed. I grab a hat, my bag, refill the dogs’ water, and point at them before heading back out.
“Be good,” I warn, though Neptune barely lifts his head.
When I step outside again, Aiden is waiting by his truck, sunlight catching against the metal.
“Ready?” he asks, opening my door.
I nod, climbing in.
“We’re going to Siletz. It’s about a forty-minute drive.”
The morning stretches wide around us—clear sky, open road, the ocean flashes in and out between trees, sunlight glinting off the water.
We fall into an easy quiet that doesn’t feel awkward or empty. Just… peaceful.
After a few minutes, Aiden glances over. “You wanna put some music on?”
“Sure.”
He hands me his phone. “Password’s 1120.”
I pause for half a second, surprised at how casually he trusts me with it, then type it in. The screen unlocks to a picture of Skye running along the beach, ears flying, tongue out.
I smile.
I have almost the same photo of Neptune on my phone.
“Any preference?” I ask.
“Whatever you’re in the mood for.”
I open the music app, pull up one of my favorite 80s playlists, and hit play.
The opening notes ofGypsyby Fleetwood Mac fill the truck.
“Aah,” Aiden smiles as he glances at me. “Great song.”
I lock the phone and place it in the center console, leaning back in my seat as the road curves along the coast.
The ocean moves beside us, endless and calm.
And for a while, I just sit there with the warm sun on my arm, music humming softly, feeling quiet, steady happiness settle in my chest.
Chapter 23
The drive winds farther inland than I expect, the ocean slowly giving way to rolling green hills. We turn onto a gravel road, and the scenery opens to rows of green stretching toward the foothills, mountains sitting soft and blue in the distance.
Aiden parks near a small row of vehicles lined up along the gravel, the field stretching out just beyond them.
