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“Cave, put me down!”

Cave doesn’t listen; he walks to the door, grabbing Cipher’s jacket from the hook as he passes it. I wander behind them, trying not to laugh.

“I’m capable of walking,” Cipher protests.

Cave keeps striding up the path toward the house.

“Stop being unreasonable—I didn’t even get to pack my tools away.”

“They will be there tomorrow,” I tell him.

Cipher turns his head sideways to look at me. “Is there at least food?”

“Noa went to get some.”

“Fine, but if Noa just left, then I would’ve had plenty of time to pack up.”

That makes me laugh. Cave carries him the entire way to the house without putting him down until we reach the front door. When Cave sets him down, he hands him his jacket and opens the door.

We go inside, and Cipher washes up, while I set the table. It’s one of the things that is already built; Noa made sure of it, as eating meals together means a lot to him.

Noa rushes in with the bags of food. “You will never believe what’s happening at Ares’s Bar . . . my mom and Rue are cooking together. My mom is teaching him some of her favorite recipes, so we will have lots of food. Oh, and Cipher’s parents will meet us for breakfast tomorrow. Christopher is taking Cindy on a date tonight—they are so sweet.”

When Cipher comes back downstairs, we all sit down to eat our first meal together in our new house. It used to be four bedrooms, but Rhett helped knock down a wall between two of the rooms to make them into one large sleeping space. The bed from Cipher’s shed fits perfectly in there with enough room for all of us.

I peer around the table at all three of my men and think about the girl who arrived on the island. Back then I was a different person, and now I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Chapter Sixteen

Noa

I’ve not been looking forward to this day. I’m great at arrivals, when people come to the island; those days are so fun. But leaving is different. Everyone on the island is feeling the same as all our loved ones are packing up.

Nixie understandably gives us a time limit for guests to stay. The island needs to go back to holding night chases, since those make a lot of money.

Rue has put on one last breakfast, giving everyone a chance to say goodbye. The tent is full and loud. Somehow my mom ended up in the kitchen again with Rue; they have become buddies and plan to stay in touch to exchange recipes.

Watching my birth family interact with my island family makes me feel complete. Almost as if I finally have everything I ever need in this life—and I have never felt this content.

Valli is struggling with Leni leaving, but she has to get back to school. Having arrived early, Leni was required to sign an NDA, which a lot of family members don’t have to do, but Nixie made an exception since she is understanding of what happens on the island. Not all families would be, not when their children are chasing people around in the dark and doing questionable things to them.

Scanning the room, I find Cave, Valli, and Cipher eating breakfast, and my heart feels full. I’m still adjusting to this version of Cave, the one without his scarecrow costume, clad in sweats and a hoodie and not wanting to murder anyone just for being near him. I don’t know if this version of him will last, especially if faced with a situation that might require his inner Scarecrow, but either way I will stand by his side and have his back.

Cipher’s parents are sitting across from them, and Cindy signs something slowly to Valli. She is trying to learn more, and I know that means a lot to Cipher. My brain moves so fast that ASL isn’t as easy for me to grasp, but I am determined that Cipher will teach me. Christopher is watching them, and I have slowly seen him opening up to his son during this visit. So he should, as Cipher is one of the best humans I have ever met, and it would be his loss if he doesn’t try to maintain a relationship.

Breakfast moves by fast, with people eating and helping to pack up, then before I know it, everyone is wheeling their bags outside.

Lach has disappeared, and my mom sends me to go look for him. On my way, I see Cave turn toward the cornfield; he has no interest in goodbyes and people crying, and it’s good to see that part of him has stayed the same. Before he leaves, Christopher catches his attention and signs something to him, and while I can’t read ASL, I can read Cave. He signs back, and Christopher nods once.

Cipher comes up behind me, startling me, as I was too busy watching his father’s and Cave’s exchange.

“What did he say?” I ask.

“He told Cave he was proud of me, and Cave said, ‘So you should be.’”

I glance at Cipher. “Of course he should be. You’re one of the best men I know.”

Cipher nods. I hope he realizes he never needed his father’s validation, but it must have been nice for him to witness that moment.