Page 13 of Under the Boardwalk

“Riley, you're scaring me. You can't just tell a girl not to freak out. Do you know the first thing she's going to do?”

“I'm guessing here, but I think, freak out,” I mumble as I watch her, in fact, freak out. I decide to rip the bandaid off and just get it over with. Put both of us out of our misery.

“After that night, when you told me it was your brother, I may have pulled a few strings to have him looked into. Before you get mad, I just had to see what was happening. If he was going to keep targeting you, baby, I needed to know so I could help protect you. I had Beck talk to some of his guys at the ritzy ass golf course. They have pull in this town. What they found wasn't good, Siren. I'm so damn sorry,” I tell her, trying to decide if I should pull her into my arms. She’s sitting up in bed, staring blankly at the wall.

“What are you telling me, Riley?” she asks in a completely neutral tone. I think I’d rather her yell at me than give me no emotions. I swear I gulp before I finish.

“They looked into your brother, baby. It wasn't good. He’s mixed up with some really bad people. Owes them money, a lot of it. Turns out, after he attacked you, he went on a bit of a bender and ended up on the other side of the island, broke into three different houses, and stole a car. They arrested him trying to get off the island with the stolen car, a back seat full of stolen crap, and a glove box full of cash.”

I sit there and wait for the inevitable. I wait for her to stand, get dressed, and walk out the door. She has to be so angry with me. I potentially started the downfall of her family. I might not have made her brother do what he did, but I was the reason he was flagged. I don't regret it. I would do it all again for what he put her through. Not just the night of the attack, but her whole life. In my opinion, he deserves worse than prison time, but I keep that to myself. Right now, I have to figure out a way to convince her to stay. To still be mine. Even if she hates me, I can love her enough for both of us. I open my mouth to beg her not to leave me when she turns to me with tears in her eyes. Her next words stop me cold.

“I’m finally free.”

Chapter Eleven

Alina

I laugh as Charli takes off at full speed and squeals before jumping on Kas’ back. He, of course, catches her and throws his head back, laughing. She leans down and nips his neck, and I smile at the love those two share. My smile grows as I feel two arms wrap around me from behind.

“I thought you ladies wanted to grab a lemonade while we got the funnel cake,” Riley whispers in my ear before kissing me right below there. I smile, turning into his arms and burying my face in his chest.

“The line was way too long, and I didn't want to be away from you for that long,” I tell him honestly. I don't admit that some guys were hitting on me, Harper, and Charli and made us uncomfortable. If they knew that, all three of them would be like sharks in the middle of the carnival looking for blood.

“Well, we haven't gotten the funnel cake yet. Want to go on the Ferris wheel before we head out?” Riley asks, smiling down at me. I’m not ready for the night to end, and the Ferris wheel is our thing, our ride, and the start of our journey.

“I’ll never turn down that ride.” I smile and laugh as he grabs my hand and pulls me behind him. I turn to look back at our little group as Charli and Harper laugh.

“Hey! Anyone know where Becks is? We haven't seen him in a while,” Harper mentions.

“I’ve texted him a few times, but he keeps saying he’s busy. I don't know what’s going on with him,” Riley tells us, still dragging me along after him. I’ve never been happier in my whole life. Since my brother got locked up, this dark storm cloud hovering over my life has turned into a rainbow; all I see is color. Riley did that for me. I knew from the moment I saw him that first time in the diner he was something special. I just didn’t know he could make me feel just as special.

“He’ll come around when he’s ready to talk. He was the one who told us this summer was gonna be a big one. Maybe he has something up his sleeve,” Kas mentions as we make it to the Ferris wheel line. It only takes moments before we’re at the front of the line and climbing in.

“I can't believe it’s almost the end of the summer already. This has been the best summer of my life,” I tell him as the chairs swing, and we slowly make our way up into the air. I look back and see Harper and Grayson behind us, followed in the next bucket by Charli and Kas. I've gotten so close to the girls; it's amazing. I've been dying to introduce them to Frankie, but she’s been MIA for a while now. Still, the girls have brought me into their fold and made me feel like I’ve always been there.

“I had the absolute best summer, and it all started right here on this ride. I had no clue one stolen ride, one new partner, one song could make me finally wake up and see I was just letting time pass me by,” he says, making me smile.

“Getting sentimental on me, are ya Brookins?” I ask jokingly, lifting a brow. I love the sass I shoot freely his way now. I’ve gotten comfortable with him, enough to sass and joke the way I have always wanted to.

“For you, always, Siren,” he whispers, leaning in and kissing my cheek before pulling back.

We are almost at the top of the ride, and I’m almost bursting as the high point comes. I’ve been saving this moment forever now. He makes me feel seen, and I want him to know how much it means to me. I want him to know how much it means to not feel stuck in the shadows, looking at the world from the sidelines anymore. I’ve blossomed into the woman I have always wanted to be, and he keeps pushing me to do more and be more every single day.

As we finally stop at the top, I turn to her and softly kiss him. Drawing it out a bit, knowing the twenty I slipped the guy will have us up here for a little bit longer, I deepen the kiss until he moans. Only then do I pull back and wait until his dazed, unfocused eyes meet mine before leaning in close.

Before I can say what I had planned, he beats me to it. “My Siren, you’ve stolen my whole being and clutched it in those tiny hands. You’re my beacon, my guide through this life, my way home, baby,” he says, kissing me softly once more before whispering, “I love you, Alina.”

His confession short-circuits my brain, and I can only stare back at him blankly and stammer out an oh-so-eloquent “Nuh-uh.”

“What Siren? Want me to prove it?” he teases, and Before I can answer, he cups his hands around his mouth and yells at the top of my lungs, “I, Riley Brookins, love the hell out of Alina Stevens.”

I laugh, and can’t help the smile that lights my face. Once again, he has me glowing. I can hear the hooting and hollering of our friends from down below and strangers cheers and clapping. I can't believe I stayed watching from the sidelines for so long when all the magic and beauty lived in his eyes, voice, and soul. I'll never again make the mistake of hiding in the background. He is my world, the very center of it, and that will never change.

Before I realize what's happening, he is pulling me into an all-consuming kiss. Fuck, I love this man so much. He is just about to take it deeper when I pull away, throw my head back, and yell at the top of my lungs.

“I LOVE YOU TOO RILEY BROOKINS.”

Epilogue

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