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“That’s why you have me,” Isaac jokes. “That house on Citrus is going to go fast. If I were you I’d put an offer in ASAP. I’ll send you all the paperwork for the sale. Congratulations, Reed. You’re starting a new chapter. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, Isaac.”

I hang up, send off a quick email, and make plans for dinner. Now it’s about more than just showing Petra possibilities. I want her to want to be withme.

Chapter twenty-six

Petra

The hotel phone ringsearly in the morning, and Reed reaches over me to answer and hang up. “What’s happening?”

“Beach day,” Reed answers with a yawn. We’re both groggy from staying up late after dinner. Reed didn’t push my boundaries. Instead, he showered me with waves of affection that had my heart melting before we ordered dessert. Just as I was reminding myself that falling in love isnoton the agenda, Reed mentioned he was leaving for Iowa.

It was just as effective as dumping cold water over my head. We drove back to the hotel after dinner and climbed under the covers together. Our hands and kisses wandered, but we kept it from going further. If we’d had sex, the shock of going back to my old life would be unbearable. At least knowing our time was limited gave me a chance to memorize what it’s like to sleep in his arms.

When he leaves, it will be me and Natalia again. The way it always was.

“You were serious about the beach?”

“Absolutely,” Reed says, stretching and rolling over me to nuzzle my neck. “Supposed to be sunny between noon and four out there today.”

“Reed.” I hold his face so he can’t avoid me. “It’s an hour each way. This is not something you do with someone you’re never going to see again.”

“Do you make all the rules now? I want to do this with you. Whywouldn’twe make this memory?”

It’s holding my heart in my hands to say it. “Because it will hurt.”

Reed skips over my confession like it’s nothing. As though he expected it. “I’m going to wish for a good, long while that we lived in the same city. But I trust that we’re adults and we can handle some separation, and our memories will be worth it. What do you say?”

You’re leaving tomorrow.I repeat the mantra to guard my heart. But having this memory, a fun, romantic, not-sexual memory, with Reed? “Okay.”

“You work at three tomorrow, right?” he asks, and I nod. “Good. Pack your overnight bag. We can stop at your house for fresh clothes on the way. Can we take your car?”

I blink up at him, and Reed arches an eyebrow, waiting for me to argue with him. “Sure.”

“Okay then.” He grins and pulls me in for a short, fierce kiss that leaves me giddy. We roll out of bed to get ready and pack up. I don’t bother doing anything with my hair because the ocean air will only make it curlier and frizzier.

His phone rings repeatedly, but a different number scrawls across the screen each time. He doesn’t bother blocking each one—it wouldn’t do any good. Another voicemail notification sounds, and Reed’s face falls as he sinks to the bed. He was full of optimism this morning, and even though he looks healthy and beautiful, the shadows are creeping back into his face.

“Kinley, right? Is this more than usual?”

“Yeah. I’m not sure what triggered her, but this is… She gets like this when she’s manic. It’s a sign that she’s off her meds and unwell.”

I nod, settling my hands on his tense shoulders. “It sounds like you really cared about her, to know her signs and patterns.”

“She’s the worst person on earth, and I wish I’d never met her.” Reed’s shoulder lifts in a somber shrug. “But she wasn’t always likethis. She was in therapy, getting her life together and processing some awful stuff.”

“Do you miss that part of her?”

Reed snorts. “Fuck no. She made her choices and burned every goddamn bridge she could. I never want to see her again, whether she gets help again or not.”

“Can I put it on airplane mode?” I brush his hair back and gently tug the phone from his hand. “We don’t need cell service. Spend the day with me,tesoro. Forget the past. Forget the future. Forget how much we hurt. One more day together.”

He nods, pulling me down to his lap to kiss me softly. I switch on airplane mode and drop the phone to the bed so I can wrap my arms around him. He squeezes me and buries his face in my neck. “I want all your days,” he mumbles.

My heart trips and cracks, and it’s good that he’s leaving, or my brain would’ve run away with wishful thinking. I squeeze back, pulling him to stand up with me. “The beach is my healing space. Maybe it can be for you, too.”

Reed smiles at me, small but sweet, and finishes packing his bags. I text Livi while Reed has a long conversation with Tina at the counter, and order us a rideshare to my parents’ house.

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