Page 150 of Surfer's Paradise

“You crushed it at the show,” he said, tapping his fingers along his mug. “I’ve never seen you like that before.”

“Successful?”

He gave her another look. That I’m going to kill you look.

Rosie grinned and looked down. “It went okay.”

“You’re underselling it.”

“I’m trying to be modest.”

“You’re trying not to gloat.”

She looked up at him, smiling again a little. “Maybe.”

He tilted his head. “Greg Taylor looked proud.”

There it was. That flicker of something in his eyes. She ignored it.

“I guess he is,” she said softly. “He believes in me.”

“Good,” Isaac said.

Rosie tilted her head. “You know, I’m very surprised to see you here on a workday. Even with your injury, I expected you’d be doing something on base.”

“I’ve been surprising you a lot lately.” Isaac grinned, then flexed his shoulders like he couldn’t sit still. “But, yeah, I fucking hate being off work.”

Rosie raised a brow. “You, hating rest? Shocking.”

“I’m not built for lying around.”

“Your ribs are.”

He exhaled a laugh, wincing slightly. “Still sore.”

“Chris told me about the accident,” she said carefully. “And, once again, I was surprised I didn’t hear it directly from you.”

He didn’t meet her eyes. “Didn’t want to make it a thing.”

“But it was a thing.”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

She didn’t say I was worried. She didn’t say I almost called. She didn’t say I still haven’t figured out how to stop caring.

Instead, she poured herself more coffee. Avoided his eyes.

Silence stretched between them, long and full of all the things they weren’t saying.

She stood by the window, sipping her coffee. The ceramic mug was warm in her hands, grounding her as she stared out into the slow bloom of morning light. Echo Park was still quiet at this hour. Just the low hum of the city beginning to stretch. A dog barked in the alleyway. Someone’s wind chime moved in a faint breeze.

Rosie wrapped her arms tighter around her waist, her coffee halfway to her lips, then stopped. Her chest felt too tight, trying to pretend she wasn’t still in love with a man who might never give her anything real.

She inhaled. Exhaled.

This was it. The moment. Time to end it.

She turned slightly, still facing the window, speaking into the glass like it could shield her.

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