Page 120 of 15 Summers Later

For the second time in his life, he was in love and the reality of it scared the hell out of him.

He had loved Johanna and had grieved the loss of her for four long years. He had told himself he would never let himself be vulnerable to that kind of loss and pain again.

But when his sister had texted him, saying only that Madi needed his help, he was fairly certain he had stopped breathing for a full minute while he waited for her to answer his call.

In that moment, he had accepted the truth that had been hovering at the edge of his subconscious for months now, nudging at him to wake up and pay attention.

This thing between them was not a passing, somewhat inconvenient attraction.

He was in love with Madison Rae Howell.

As the truth soaked through him like that rain outside soaking into the ground, he knew that he had been in love with her for a long time but hadn’t wanted to see it.

Maybe he hadn’t beenreadybefore now to admit it to himself that the affection and friendship he had for her since that day fifteen summers ago had gradually begun to shift and grow into something else. Somethingmore.

Madi was strong and courageous and amazing. She was the only one who couldn’t seem to see that in herself.

He squeezed her fingers now and she gave him a small, uncertain smile.

How did she feel about him? He wasn’t completely sure. She kissed him with a tenderness and passion that took his breath away. But her pattern was dating a different guy every few months. Maybe he was only the flavor of the summer for her.

No. He was suddenly sure this thing between them was bigger than that.

He wanted to tell her how important she had become to him, but he knew this wasn’t the time. Right now, her focus had to be on her sister and Ava’s heartbreaking loss.

Still, he didn’t release her hand and was grateful that she seemed to find comfort and support from his touch.

“I have to tell you something,” she said, her voice low. “I found out s-some shocking information tonight.”

“Oh?”

She nodded. “Ava is the angel donor for the animal rescue.”

“I suspected as much.”

Much to his regret, she pulled her hand away, and he could feel her gaze boring into him as he turned onto the dirt road that would eventually lead up to the dinosaur camp.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her tone accusatory.

He sighed. “I said Isuspected. I didn’t know for certain. I figured if she was behind the gift, she had her reasons for donating anonymously. I had to respect those.”

“I wish you had said something. Maybe if I had even considered it a possibility, I wouldn’t have acted like such a jerk to her.”

“What could I have said? I didn’t know anything for sure. I might have been wrong.”

She sighed, bouncing as the truck went over a rut on the dirt road. “She said she finally agreed to the publishing contract mainly for the animal rescue, because the amount they were offering her for a contract would allow her to help make it a reality.”

“Wow. That’s great.”

She nodded. “She also agreed to the contract so she and Cullen would have enough for a down payment on a house in order to start their family. Poor Ava.”

Her voice broke on her sister’s name and Luke reached for her hand again.

She sniffled. “I hate remembering how awful I’ve been to her this summer. All my snide comments about the book. Blaming her for invading my privacy. Telling her she ruined my life. I don’t believe she evenwantedto publish the book. She mostly did it for me, so I could have the start-up funds we needed.”

“She loves you. The two of you have an unbreakable bond, forged through all you have survived together.”

She swiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie. “I keep saying I want to forget the past, to focus on my life now and what’s ahead. But it’s always there.”

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