Page 146 of F*ckboys

“Thank you,” he breathes against my hair. “You won't regret this. I promise you, Fallon. I love you,” he says fiercely, cupping my face in his hands. “Always and forever.”

“I love you too.” I reach up, tangling my fingers in his hair to pull his mouth down to mine.

The kiss is sweet yet passionate, sealing our promise to one another. When we break apart, Aksel rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

I cling to him, emotions overwhelming me. There is no going back now. For better or worse, our fate is sealed.

Interlaced together, the way it always should have been.

Aksel stands, pulling me up with him. Our joined hands swing between us as we walk back along the beach, the setting sun casting an orange glow over the rippling waves.

Sand squishes between my toes with every step. The cool breeze carries the briny scent of the sea, fresh and clean.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Aksel glances over at me. “Have you given any thought to when you'd like to have the wedding? I know it's soon, but we could do a small ceremony now and plan a bigger one for later.”

I laugh. "Jeez, Aksel. You only asked me a few minutes ago. I'm still trying to process the fact we're engaged!" I shrug, turning to face the water. “But I do know that I don't need anything fancy. As long as I have you, that's all that matters.”

“You're all that matters to me, too.” Aksel stops walking, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. “But you deserve the wedding ofyour dreams, Fallon. We have all the time in the world, so take as long as you need to plan it.”

“You're too good to me.” I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing my face into his chest. Strong arms come around me in return, holding me close.

“Impossible. I will spend the rest of my life proving I'm worthy of you, Fallon Dempsey.”

I smile against his shirt, breathing in his familiar scent. “You already have.”

The moment stretches, comfortable and content.

A loud buzz from my phone shatters the peace. I pull away with a sigh, digging the device from my pocket.

One new text from an unknown number.

(Anonymous number): Remember me?

My blood turns to ice. Aksel peers over my shoulder, his frown deepening at the cryptic message.

“Who is that from?” His voice is deceptively calm, but I can feel the tension in his frame.

“I don't know.” Dread pools in my gut as the implications of those two words sink in.

Someone from my past has come calling. And nothing good ever follows from that.

My hands start to shake as I stare at the text. Aksel pulls me close again, rubbing my arms.

"It's probably just a wrong number," he says softly. But the look on his face tells me he doesn't believe that.

"No." I swallow hard. "It's not."

Memories I've tried to bury for years come flooding back. The blood. The pain. The rage. I push them away, clutching at Aksel like he's the only thing keeping me afloat.

"Whoever it is, we'll deal with them together." His voice is steady and strong. "No one will hurt you again. I promise."

I nod against his chest, drawing in a shaky breath. We stand there for a long moment, his warmth and solid presence chasing away the ghosts of the past.

When my phone buzzes again, I steel myself before looking at the new message.

(Anonymous number): I'm coming for what's mine. I've had it before and I want it again.

Bile rises in my throat. I know now, without a doubt, who this is. One of the four people who have collectively haunted my nightmares for years, slipping in and out of shadows, always watching and waiting. My torment didn't stop at my attack. Each year, they reach out again. Stalking, keeping tabs on me. I can never prove it, though. They're always one step ahead. An item moved. A funny noise. A rustle in the shadows. And it's not in my head.

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