Page 151 of At First Catch

Dangerous behavior.

Hadley

Says the man who looked emotionally devastated over pancakes last weekend.

I grin helplessly toward the desk.

Me

Your family is deeply hostile.

Hadley

You love them.

The breath leaves me softly.

Because yes. That’s the frightening thing.

I do.

The Wrights. The marina. This town. All of it tangled together now with Hadley at the center.

Hadley

You free for lunch?

Immediate warmth.

Me

Always for you.

The response takes longer this time.

Hadley

Nolan Pierce.

Just my name again. Soft even through text.

And there it is, that impossible feeling every time I realize she still sounds overwhelmed that I love her this openly.

The same way I still can’t quite believe she loves me back.

My phone buzzes again.

Hadley

Meet me at the lighthouse at one?

Me

I’ll be there.

No hesitation.

No scheduling check.