Page 273 of 912321

My smile fades when I look toward the cliffs. “It feels strange…”

He tilts his head, worried for a second. “What does, Mireya?”

“Knowing I’m actually leaving.” I keep thinking of the streets I learned by heart, the coffee shop, the people, the stupid little routines and marks I left on tables, on rocks, anywhere I could. Everything becomes precious the moment you know you can’t keep it. “I think I’m going to miss it here,” I whisper.

His thumb moves slowly over my hand before pulling me back closer. “You’ve always been nostalgic of a city that was never kind to you.”

I smile faintly as I look toward the high cliffs again. “I know…”

“Life is waiting for you, somewhere else, somewhere far away from this island.”

“Where?” I ask, knowing exactly what he meant.

“The very convincing thing from the FBI,” he says in a low teasing tone. “Remember?”

I look back up at him, biting a laugh, then says seriously, “You really think I’ll like it there? And Milo, and Blue…Is this even the right decision?”

His gaze lingers on mine, soft, reassuring. I can see myself in his eyes, the version he healed as much as he could.

“You’ll have your brother, your cat, and your best friend not too far away. You’ll have your own place, Mireya. Your own life.” He pauses, his mouth curving a bit. “And you’ll probably have me as your boss.”

I raise an eyebrow, pretending to sigh dramatically. “Authority issues again?”

The faintest chuckle escapes his lips. “You were difficult enough as a student, don’t give me hell there, right?”

“You weren’t exactly my favorite professor either.”

“No?” He asks, his hand wrapping around his chosen place on the curve of my waist, caressing it slowly.

I shake my head though I’m still smiling.

“Give it time,” he says, leaning in and kissing my collarbone. “You might find me more persuasive this time around.”

His gaze drops briefly to my mouth before returning to my eyes. The water moves around us, carrying us a little closer until there’s barely any space left between us and I rest my head against his chest again, listening to one of the safest melodies beneath my ear. His hand settles at the back of my neck then.

“You’re going to be all right,” he promises.

I close my eyes, nodding, letting my arms wrap around his back.

“For tonight, don’t do anything,” he adds.

I lift my head, asking softly, “And tomorrow?”

His eyes soften at the question. “Tomorrow you start your life.”

I look at him for a long moment, correcting him, “Our life.”

A smile returns on his lips, and those moments are so rare I want to keep this image engraved in my head forever. “Whatever you decide it is, Mireya.”

I reach for his hand beneath the water and lace my fingers through his, then he looks past me toward the sky and my gaze follows.

A single star has appeared between the clouds and he nods toward it.

“Make a wish,” I say.

He studies me for a moment then brushes my scars with a delicate touch.

“What did you wish for?” I ask.