hia'

, staring at the endless stretch of water before me. The morning su

, to the way he looked at me, guarded yet intrigued. There was something

ed from behind, sl

naut's voice drifted

the way the wind tousled h

epping beside m

tween us, comfortabl

don't sleep much," I

he corner of his li

in Clearwater Bay. Maybe it was the quiet, the lack of distractio

re?" he asked suddenly, hi

ught me off gua

. Clearwa

head, its wings cutt

," I admitted. "I

ead, considering my

hroat, but I forced i

moment before noddin

e told me he understo

k about leaving?"

around the wooden r

hy don'

ring beneath the surface. "Becaus

h me, though the m

about Clearwater Bay. It was about

s, but before I could, he turne

ng toward the town. "You

swer, but it wa

ow, that

ut's

her steps light against th

s diff

the way she looked at me like she

wasn't afraid to ask questions

g around us. The place was already filling up with locals, their

own a mug. His gaze flickered between Cy

egular," he teased,

What can I say? Th

kled. "Hig

, Cynthia leaned back, watc

ere who care about

eally reading it. "Yeah. Ma

the o

cked in my

t push, d

g about her. She knew

etting them down before leaning ag

row. "Are there bi

. "Depends on

held up his hands in sur

absentmindedly. "Tell me

around the cup. "What

. Somethi

e

dangerous

ity," I said finally.

rved. "That

of unspoken words lingered between us. M

hia'

disappeared, leaving me to wander the town alone. I didn't mind. There was something peaceful ab

of old novels, breathing in the scent of aged paper. The sh

g interesting

reat Gatsby, flipping through it

. "You're

that ob

ips. "Everyone notices a new

g the book back.

something unreadable. "

ent a shiver down my sp

g. "Some things in this town

sk more, the door creaked open, and Arnaut stepped inside. His eye

ady?" h

ded. Whatever I had

nly the

ut's

s going to find answers she wasn't ready for. Walking beside her,

rrowing slightly. "Nothing,

warned her. Clearing my throat, I kept my vo

a searching look

and unspoken. Some pasts weren't meant

ier, I let out a slow breath.

watching m

your time here, don't

g behind her eyes. She didn't ask them. But I knew sh