Jane
The sand was cool between my toes.
We hadn’t spoken since leaving the car behind. Just walked. Slow. Side by side. The moon floated low above the water, turning the waves to streaks of silver. Each time the tide rolled in it soaked our feet, sucking at the sand until we sunk an inch. It should have felt grounding. Instead, it felt unsteady, like everything in me was sloshing around and refusing to settle. I wrapped my arms around myself, fingers digging into my elbows. I didn’t shiver exactly, but I felt exposed. Raw.
Austin didn’t say anything. Didn’t tease or push. But I could feel his eyes flick toward me now and then. Watching. Waiting. He was waiting for the explanation I’d promised in the car. And I hated that. Because it wasn’t something I wanted to talk about. But I’d told
