Arlene
I walked back to Liam slowly after pulling off my heels, the sea breeze brushing against my skin, carrying with it a strange mix of calm and anticipation.
He was seated on the sand, arms stretched behind him, long legs crossed at the ankle, watching the waves like they whispered answers only he could understand.
As soon as I got close, he looked up and gave me that crooked smile that made my heart flutter in an annoyingly familiar way.
Without a word, he gently pulled me down beside him. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t.
For a while, we just stared at the ocean. The waves rolled in quietly, each one crashing with a rhythm that oddly matched the sound of my heartbeat. Neither of us spoke. It wasn’t uncomfortable—it was grounding.
Then, finally, Liam broke the silence.
“I’m sorry,”
