22
Adeline sat on her back porch, wrapped in a wool blanket, a mug of hot coffee in one hand. She hadn’t slept, and had instead spent most of the night listening to the waves, looking to the stars, and asking for guidance from God, or the universe, or anything that would listen. Because something had broken last night, and she didn’t know how to fix it. Didn’t know if it was possible.
How could she have been so stupid as to let her guard down? She had known better. But Eli had found the c***k in her armor and slithered his way into her heart.
And then ripped it out.
She watched as the sun rose, casting a dull glow on the ocean, and took a sip of her coffee. Another day had begun. And Adeline had nothing planned, because her store had been overtaken by Eli Hunt. He’d offered her a place
