The bonfire crackled in the distance, a roar of orange and gold against the ink-black sky, but the air between Bella and Reyes was cool and quiet. They walked toward the edge of the tree line, where the music became a dull thrum and the smell of toasted sugar was replaced by the scent of pine and damp earth.
Reyes stopped, shoving his hands into his pockets. He looked down at his boots, the flickering light of the fire catching the sharp line of his jaw. "Bella," he began, his voice heavy with a weight he had been carrying all night. "I’m sorry. I promised you that I’d make sure Ethan stayed away. I told him to leave you alone, and I failed. I didn't keep my word."
Bella shook her head, a small, tired smile touching her lips. "It’s not your fault, Reyes. You can’t be responsible for a mo
