Chained by our past

Chapter 14

The salty ocean breeze drifted through the open French doors, carrying the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore. The air smelled of sea salt and sun-warmed sand, mixing with the crisp scent of pine from the towering trees lining the private estate.

Isla stood at the edge of the massive wraparound deck, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the horizon as she tried to ignore the fact that this was a mistake.

She had agreed to this trip.

She had let Lucas convince her.

And now, she was standing in his ridiculously lavish Hamptons beach house, watching as Leo ran barefoot across the wooden deck, laughing freely as Lucas chased him in a game of tag.

She should have been happy seeing her son like this.

But instead?

She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, staring into the unknown.

Because Lucas wasn’t just making a place for himself in Leo’s life.

He was making a place for himself in hers.

And she had no idea how to stop it.

"You're brooding," Lucas’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Isla turned to find him standing beside her, far too close, watching her with that infuriating smirk.

She arched a brow. "I don’t brood."

Lucas chuckled. "Calloway, you’ve been staring at the ocean like it personally offended you."

She exhaled sharply. "I’m just… getting used to the idea of being here."

Lucas’s gaze softened slightly. "You don’t have to overthink everything, Isla."

"That’s easy for you to say," she muttered.

Lucas leaned in slightly. Too close. "You don’t always have to be in control."

Her breath hitched.

He was testing her. Pushing her.

And the worst part?

She wanted to let go.

Before she could respond, Leo came running up, grinning from ear to ear.

"Mama! Daddy said we can build a sandcastle!"

Isla’s entire body tensed.

It had only been a week since Leo had first called Lucas "Daddy." And every time he did, she felt a mixture of relief and terror.

Because it meant that Leo had fully accepted Lucas.

And it meant that she couldn’t take it back.

Lucas must have noticed her hesitation because he crouched beside Leo, voice gentle. "Only if your mom says it’s okay."

Leo turned his big green eyes to Isla. "Mama, please?"

Her heart squeezed.

Lucas was giving her the choice.

And she hated that part of her wanted to say yes.

She swallowed hard, then nodded. "Alright. But only for a little while."

Leo cheered, grabbing Lucas’s hand and pulling him toward the sand.

And Isla?

She followed, knowing that this was the beginning of something she couldn’t undo.

The three of them sat in the sand, hands sticky with wet grains as they built an elaborate sandcastle—one with towers and moats and seashell decorations that Leo carefully placed.

It felt...normal.

Too normal.

Isla watched as Lucas helped Leo shape one of the towers, his patience surprising her.

"You’re good with him," she admitted, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Lucas glanced at her, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. "I like spending time with him."

She exhaled, staring at the sand beneath her fingers. "You missed a lot."

His jaw tightened. "I know."

She hesitated, then finally asked the question that had been eating at her for weeks.

"Do you regret it?"

Lucas was quiet for a long moment. Then, softly, "I regret not knowing. But I don’t regret this." He gestured between them—between what they were building together, however messy it was.

And Isla?

She had no idea how to respond to that.

Because part of her wanted to believe him.

But another part?

Another part knew that letting herself believe would only make it hurt more when it fell apart.

Later that evening, after Leo had fallen asleep in the cozy guest bedroom, Isla found herself standing in the dimly lit living room, a glass of wine in hand, staring out at the ocean.

She heard Lucas before she saw him.

"You’re overthinking again," he said, stepping beside her.

She let out a quiet laugh. "Maybe."

Lucas studied her. "Talk to me, Isla."

She exhaled slowly, turning to face him. "I don’t know how to do this, Lucas."

He frowned. "Do what?"

She gestured vaguely. "This. You. Leo. Us."

Lucas stepped closer. Too close. "Maybe you don’t have to figure it out all at once."

She swallowed hard. "It’s not that simple."

Lucas’s gaze dropped to her lips. "What if it is?"

The air crackled between them.

And for the second time, he kissed her.

This time, she didn’t pull away.

She let herself feel it—the slow burn, the heat, the undeniable pull that had been growing between them for weeks.

His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, and for a moment, she let herself forget everything.

But then—

Reality crashed down.

She stepped back, breathless, eyes wide. "Lucas, we can’t—"

His jaw tightened. "Why not?"

"Because this is supposed to be about Leo," she said. "Not us."

Lucas’s expression darkened. "So we’re just going to pretend this doesn’t exist?"

Her chest tightened. "I don’t know."

Lucas exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I’m not going to be your mistake, Isla."

Her heart twisted painfully.

Because she knew—if she let this happen, he wouldn’t be.