The rhythmic sound of the ocean’s waves had become my nightly companion. Once again, I found myself staring at the ceiling, sleep avoiding me like a stubborn dream. Justin’s soft breathing from the other bed barely registered. My mind was spinning—images of Ryder, flashes of doubt, and the ever-present weight of uncertainty clouding my thoughts.
I sighed, knowing that staying in bed wasn’t going to help.
Slipping out from under the covers, I pulled on a light beach cover-up, wrapping it tightly around myself before heading out onto the balcony. The night air was cool, carrying the salty scent of the sea, but something else caught my attention—a faint glow in the distance. And then, the smell of smoke. Fire?
Curiosity tugged at me as I stepped out into the sand, my feet sinking into th
