I’m breathing a little harder as the hill slopes upward. When I look up, I spot a woman standing and looking out over the ocean.She moves to the side, and I get a glimpse of a canvas on an easel before she straightens, lifting her brush to swipe a dark stripe of blue across the horizon. I can’t help slowing my steps to watch as she paints. The image of the ocean comes to life one stroke at a time as if by magic.

As I come close, I swipe my hand across my forehead to brush away the stray curls which have snuck out from my ponytail. “Wow. You’re really good.”

The woman turns in surprise. Her shoulder length, wavy brown hair is tipped with lighter ends, as if she’s been kissed by the sun, and her smile is just as warm. “Oh, thank you! I didn’t see you there.”

“Sorry for sneaking up on you. I was just walking by and had to stop and say something.”

She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, looking away for a moment. “No, it’s just… Compliments always make me embarrassed. Are you staying in town? You look familiar.”

I avoid telling her where she may have seen me before. “Yeah. I’ve been staying a few weeks. It’s so beautiful here.”

The woman nods. “The most beautiful place in the world. But don’t tell anyone or they’ll all move here like I did. I’m Mia.” She holds out her hand, looks down, and seems to realize it’s covered in smudges of paint and we both have a laugh.

I shake it anyway. “Nice to meet you, Mia. I’m Olivia. How long since you moved here?”

“About a year now. I love it. How about you? How long are you staying?”

I shrug. “I don’t know exactly. I haven’t decided. I can’t seem to make myself book my flight home.”

Mia laughs softly. “I can understand that. Are you traveling alone?”

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t it get lonely?”

I can’t help the silly smile that creeps over my face. “Well, it might except I’ve sort of met someone here.”

“Ah. Well now I understand. So did I. I won’t ask who, since you know what they say about small towns. I never realized how true that was until I moved here and everyone knows everyone’s business, but you know, if you want reasons to stay, I could write you a long list.”

I laugh. “Oh I think that’s far too dangerous. I’ve got a pretty long one myself.”

I wave goodbye to Mia, and she turns back to her painting. I’m still thinking about what she said as I make my way along the cliff path.

I could write a pretty long list of reasons to stay. My job is mobile. I’d have to travel no matter where I lived, but I could have a home base here. I already know I love the town. But could I really live in a place so small? It’s a long way from anywhere.

I mentally scold myself.

There’s no point thinking about staying when the biggest reason to keep me here wouldn’t want that in the first place. Would he?

It’s too much to hope that his attitude has changed. It would be unfair on him.

Noah told me from the beginning that this was only ever temporary. I knew that. It’s unreasonable to wish that this could be something more.

Only when I see him smile at me, when I see him soften, when I feel the tenderness in his kiss, his touch, I have this stupid dream that maybe I could be the one to heal his hurt.

And that’s the most dangerous wish of all.

TWENTY

Noah

I wake up alone, reaching for a warm body beside me, and then want to kick myself. She stays over one time and I’m reaching for her in the morning, feeling her absence in the bed beside me?

The feeling doesn’t go away, though.

I miss her in my shower too. I send her a dirty message and wait around for her response like a fool before I’ve even had breakfast.

I’m still salivating over the photo she sends back when a call comes through from Mum. No doubt Jack went running to her with his sob story about how I yelled at him the other day. Or else she heard it from Mr. Robertson.