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“You didn’t actually just say that, did you?”

“No. I’d never say something so corny. But it doesn’t change the fact that I want to do a day trip to the mainland today.”

She yawns and flops onto her back, blinking and squinting up at me as she tries to see through the darkness. “You’re serious?”

“Absolutely. It’ll be fun. We’ll be tourists.”

“And draw eyes that come with photographs and video. Even if the press doesn’t know we’re down here or how to find us, that could tip them off.”

“Isn’t that good though? Don’t we want images of our domestic bliss?”

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like the Joker.”

“Because I want to go into town with you and Fen. We’ll get lunch and take in the sights. Come on. I’m going mad. I love it here, but I need more solid ground beneath my feet, if you know what I mean.”

She thinks about this, her mind working overtime, and finally, as she opens her mouth to respond, Reginald and his pack of cronies sound their alarm.

She grunts. “Just one morning without you and your thugs would be nice, Reggie! I could do with sleeping in.” Her forearms fly over her face, and her brace hits her on the forehead with a thud. “Ow. Ugh.”

“Would it sweeten the deal if I got us a hotel room in Key West with no rooster wake-up?”

“Maybe, but aren’t there roosters there too? And what happens if people see us, and we’re followed?”

“You’re not very good at shutting off your big brain and living in the moment, are you?”

“I’ve been trying, but no. Not usually. I have a very active imagination, and it doesn’t always paint the prettiest picture.”

“Try with me.” I run my fingers along the lines of her face, staring down at the woman I am losing my heart to. “Try all of it.”

“What does that mean? All of it.”

The uncertainty in her eyes challenges my own. I swallow, my heart pumping a warning signal of adrenaline through my blood.Don’t fight. Run, it’s screaming. I don’t know why I said that or where the words even came from. They sounded almost… desperate. Like a plea.

Before I can answer her, I hear Fen whining from the other room. And thank God for that, right?

I start to pull away and slide out of bed, forcing myself not to watch her reaction as I do. I don’t want to see relief, and I don’twant to see disappointment. I slip on shorts and grab my phone from the nightstand.

“What time were you thinking we’d brave this adventure?” she asks, and I release the breath I was holding. At least she sounds normal.

“Few hours?” I call back as I reach the door. “I thought we’d get lunch there, but I’m liking the idea of a holiday from our island for the night.”

“Sounds good.”

And with that, I hear her get out of bed and the bathroom door shut. Buggar. Do I ever know how not to fuck something up? My chest tightens with the need to go after her, but I push it down and go for my son instead. I lift him out of his crib and get him into a dry nappy and a clean outfit when my phone rings with a video chat.

“Ah, it’s Granny.” I sit in the chair with him on my lap and hit accept on FaceTime, and my mother’s face comes into view. I can see she’s out in the park near her house, the bare trees, winding path, and high, ancient gate are a dead giveaway. After my first big blockbuster and payday, I bought my mum a house in London near this park and put the twins through university. Buying her that home was, I think, the happiest moment of my life.

The moment Fen sees her, he starts to smile and wiggle around in my arms, babbling and saying hi.

“Hello there, you both. Oh, look at you, Fenric. You’re getting so big, lad. No longer such a wee thing, are you?”

“No,” I agree. “He’s been eating nonstop and growing faster than a weed.”

“Like you. How’s it going on the island? Any updates on anything?”