Page 57 of In Case You Didn't Know

“Hey!” Skyler’s voice cuts through my thoughts as she jogs toward me with Ayda in tow. Her ponytail bounces, and she’s flushed from chasing a five-year-old down the beach. “So you haven’t been abducted by a foot-worshipping cult?”

She rests a protective hand on her still-flat stomach. A subtle reminder that she’s pregnant. Only three months along, and according to Autumn, Hudson is treating her like a princess. It’s sweet. And kind of heartbreaking, in the best way.

I grin. “I couldn’t even believe those.”

“Mylene asked if they were real or an urban legend. I think she’s considering a pair.”

“If she buys some, I’m leaving the island.”

Skyler laughs, then lowers her voice conspiratorially. “Hudson said Asher practically chased the guy off Liberty. Very lowkeyTakenenergy.”

My heart skips. “He told me he might’ve misquoted Liam Neeson.”

“So Hudson wasn’t exaggerating.” She smirks.

Ayda runs up and presses a small white shell into my hand. “This one’s for you.”

The shell is smooth and cool, like a tiny heartbeat in my palm. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Skyler watches Ayda with that soft look I’ve come to associate with her. “She’s doing really well.”

“She is,” I say, voice warm. “She’s talking again. That’s because of you.”

Skyler blinks, and I can see emotion bubbling beneath her surface. “Okay, no getting mushy,” she says, shaking it off. “Let’s go back to gossip. Did you hear about Asher?”

My smile falters. “What about him?”

“He left Liberty early this morning. Like, really early. Took a helicopter off the island.”

I stop walking. “Why?”

She sighs. “There was a break-in at his office. Hudson said it was bad. They trashed the place. Equipment, documents, the works.”

A cold wind blows straight through my gut. “Do they know who did it?”

“Not yet. Asher’s there now, talking to the police.” She gives me a pointed look. “Hudson says Asher’s pissed. And embarrassed. I guess when you run a security company and get broken into... not great optics.”

I nod slowly, heart thudding. He was watching over me last night – calming me down, chasing Reed off, making me feel safe – while his business was falling apart.

The guilt hits me fast. If he hadn’t been babysitting me, maybe he would’ve noticed something was wrong. Maybe he could’ve stopped it.

“Do you know when he’ll be back?”

Skyler shrugs. “No idea. He might be stuck in the city for a while.”

I press the shell tighter in my hand, letting the sharp edge cut into my palm. I shouldn’t feel disappointed. I shouldn’t feel like someone’s pulled a plug on the warmth building in my chest.

But I do. And I hate that I do.

“I tried to call him earlier,” I say. “Just to say thanks. I didn’t know…”

“I’m sure he appreciated it,” Skyler says gently.

Ayda tugs on her hand. “Can we get a milkshake now?”

Skyler ruffles her hair. “You want to come with?” she asks me.

I should. But the fight scene is still staring at me like a challenge. And truthfully, I’m not sure I’ll be good company right now.