Page 38 of Knot Your Sunshine (Snugverse Romcom #2)

Chapter thirty-five

Mia

The overhang cuts into the rock face like nature carved out a perfect hiding spot, just deep enough to shield us from the sideways rain.

I press my back against the cool stone and watch Josh crouch over his waterproof bag.

Behind him, water cascades off the overhang's edge in silvery sheets as the rain pours.

"You seriously happened to have fire-starting gear in the boat's emergency kit?" I can't help the smile pulling at my lips.

Josh pulls out a compact kit, waterproof matches, fire steel, dry tinder wrapped in plastic, then glances up at me with a heated look.

"When you grew up in a village in the middle of the Pacific with electricity that cuts out whenever a storm so much as thinks about heading your way.

.." He strikes the fire steel, sending sparks into the tinder.

"It's not about if you'll need fire. It's about when. "

"And it comes in handy for beach parties," Keanu adds, moving to stand behind me.

Noa spreads a large blanket on the sand around the fire. "Can't have a proper beach party without a bonfire. Island rule number one."

"Exactly." Keanu surveys our small pile of driftwood. "And it looks like we're going to need more wood. This won't last an hour."

Before I can point out the obvious, that it's dark and storming, he's already ducking out from under the overhang. But not before pressing a quick kiss to my temple that sends warmth spreading through my chest.

"He's really going to wander around in this weather looking for dry wood?" I settle onto the blanket next to Noa.

"There's no stopping him trying to take care of you." Noa's arm slides around my waist, pulling me against his side.

Josh feeds kindling carefully, building a tepee of smaller sticks. The firelight dances across his concentrated face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the furrow between his brows as he works.

The fire catches properly, orange flames pushing back the darkness. I stretch my feet toward the warmth, and Josh catches one, pulling it into his lap to rub feeling back into my toes as he settles on my other side.

Thunder rolls across the sky like war drums. Rain continues its steady percussion against the sand beyond our shelter, showing no signs of weakening.

"I still can't believe this is real." The words slip out before I can stop them.

"The storm definitely caught us off guard." Josh's thumbs press into my arch, finding a knot I didn't know was there.

"No, I mean..." I gesture vaguely at them, at us. "This. You spoiling me. Me actually working toward my dream with real backing. Not even a week ago, I was getting dumped and—"

"Wait, what?" Noa's hand tightens on my hip. "Someone dumped you?"

Josh's hands still on my foot. "No way, that didn't come up in my research and I was thorough!"

"Well, we kept things pretty quiet. I actually didn't want to broadcast we were seeing each other because deep down I think I had a feeling it wouldn't work out.

And I was right." I roll my eyes, and feel them both tense, protective alpha energy rolling off them in waves.

"He basically said the same thing as all my other failed relationships.

That I wasn't in the right headspace for a relationship.

That I was too career-focused to care about anything else. "

"What kind of absolute moron—" Josh cuts himself off, jaw clenching.

"The kind who makes promises about being supportive." I thread my fingers through Noa's. "You know the type. 'Of course I support your dreams, babe.' Right up until it means I'm working late on a Saturday."

"His loss." Noa presses a kiss to my shoulder, looking up at me with such tenderness that my breath catches. "Completely and utterly his loss."

"Someone left you?" Keanu's voice cuts through the rain as he emerges from darkness, arms full of miraculously dry driftwood. Water streams off his shoulders, making his shirt cling. "Someone actually looked at you and thought, 'Nah, I'll pass'?"

He drops the wood, peels off his soaked shirt, sets it near the fire. Then he's kneeling in front of me, cupping my face in cold hands. "Impossible."

"Apparently not." But I'm smiling as he leans down to kiss me, soft and thorough, tasting of rain and possibility.

"Definitely his loss," Keanu murmurs against my lips. Noa lets Keanu take his spot so he can dry in front of the fire, then he settles behind me, pulling me back against his chest.

God, I love being cocooned by them…

"We should send him a thank-you card," Josh says after a beat, reclaiming my foot. "Thanks for being an idiot."

"Include a photo," Noa suggests, his hand sliding under my shirt to rest warm against my stomach. "From the pajama party."

"Which part?" Keanu asks, eyes dancing with mischief.

"Okay!" I laugh, heat flooding my cheeks. "Yes, he's an idiot. We were just casually dating anyway. I'm over it."

"Regardless," Josh says, his grin turning wicked. "We have so many more pajama parties planned…"

"Many, many more," Noa agrees, and the promise in his voice makes me shiver.

The fire settles into a steady burn, casting dancing shadows on the rock wall. Josh pulls out steel sticks and a pack of marshmallows from his waterproof bag, and we take turns roasting them. The storm feels distant now, just white noise beyond our circle of warmth.

"You know what means everything to me?" I say softly, watching the flames. "You actually support my dream. Not just in words, but in actions. The franchise would still be scribbles in a journal without you three."

"We'd do anything for you," Josh says simply.

"Because you're incredible," Keanu adds, squeezing my waist.

"Whatever makes you happy," Noa murmurs against my hair.

Lightning flashes, illuminating the beach for a heartbeat before darkness reclaims it. A strong gust drives spray under the overhang, catching Noa's back. He shifts forward, moving to sit at an angle where he can still see me but avoid the spray.

"This reminds me of our old spot," he says, settling into position. "An overhang like this where Josh, Keanu and I used to meet during storms."

Something in his tone shifts the mood. Josh's hands pause on my foot. Keanu goes still beside me.

"Our roofs leaked," Noa continues, staring into the fire. "Every storm meant buckets and towels and still getting wet. So we'd meet under this rock ledge. Plan how we'd change everything."

"I knew you didn't come from money, but..." I trail off.

"We had love but not much else," Josh says quietly. "Watched our parents work themselves raw for never-quite-enough."

They paint the picture slowly: three boys sketching business plans in dirt while rain turned the world to mud.

The garage that became their first office.

Computers held together with duct tape and prayer.

Sixteen-hour workdays fueled by instant ramen.

Friends who forgot they existed. Birthdays spent coding instead of celebrating.

The fire burns lower as their story unfolds. Keanu feeds it fresh wood absently, lost in memory.

"We almost lost ourselves," Keanu says. "Got so focused on the goal we forgot why we started. Swore we'd never let work consume us like that again."

"That's why you sold," I say, understanding clicking into place.

"As soon as the right opportunity came." Noa's expression grows heavy. "And why we want to help you avoid our mistakes."

"I appreciate that." I try for lightness, squeezing Noa's thigh. "Really. But I have you three. That changes everything."

Josh squeezes my foot gently. "We're serious, you know. We've been where you are, the drive, the total focus. We know what it costs."

"But this is different," I insist. "I'm not alone. I have experienced guides."

"You do," Keanu agrees. "Always."

Three heartbeats of silence. Then:

"I do wonder though, have you thought about what comes after?" Noa asks carefully. "After you've built your empire?"

My shoulders tighten. "What do you mean, after?"

"Building the franchise will likely take years," Noa says. "Years of travel, training, constant involvement. Have you considered having an endgame?"

"Maybe bringing in help eventually?" Josh suggests. "A general manager to handle operations so you can—"

"I haven't thought about that." The words come out clipped. "Now isn't the time for exit strategies. Now is about making it work."

They exchange a look that makes my jaw clench.

"Fair enough," Noa says slowly. "But having something to work toward helps. A vision of what success looks like beyond just the business."

"Successfully franchising IS my vision." I pull back to look at each of them. "That might not change. Would that be a problem?"

"Of course not, Sunshine," Keanu says quickly. "Your passion is amazing—"

"But?"

"But we've walked that path." Noa's voice is gentle but firm. "We know where it can lead. Burnout. Missing everything that matters because you're chasing the goal."

"Maybe that happened because your goal was just money." The words have bite. "Mine is creating sanctuaries. Safe spaces. That's not something I'll get tired of. Or hand off to some manager."

"We understand, we just want you to have everything," Noa says. "The business and a life. Us. Happiness, health. Maybe eventually a fam—"

Keanu suddenly holds up his hand. "Guys, listen."

We all freeze.

"Nothing," he says slowly. "No rain. No wind." A grin spreads across his face. "Storm's passed."

"We should head back," Noa says, already standing. "Before the weather changes its mind."

"Right." I stand too quickly, brushing sand from my legs. "Let's go."

As we pack up our makeshift camp, my mind churns. Was Noa about to say family? We've known each other less than a week. Scent match or not, that's... a lot.

But I also feel something else needle at me as we douse the fire and gather our things. Though I'm not exactly sure what it is yet…