Page 29 of The First Lost Boy (The Shadows of Neverland Duet #2)

Ava

1 month later

“A letter came for you!” Devin yells as he pushes through the front door of our apartment. “And I brought your favorite ramen.”

He’s literally heaven-sent.

“Who’s it from?” I stand from the window seat Devin built for me. I’ve been watching for him, looking at the few stars strong enough to pierce the orange streetlight glow.

“Doesn’t say. It’s written with some kind of fancy pen, though. I’m jealous. You get all the nice mail.”

I grab the food bags from his hands and carry them to the kitchen. “Thanks for this.”

“You needed it,” he says, quirking a brow.

I start unbagging our late dinner. When he places the envelope beside the bag, I see that he’s right. The envelope is nice, and the letters are so pretty, the calligraphy thin and thick in all the right spots.

Maybe it’s from the auction house. They’re supposed to write once all the arrangements have been made.

Abandoning the food, I flip the envelope over.

It’s sealed with sapphire wax and stamped into it is a ship, not unlike the one that nearly killed me and brought me home again.

I snap the seal in half and unfold the linen paper.

Lifeguard,

I should tell you that I’m writing to see if you’re doing well and are all settled into a life you are beginning to remember. I should say that I’m doing the same and provide my address so you can write back.

But I only wrote because I can’t get your gray eyes out of my mind. I think about them while I’m walking along the shore. I think about them while I’m looking out over the ocean at the stars at night. I remember you waking and looking at me and for a few seconds, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.

Maybe that’s why I’m writing. Because your eyes are what I remember first and most often. And their distinct, lovely shade is one I never want to forget.

Hook

My heart thundering, I flip the envelope over to find no return address.

Hudson is near the sea. But how close is he?