I ARRIVED AT MY BEACH HOUSE EXPECTING PEACE-YILUX

Because that was the part no one else could decide.

Not Robert.

Not Megan.

Not anyone who had walked through these rooms as if they owned them.

“I’m going to stay here tonight,” I said after a moment, my voice steady, my decision already settled long before the words formed.

“Of course,” he replied quickly, almost too quickly, like he was trying to prove continue reading …